A Really Big Word for Interpretation

Hermeneutics (pronounced Herman-oo-ticks) includes the principles and
tasks by which the meaning of the biblical text is determined. In
short it is the science of interpretation. Before you totally
dismiss it as a thing for theologians I must remind you that you are
using it right now. By reading this far, and understanding what you
have read, you have applied some basic principles of hermeneutics.

Hermeneutics is not just useful for Bible study, but is taught very
heavily in law schools, if you can’t understand the legalese, you
can’t be an attorney. Hermeneutics is important in
understanding every day conversation. If you don’t know the
context, or culture of conversation, the statement, “Killer
Chicken!” could mean several different things. It could mean:

• This chicken is poisoned.
• A chicken is on the loose, and it is lethal.
• This chicken is so good it makes you want to practice gluttony.

So what’s the big deal about hermeneutics? Hermeneutics
defines how you view the entire world around you. The Hermeneutical
process includes three basic steps:

1. Observation
2. Interpretation
3. Application

These steps allow us to carefully understand the text. If you pull
them out of order you can have a chaotic mess, and bad doctrine and
theology. If you interpret first and observe later, you
haven’t got much of a foundation. And if you leave something
out of the process, you miss something too. To observe and apply
means that you may not get the full meaning of the text.

First
Timothy Five, verse 23 says:

No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the
sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
^[1]

If you neglected to interpret, you may assume Paul is asking all
Christians to drink wine, not just water. Though this seems like a
poor understanding, it is an easy step to make in more complex passages
and verses.

Application

Observation being the first item on the list, you may be asking yourself
why I started the first heading Application. The reason was to see
if you were observing. Observing is not entirely difficult, but is
very time consuming. Complete observation leads to better and
hopefully accurate information about the item to be observed. There
are 7 steps to good biblical interpretation:

1. Prayer – if you aren’t abiding, you cannot fully understand
   the spiritual. No Spirit, no Spiritual understanding.
2. The
   Big Questions – one of the simple things you learned in
   elementary school: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How?
   1. Who is speaking? Who is involved? Who is it to? Who is mentioned?
   2. What is the subject or event?
   3. When does or will the event take place? Determine order of events.
   4. Where did or will this happen? Where was it said? Location, location, location.
   5. Why is it said or mentioned? Why would or will this happen? Why was it written?
   6. How will it happen? How is it to be done? How is it illustrated?

   3. Look for key words and phrases. If a certain word is used, it is
   probably for a reason. No passage is without a topic; look for key
   words or phrases to develop your understanding of the passage.

   4. Look for lists!? Lists help you understand priorities, requirements
   and order of events. They can describe and define key words or
   phrases.

   5. Look for Contrasts and comparison. These little details make us
   understand deeper the actions of the godly and the wicked, the Fool and
   the wise, the man and the woman, the adult and the child, the list goes
   on and on and on and … (you get the idea.)

   6. Look for expressions of time. If this seems like a small detail,
   try studying prophecy without a grasp of time, it can be really confusing
   and it can lead to weird twists on what could be simple ideas.

   7. Look for terms of conclusion. “Why look for ends?” You
   may say. The answer is that it helps you capture the fronts and
   backs of thoughts. Studying a passage in the middle or end may lead
   to a weak grasp of what is truly being said.

   Interpretation

   Determining what the text means, is the actual act of
   interpretation. There are rules of interpretation, just like
   walking across the street. Remember in interpretation that the
   context rules. In walking across the street, context rules.
   You would not look for figurative language in the laws of Moses
   (usually). You would not look for a Greyhound Bus in the rolling
   dirt roads of an Amish farm. If you are reading prophecy, you look
   for words like ‘like’ or ‘as’. When you
   attempt to cross the street in New York, you watch for foreign taxi
   drivers who may take your life into their hands.

   Try to
   look for what the verses around a verse say (John 3:14-18, not just
   3:16). It is also important to be aware of what the rest of a book
   may say (John). Be aware of the whole Bible and what it says about
   the subject or topic (Genesis through Revelation). Other areas that are
   important to be aware of are culture, history, and time sequence.
   These details can help build a better understanding of what is going on.

