Biblical Interpretation: Session 12

Introduction to Biblical Interpretation Lecture 13 Shepherds College Scott Jacobsen, Instructor 14 January 2025 Principles 1. An adequate explanation exists even if you haven’t found it. 2. Avoid the opposite: either the Bible is the Word of God, or it is not. 3. Context is essential in understanding meaning. 4. Exegesis: original languages (dictionaries), parallel passages. 5. Harmonization of parallel passages. 6. Good commentaries. The commentator must share your commitment to Scripture’s infallibility, inerrancy, and authority. Consider the text. Copyist minor errors or difficulties in vowels in Hebrew. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp 7. retation/student-downloads/ 2 Principles 8. Archaeology: the Bible is an archaeological book. Absence of evidence is not an absence fact. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 3 Classes of Difficulties 1. Mistranslation of hard texts 2. False interpretations 3. Wrong conception of the Bible 4. Language gap 5. Defective knowledge of geography and history 6. Ignorance of context 7. Theology: Arminian or Reformed? 1. James and Paul do not contradict 8. The Finite mind of man vs. Infinite mind of God 9. Spiritual Dullness http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 4 Example 1: The Slaughter of the Canaanites Dt 20:16–17 16 But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded, Dt 20:10–15 10 “When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it. 11 And if it responds to you peaceably and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you. 12 But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. 13 And when the LORD your God gives it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword, 14 but the women and the little ones, the livestock, and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as plunder for yourselves. And you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the LORD your God has given you. 15 Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 5 Example 1: The Slaughter of the Canaanites Nu 31:15–16 15 Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live? 16 Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD. Ro 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 6 Example 2: The Imprecatory Psalms Ps 58:6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD! Ps 109:10 May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit! Ps 137:8–9 8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock! Ro 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 7 Example 3: Jephthah’s Daugher Jdg 11:31 then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” Jdg 11:37–39 37 So she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: leave me alone two months, that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions.” 38 So he said, “Go.” Then he sent her away for two months, and she departed, she and her companions, and wept for her virginity on the mountains. 39 And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow that he had made. She had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 8 Example 4: Jonah Jon 1:17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Mt 12:40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Jon 2:2 saying, “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. Jon 2:5–6 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head 6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 9 Points to Remember 1. We are not the judge of Scripture. 2. God is Holy 3. We must pray for understanding 4. We must seek help and not harbour doubt http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 10 http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 11 Resource Suggestion Kaiser, Walter C., Jr., Peter H. Davids, F. F. Bruce, and Manfred T. Brauch. Hard Sayings of the Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 12 Definitions A Bible difficulty is a passage that seems to be in error or contradictory to another part of the Bible. It is hard to understand how the passage, or what it teaches, may be true. I find these to be more common in narratives.  A hard saying is a passage that is usually clear, but hard to accept. We ask, “What does it mean?” These seem to be present in wisdom, Gospels, and Epistles.  http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 13 Principles for the Interpretation of Bible Difficulties 1. Difficulties address the Divine origin of Scripture. 2. Difficulties are to be expected. 3. A difficulty does not disprove a doctrine. 4. There are more difficulties against the human origin of Scripture than for it. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 14 Principles for the Interpretation of Bible Difficulties 5. What you cannot explain is still explainable. 6. That which is clear and plain far outweigh the difficult. 7. Bible difficulties cause more trouble to superficial readers of the Bible as opposed to thoughtful readers. 8. Difficulties require study. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 15 Classes of Difficulties 1. The original text. 2. Inaccurate translations 3. False interpretations 4. False conception of the nature of Scripture 5. Biblical language http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 16 Classes of Difficulties 6. Biblical history and geography 7. Ignorance of occasion and purpose 8. Theological presuppositions 9. Finite minds understanding the infinite 10. Spiritual Dullness http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 17 Examples Bible Difficulty: Who killed Goliath? (see Logos Infographic) Hard Sayings:  Matthew 2:1-2—Does God approve of astrology?  Matthew 5:29—Pluck out your eye?  Luke 14:26—Hate your family? http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 18 The Problem: 1 Timothy 2:11–15 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. 