Lecture 8

Introduction to Biblical Interpretation Lecture 8 Shepherds College Scott Jacobsen, Instructor 19 November 2024 2 3 4 Exegetical Fallacies Careful handling of the Bible will enable us to “hear” it a little better. It is all too easy to read the traditional interpretations we have received from others into the text of Scripture. Then we may unwittingly transfer the authority of Scripture to our traditional interpretations and invest them with a false, even an idolatrous, degree of certainty. 5 Exegetical Fallacies Because traditions are reshaped as they are passed on, after a while we may drift far from God’s Word while still insisting all our theological opinions are “biblical” and therefore true. If when we are in such a state we study the Bible uncritically, more than likely it will simply reinforce our errors. If the Bible is to accomplish its work of continual reformation—reformation of our lives and our doctrine—we must p 18 do all we can to listen to it afresh and to utilize the best resources at our disposal. D. A. Carson, Exegetical Fallacies, 2nd ed. (Carlisle, U.K.; Grand Rapids, MI: Paternoster; Baker Books, 1996), 17–18. 6 Reading notes • Preunderstanding • Genre • Narrative • Law • Poetry • Prophecy • Wisdom • Gospel • History • Letter • apocalyptic • Allegory and Readerresponse • Sydney Greidanus • Dangers of ignoring contexts • Chapter 8 7 Flow of thought in expository preaching 8 Flow of thought in Topical preaching 9 Caution • A topical sermon, if done right, will not save the preacher any time at all. It will rather burden him with creating several expository sermons! • But most topical sermons are seen as simplifying the preacher’s workload. 10 Chapter 8: finding the surrounding context Finding the surrounding context of any passage consists of three steps. (1) Identify how the book is divided into paragraphs or sections. (2) Summarize the main idea of each section. (3) Explain how your particular passage relates to the surrounding sections. Let’s continue with our Philemon example. J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, Fourth Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 160–161. 11 Look for (identify): • conjunctions (e.g., therefore, then, but) • change of genre (e.g., from a greeting to a prayer) • changes of topic or theme (main idea) • changes in time, location, or setting • grammatical changes (e.g., subject, object, pronouns, verb tense, person, or number J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A HandsOn Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, Fourth Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 161. 12 Look for: (Summarize) Philemon example • vv. 1–3: Paul identifies the letter senders/recipients and offers a greeting. • vv. 4–7: Paul thanks God for Philemon’s faith and love and prays for him. • vv. 8–16: Paul appeals to Philemon for his “son” Onesimus and offers Philemon perspective on God’s plan. • vv. 17–20: Paul urges Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself. • v. 21: Paul expresses confidence that Philemon will do even more than he asks. • v. 22: Paul shares his hope to come in person and visit Philemon. • v. 23–24: Paul shares greetings from his fellow workers. • v. 25: Paul closes the letter with a benediction of grace. J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, Fourth Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 162. 13 Explain the connections 14 Be aware 15 New Assignment: Old Testament Narrative Text: “David and Goliath” 1. Locate the pericope 2. Use the Worksheet and answer the questions 1. Put your name on the worksheet 2. If possible, show your work beneath each heading of the worksheet 16 Old Testament Narrative “What happens when you begin studying a biblical passage by considering application for today? By contrast, what happens when you look through the lens of the passage’s literary and historical context before approaching application for today?” 17 Approaching the Text • What happened in 1 Samuel 1-16? • What is the relationship between Saul and David? • How would others describe David before he killed Goliath? • See verse 28 18 Cross-references 1 Samuel 17:10 (NIV) Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 10 1 Samuel 17:25 And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.” 19 Cross-references 1 Samuel 17:26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 1 Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 20 Question 1 • 1. What is the structure of your Biblical text? How should that structure shape the emphasis of your teaching outline? [Consider plot, surprises, characters, setting, characterization of God, etc.] • See Word Document, “1 Samuel 17” 21 Question 2 • 2. What is the broader context of your text? How does this context inform the meaning of your specific text? [Consider the immediate literary context first, as well as the historical context from the historical and prophetic books of the same historical period.] 22 Question 3 • 3. What is the main theme (or melodic line) of the book in which your text is found? How does the main theme (or melodic line) of the entire book inform the meaning of your specific text? 23 Question 4 • 4. How does your text anticipate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? [Consider different methods such as typology, analogy, promise-fulfillment, biblical theological themes, New Testament references, etc.] 24 Question 5 • 5. What is the theme of the text? [The theme is one, concise sentence stating the ‘big idea’ of the passage.] 25 Question 6 • 6. What is the primary aim of your text? [The aim is one, concise sentence stating the author’s intended application or a relevant implication of the text for the lives of the readers.] 26 Question 7 • 7. What is your theme and aim for your people as you prepare to teach? 27