   Remember that scripture never contradicts itself. There are places
   of apparent contradiction, but with a closer look, you will find this is
   not the case. God breathed the scripture into existence, writing it
   through authors. It is perfect like He is. The Bible contains
   truth, 100% pure truth. Others in the world claim truth and
   enlightenment, the Bible is 100% truth, and there are no errors.

   Remember also to try to interpret and understand obscure or difficult
   passages in the light of more understandable passages. Things like
   the Nephilim in Genesis 6 are obscure and may not be just as simple as
   man-demons. Remember context rules.

   Interpret Scripture Literally!? This is where
   100% of bad doctrine comes from. If the Bible is not written in a
   straight, grammatical, historical, intentional form, then it may be open
   for multiple interpretations. There are types of writing in the
   Bible that are figurative, or that use figurative speech. This is
   normal in all languages, remember literal is how God gave it to
   man. Look for a single meaning in a passage. There are times
   when multiple meanings may be derived at a single glance. Break the
   passage down. Diagram the sentence(s) if you have to, pointing out
   the nouns, verbs, etc. No passage has multiple meaning.

   If a passage seems obscure or convoluted, try to get information from a
   good commentary, look into the original language if the tools are
   available. Remember that each word in the English language has a
   context, and in that context a certain meaning, the same is true for the
   original language. In word studies, don’t super impose modern
   words with roots in an ancient word to mean the same thing. For
   example, Dunemous is the Greek word for ‘power,’ we get our
   modern word dynamite from that Greek word, this doesn’t mean that
   God’s power is like dynamite. This means that dynamite is
   powerful, and God is powerful. God is far more powerful than
   dynamite.

   Application (The Second Time)

   Application may be the most challenging part of the Christian walk.
   God’s word challenges us as humans, with sinful nature built into
   our bodies, to moment by moment make the decision to abide in His Holy
   Spirit. God’s word is good for teaching, reproof, correction,
   and training in righteousness.

   In teaching, God’s word is valuable for forming doctrine, an
   established teaching of the Bible. Because the Bible is 100% true,
   doctrine should be the same. Beware of bad doctrine from any
   teacher, only Jesus was perfect. Take time to check teaching
   against the word of God. I know that I have taught errant theology
   in the past, before I knew better theology. Each pastor should tell
   you this, it is part of our maturing in Christ; this is why we study, to
   improve our doctrine.

   Reproof exposes areas in our thinking and theology that may be in
   error. Look for ways a passage may correct you in your attitude,
   your lifestyle, your thoughts and your relationship with God.
   God’s desire is to be in relationship with YOU! Don’t
   miss an opportunity to grow closer to the Almighty God of the universe.

   Correction, probably best restated in the word repentance, the act of
   truly changing our minds, hearts, and lives. If there are issues
   that you know you must correct, stay in prayer (I Thes. 5:17), let others
   know so that they may pray for you, and constantly ask yourself if you
   are abiding. Remember God’s will is not a maze of right and
   wrong turns, but a step-by-step fellowship with Him.

   God’s word is a handbook for training in righteousness!? God
   equips us throughout his word with:

   • Teachings
   • Commands
   • Promises
   • Exhortations
   • Warnings
   • Godly examples of the lives in scripture.

   When looking for application ask yourself some basic questions:

   1. What does this passage teach? To whom was it written, does it apply
   to me? If not you, then who? If a teaching is from the Old
   Testament, does it have a New Testament replacement (Remember the time
   aspect)?

   2. Does this section expose error in my thinking or beliefs, or behavior?

   3. What is God’s instruction to me as a child in the church?

   Watch Out For…

   • Cultural standards instead of biblical standards.
   • Applying a passage to biblical truth, without it really being a verse
     on the subject (twisting the scripture.)
   • Applying scripture with a biased opinion for the past. If you
     have been taught something. Reevaluate your doctrine it will help
     you grow. All human teachers teach error. That
     doesn’t mean that all human teaching is error, but that we still
     make mistakes. Self check-ups are good.

   Happy studying, and may the Lord bless your time in his word.

   ---

   [1]
   The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.