BIBLICAL TRAINING www.biblicaltraining.org Biblical Hermeneutics Robert Stein Lecture Notes These notes have been compiled from a series of lectures presented by Dr. Robert Stein. They do not represent actual class notes written by Dr. Stein. Scripture references are from the ESV unless noted.
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Biblical Hermeneutics - Biblical trainingnt510.biblicaltraining.org/Hermeneutics-Lecture_Notes.pdf · Biblical Hermeneutics Robert Stein 3 1. Introduction to the Class I. Overview
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i. Anglo-SaxondialectTheAnglo-Saxondialectbeganinthe5thcenturyasanamalgamationoflanguages.SometimesreferredtoasOldEnglish,itbecamethecommondialectofEngland.
ii. FrenchinfluenceInthe11thcentury,WilliamtheConquerorfromFranceconqueredEnglandandthusbroughtaFrenchinfluencewhicheventuallybecametheEnglishlanguage.
b. EarlyTranslationsTheLatinVulgatewasthebibleoftheearlychurchbutmostpeopleinEnglandcouldn’treadorwrite.Biblestorieswerelearnedthroughart;e.g.paintings,stainedglasswindows,travelingtroubadourswhotoldstoriesthroughsongs.
i. JohnWycliffeJohnWycliffetranslatedthe1stbibleintotheEnglishlanguagefromtheLatinVulgatein1382.Hewasapre-Luther/Calvinreformer.Thistranslationoccurredbeforetheprintingpressandwasthushandwritten.ThistranslationledtocriticismoftheclergyaspeoplebegantoreadtheBibleforthefirsttimeandrecognizediscrepanciesinthecharacterandpracticesofthereligiousleaders.Inresponse,therewasa“clampingdown”ontheuseoftranslationsinthecommonlanguage.By1414,itbecameacapitaloffensetobecaughtreadingtheBibleintheEnglishlanguage.
ii. WilliamTyndaleIn1526,WilliamTyndalepublishedthe1stBibleinEnglishtobetranslatedfromGreekandHebrewtexts.ItwasprintedinGermanyduetooppositionfromHenryVIIIinEngland.ThiswasanexcellenttranslationthatservedasabasisformostEnglishtranslationsthatfollowed
iii. MilesCoverdaleCloverdalewasadiscipleofTyndalewhoprintedthe1stBibleintheEnglishlanguageincompletion.Hewasthe1stpersontoseparatetheApocryphafromtherestoftheOT.Previously,thesebookswereintermingledwiththeOTbooksoftheoriginalHebrew.TheCloverdaleBiblewasalsothe1stBibletouseversification.Previoustranslationsdividedbooksbychapters,butnotbyverses.
iv. ThomasMatthew(JohnRogers)JohnRogerswasanotherfollowerofTyndalewhopublishedtheMatthewBiblein1537.Hewasalsomartyredafterhistrueidentitywasdetermined.
v. RichardTavernerTheTaverner’sBiblewaspublishedin1539withKingHenryVIII’sapproval.ThiswaslargelyarevisiontotheMatthewBible.KingHenryVIIIbecamesupportiveofthereformersduetohisdesirefordivorce.Bythetimeofhisdeath,in1545,Englandhadbecomeapredominatelyprotestantsociety.
vi. TheGreatBiblePublishedin1539,thisBiblewasnamedduetoitssize.Itwasthe1stauthorizedBible(authorizedbyHenryVIII).ThisBiblesoughttobemorepalatabletotheRomanCatholicclergybyrevertingbacktothetraditionalorderingoftheNTbooks.
vii. TheGenevaBiblePublishedinGeneva,thisbiblewasveryCalvinist(asevidencedinthesubstantialmarginalnotes)andwasthepopulartranslationduringthereignofQueenElizabeth.
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viii. TheBishop'sBibleTheBishop’sBiblewasauthorizedbytheChurchofEnglandandpublishedin1568.ItwastheresultofarejectionoftheGenevaBiblebytheBishopsinEngland.
ix. TheKingJamesVersionIn1604,KingJamesIorderedanewofficialtranslationwithoutfootnotes;tobeassembledbyEngland’stopscholars.TheKJVwaspublishedin1611andbecameoneofthegreatesttranslationsintheEnglishlanguage,supersedingallprevioustranslations.Interestingnote:almost90%ofthistranslationhadTyndaleroots.
c. ModernVersionsOvertheyears,thenumberofnewtranslationshaveincreaseddramatically.Existingtranslationsareconstantlybeingrevisedwithminorupdates,usuallyresultingingradualandlessdramaticchanges.