11 http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 19 The Problem: 1 Timothy 2:11–15 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. 11 http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 20 Outline Prayer for all, by all (1-7) The attitude of Prayer by men: holiness and peace (8) The attitude of Prayer by Women: their appearance (9-10) A Woman’s Learning (11-15) http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 21 Literary Context  Immediate Context: Women’s Adornment (vs 9-10)  Men in Prayer (vs 8)  Prayer, attitude in prayer (vs 1-7)   Post-Context  Requirements for bishops, deacons, and their wives. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 22 Literary Context II: The Book 1:3—a located ministry 1:18, 19 4:6; 11-16 5:21 6:11-14; 20 http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 23 Literary Context III: the Pauline Canon and the New Testament  Near the last of Paul’s letters, 62-63 AD. He is executed around 64 AD.  A letter written an individual minister, who is charged with setting up churches in a region, as opposed to a letter to churches themselves. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 24 Historical Context  Church has been established, and is growing.  Persecution is setting in from the Romans. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 25 Canonical Context  Late in Paul’s writings  Pastoral rather than theological. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 26 Some Conclusions  According to the context, Paul is writing to Timothy, who is an overseer, to instruct him in how to set up congregations and how they should be governed.  The context of the passage in question is worship and church overseers, and the place of women in both. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 27 Reading the Text 2:8—men 2:9-14—women 3:1-13—men and women: overseers and deacons but note vs 11, wives. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 28 Reading the Text 1 Timothy 2:9 (NIV84) 9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. The task here is to understand what “modesty, decency, propriety, hair braiding, jewelry, expensive clothing” meant in Paul’s day, and to see the similarities to today. What are “appropriate good deeds?” http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 29 Reading the Text 1 Timothy 2:11–12 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. Task: do a simple word-study on each of these words. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 30 Word Studies Learn: 1 Cor. 14:35 reveals a parallel passage. Quietness: same Greek word as in verse 12, “silent.” Can mean not speaking, or settled (Acts 2:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:12) Submission: also obedience 3:4 I do not permit: 1 Cor. 14:34, parallel passage http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 31 Word Studies To teach: usual term for teaching. To have authority over: hapax legomenon, authentein rather than the usual, exousia, authority. Why the different term? http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 32 Authentein Authentein: to assume a stance of independent authority, give orders to, dictate to http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 33 Exousia Exousia: a state of control over someth., freedom of choice, right (e.g., the ‘right’ to act, decide, or dispose of one’s property as one wishes: potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power the right to control or command, authority, absolute power, warrant power exercised by rulers or others in high position by virtue of their office, ruling power, official power bearer of ruling authority William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 150. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 34 Summary 1. 2. 3. A woman is to learn. Women are to be taught, not kept away from knowledge. Learning seems to have a different purpose than teaching men. Teaching has a unique aspect of authority. Paul prohibits women to teach men, or to have authority over them, in the church. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 35 Reasons 1 Timothy 2:13–14 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. Adam Eve Formed first formed second Not deceived deceived http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 36 A Question Adam Eve Formed first formed second Not deceived deceived Is the order of creation significant to Paul’s argument, or the order of deception, or both? Is Paul’s argument (against teaching) rooted in creation, or in the order of the fall? http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 37 Word Study Deceive: to cause someone to accept false ideas about someth., deceive, cheat, William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A GreekEnglish Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 345. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 38 Deception and Teaching Eve was deceived, and sinned. Adam sinned. Eve (woman) is therefore disqualified for teaching and the authority teaching entails (authority being the right to tell others what to believe and how to live). Deception is a disqualifier for teaching. Paul immediately discusses the qualifications for overseer (chapter 3), in which there is only one requirement that is not shared by all other Christians: Able to teach. 3:2. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 39 Childbearing? 1 Timothy 2:15 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. 1. Remember context: authority and teaching. Sin does not disqualify from the hope of salvation. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 40 Childbearing? 2. Women are not to despair of salvation, as Paul’s harsh words above could indicate. 3. The role of women (generally) is childbirth and child-rearing. It is an “appropriate good deed” (vs 10) 4. Childbirth and child-rearing is not an automatic path to salvation: note caveat. