The Interpretive Journey

The first task of interpreters is to understand the original meaning of the text?

We are separated from the biblical audience by culture and customs, language, situation, and a vast expanse of time.

We come with our own experiences, cultural mind-set, and understanding of particular words and situations.

The most common problem in interpretation results from coming to the Bible with a predisposition for what we want to hear.

We naturally bring foreign ideas into the Bible and have a tendency to miss what was originally intended for us to understand.

It is very important to understand what the human authors were trying to convey as they were guided by the Holy Spirit.

Acceptable Presuppositions to have when approaching Scripture

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to humankind.

The Bible is a tool through which God speaks to His people today.

The Bible is a record of God’s interaction with human history. The supernatural is, therefore, both expected and accepted.

The Bible contains divine truth about God that is unknowable apart from revelation. Because the Bible does not attempt to answer all questions of human interest, a degree of mystery is acceptable.

The Bible requires the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit for full and accurate comprehension.

The Bible

What is Exegesis?

“Exegesis” is a term used to describe the careful study of Scripture to discover the original and intended meaning of a text.

“Exegesis” brings meaning to symbolic language that makes no sense.

People have a tendency to explain away anything they do not like as “culture bound” or in some way irrelevant to modern society.

People can take a word in Scripture and project a contemporary meaning onto it that is inappropriate for its original use.

They can take a text that is “descriptive” of a historical event and make it a “prescriptive” command for Christians to follow today.

Philippians 4:13 NKJV

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Can you claim this promise to help you be a super star athlete?

Will Christ give you business savvy to become wealthy based on this verse?

“All Things” must be qualified and put into context, or it becomes a license do anything in the name of Christ.

When interpreting Scripture everything must be put into cultural context.

Philippians 1:13–14 NKJV

so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul was writing this letter from prison and was talking about being content in all circumstances.

He had known a life of great abundance.

He had also endured hunger and suffered through great need.

He was now in chains.

But through it all Christ had given him strength for all circumstances, and His relationship with Christ had brought contentment.

The question must be asked, how do we move from the world of the Biblical audience to our world today?

Our goal is to grasp the meaning of the text God has intended.

The basic Interpretive Journey involves five Steps:

Step 1: Grasping the Text in Their Town

Question: What did the text mean to the biblical audience?

Read the text carefully and observe the text.

Try to see as much as possible.

Look, look, and look again.

Scrutinize the grammar and analyze all the significant words.

Look at the context surrounding the text. “Before” and “After” the text.

Write out what the passage meant for the biblical audience.

Use free resources to get a good understanding of what was happening in the text.

Do not use just one commentary or translation when studying Scripture. Why?

Step 2: Measuring the Width of the River to Cross

Question: What are the differences between the Biblical audience and us?

We are separated from the biblical audience by differences in culture, language, situation, time, and often covenant.

This hinders us from moving straight from meaning in their context to meaning in ours.

Sometimes the river is extremely wide and sometimes it is narrow.

In this step you look for significant differences between our situation today and the situation of the Biblical audience.

If in the OT, be sure to identify those significant theological differences that came as a result of the life an work of Christ.

Step 3: Crossing the Principlizing Bridge

Question: What is the theoligical principle in this text?

Could be the most challenging step.

This theological principle should be part of the meaning.

You are not to create the meaning but are to discover the meaning intended by the author.

As God gives specific expressions to specific audiences, He often is giving universal theological teachings for all His people through these same texts.

To determine the theological principle, first recall the differences you identified in Step 2.

Next try to identify any similarities between the situation of the Biblical audience and our situation.

After reviewing the differences and identifying similarities, return to the meaning for the Biblical audience that you described in step one and try to identify a broader theological principle reflected in the text.

The theological principle should be the same as the theological message or the main theological point of the passage. (We will look at this further as we move through this study and learn how to develop theological principles)

The principle should be reflected in the text.

The principle should be timeless and not tied to a specific situation.

The principle should not be culturally bound.

The principle should correspond to the teaching of the rest of Scripture.

The principle should be relevant to both the Biblical audience and the contemporary audience.

Write out the principle (if there is one) in one or two sentences.

Step 4: Consult the Biblical Map

Question: How does our theological principle fit with the rest of the Bible?

Is the principle consistent with the rest of Scripture?

Do other portions of Scripture add insight or qualifications to the principle?

Interpret the Old Testament through Christ and the Cross. Christ said that the law and prophets were written to reveal Himself.

Step 5: Grasping the Text in Our Town

Question: How should individual Christians today live out the theological principle?

This is the application step.

How should we respond?

Should we respond?

Is our response universal or situational?

Is the principle individual or for a community of believers?

Let’s look at an example:

Joshua 1:1–9 NKJV

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

1. What did the text mean to the Biblical audience?

The Lord commanded Joshua, the new leader of Israel, to draw strength and courage from God’s empowering presence, to be obedient to the law of Moses, and to meditate on the law so that he would be successful in the conquest of the Promise Land.

2. What are the differences between the Biblical audience and us?

We are not leaders of the nation of Israel. We are not embarking on the conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land. We are not under the old covenant of law.

3. What is the theological principle in this text?

To be effective in serving God and successful in the task to which he has called us, we must draw strength and courage from His presence. We must also be obedient to God’s Word, meditating on it constantly.

4. How does our theological principle fit with the rest of Scripture?

The rest of Scripture consistently affirms that God’s people can draw strength and courage from His presence. In the NT believers experience God’s presence through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit rather than through His presence in the tabernacle. Likewise, throughout both the OT and the NT God’s people are exhorted to pay close, obedient attention to His Word.

Step 5. How should individual Christians today live out the theological principles?

Spend more time meditating on God’s Word.

Be strengthened and encouraged by His empowering presence. Be obedient.

Realize that your strength and courage flows from the presence of God in you. Christ in you, the hope of glory.