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 41 Summary & Implications 1. While learning is for all, teaching, and the authority it entails, is male. 2. It says that men and women are fundamentally different, and therefore not “interchangeable parts” 3. men and women have complementary roles. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-college-introduction-to-interp retation/student-downloads/ 42 NEW TESTAMENT– ACTS Introduction Acts is the story of the spread of Christianity across the New Testament world. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 44 Acts: A Sequel to Luke Compare the Opening Verses of Both Books http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 45 Acts: A Sequel to Luke “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 46 Acts: A Sequel to Luke With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4 http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 47 Acts: A Sequel to Luke “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.” Acts 1:1-2 http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 48 Acts: A Sequel to Luke Thematic and Structural Parallels • Prayer • The work of the Spirit • The Gospel for all people • Similar Miracles • The Journey Motif http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 49 Acts: A Sequel to Luke An Overlap Between Luke and Acts • Luke 24:49 is fulfilled in Acts 1-2. • The Holy Spirit continues the work of Jesus. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 50 What Kind of Book is Acts? Acts Is a Story • Use the two main interpretive questions we learned when studying Gospels. • While the Gospels centered on one person, Jesus, Acts focuses on several key church leaders. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 51 How Should We Read the Gospels? How to Read Individual Stories • Take special note of anything that is repeated. • Be alert for places where the story shifts to direct discourse. What Kind of Book is Acts? Acts Is Theological History • Luke gives us accurate, reliable history but he has selected and arranged his material to advance the Christian faith. • As you seek the theological truths of Acts pay attention to repeated themes and patterns. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 53 Why Did Luke Write Acts? Luke writes to encourage and establish Theophilus and others like him more fully in their new faith. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 54 Why Did Luke Write Acts? Acts is a kind of comprehensive discipleship manual, designed to reinforce the Christian faith for new believers. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 55 Why Did Luke Write Acts? The Holy Spirit After descending in Acts 2, the remainder of Acts is a record of the works of the Spirit through the church. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 56 Why Did Luke Write Acts? God’s Sovereignty In Acts we see the fulfillment of the Old Testament as God works out his plan. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 57 Why Did Luke Write Acts? The Church Through the empowerment of the Spirit, the church is a vibrant community where people worship God, care for each other, grow spiritually and join in the mission of God. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 58 Why Did Luke Write Acts? Prayer Almost every chapter in Acts shows early Christians praying. The practice of prayer is central to the life of the early church. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 59 Why Did Luke Write Acts? Suffering In spite of the persistent hardships that the early church endured, the gospel continued to advance. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 60 Why Did Luke Write Acts? Gentiles In fulfillment of the prophets, in Acts we discover that the true Israel is composed of Jews and Gentiles. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 61 Why Did Luke Write Acts? Witness The witness of the apostles focuses on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. And, to truly be a follower of Jesus you must be a faithful witness. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 62 How Is Acts Organized? “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 63 How Is Acts Organized? Chapters 1-7 The gospel is preached in and around Jerusalem. Chapters 8-12 The gospel is preached in Judea and Samaria. Chapters 13-28 The gospel is preached to the Gentiles, as far away as Rome. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 64 Grasping the Message of Acts Two Interpretive Questions • What is the central message of each episode? • What is Luke telling his readers by the way he puts the individual stories and speeches together to form the larger narrative? http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 65 Grasping the Message of Acts Is Acts normative for the contemporary church or merely descriptive? Yes and Yes! http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 66 Grasping the Message of Acts Guidelines for Determining What is Normative • Look for what Luke intended to communicate to his readers. • Look for positive and negative examples in the characters of the story. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 67 Grasping the Message of Acts Guidelines for Determining What is Normative • Read individual passages in light of the overall story of Acts and the New Testament. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 68 Grasping the Message of Acts http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 69 Grasping the Message of Acts Guidelines for Determining What is Normative • Look to other parts of Acts to clarify what is normative. • Look for repeated themes and patterns. http://www.scottljacobsen.com/maritime-christian-colleg e-introduction-to-interpretation/student-downloads/ 70