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3.HermeneuticalIssuesInvolvedinTranslation
II. HermeneuticalIssuesInvolvedinTranslation
a. Thereisnoonetoonecorrespondencebetweenlanguages.AccordingtoC.H.Dodd,the1staxiomoftranslation:Thereisnosuchthingasanexactwordequivalentwhengoingfromonelanguagetoanother.Differentlanguagesaswellasdifferentculturesposeproblemsfortranslators.E.g.inMat1:18MaryissaidtobebetrothedtoJoseph.Laterinverse24,Maryisreferredtoashiswife.Inthatculture,anengagementwaslegallybindingandrequiredadivorcetobreak.Ourculturehasanentirelydifferentunderstandingofanengagement.
b. Agoodtranslationshould:
i. bebasedonthebestmanuscripts.Generallyspeaking,manuscriptsdatingclosertotheoriginalwritingarepreferredsimplywithrespecttothelikelihoodofcopyerrors.Tyndale,andlatertranslatorsfortheGenevaandKingJamesBible,usedaGreekNewTestamentpublishedbyErasmusofRotterdaminthe16thcentury.ErasmususedthebestGreekmanuscriptsavailableatthetime.Subsequently,thousandsofGreekNTmanuscripts,datingcenturiesearlier,havebeendiscovered.Thus,moderntranslationshavetheadvantageofusingthese.
ii. bebasedonthelatestknowledgeoflanguageandculture.E.g.biblicalpoetrywasn’trecognizedorunderstooduntilthe17thcentury.
iii. beaccurate.Libertiestakenbytranslatorscanleadtoinaccuracies.Therearealsoexampleswheretranslationswerecarefullymadebuterrorswereintroducedinadvertentlyintheprinting.
iv. beunderstandable.Sometranslationscanbeaccurateintheirformalequivalenceofwords,buttheresultingsentencescanbedifficulttounderstand.
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v. becontemporary.Language/wordmeaningstendtoevolveovertime.Thisisespeciallytrueinmoderntimeswherewordmeaningscanchangeoverarelativelyshorttimeframe.Thiswillresultintheneedofneworrevisedtranslationsonamorefrequentbasis.
vi. beuniversal.Sometranslationshavetargetedspecificgroups.Thisbecomesproblematicandleadtomisinterpretationswhenothergroupsareexposedtoit.Translationcommitteesshouldbediversifiedtohelpminimizethisissue.
vii. bedignified.Atranslationshouldbeaccuratebutavoidbeingunnecessarilyharshorcrude.
viii. avoidatheologicalbias.Thisishardtodobut,nevertheless,shouldbeagoalintranslation.Sometranslationsareblatantlybiased.E.g.TheNewWorldTranslationistheofficialBiblefortheJehovahWitnesses.ThistranslationgoestogreatlengthstorewriteoravoidreferencestotheDeityofChrist.
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4.VariousIssuesInvolvedwithTranslation
III. VariousIssuesInvolvedwithTranslation
a. NeedfornewtranslationsNotranslationcaneverbethefinalone,duetotheevolvingnatureoflanguage.Changesinwordmeaningoccurevenmorefrequentlytodaythaneverbefore.
b. Whatdoesitmeantobe"withouterror?"Inerrancypertainstowhattheoriginalauthorsmeantbytheirwords.Atranslationiserror-freetotheextentthatthetranslatorsfaithfullyreproducedwhattheoriginalauthorsintended.
ii. Thought-for-thoughtInathought-for-thoughttranslation,thegoalistoreproducewhattheauthorwasexpressingratherthanmerelyfindingtheclosestwordequivalent.Examplesofthought-for-thoughttranslationsincludetheNIVandtheRevisedEnglishBible.
d. TranslationPreferenceThought-for-thoughttranslationsarepreferableforreadingthroughlargerportionsofScripture,simplybasedonreadabilityandunderstanding.However,formoredetailedstudy(e.g.literaryanalysisandcomparisonsoftheGospels)aword-forwordversionisrequired.
e. ComparisonofRSVandNRSVTheNRSVhasdoneagoodjobre-phrasingversesthatarenolongercontemporaryorsimplystructuredpoorly.E.g.:Zec.3:3“NowJoshuawasstandingbeforetheangel,clothedwithfilthygarments.”(RSV)
f. Individualvs.CommitteeTranslationsCommitteetranslationsaremorereliablejustbythefactthatagroupcanresistthepreferencesormistakesofoneindividual.
g. TheuseoffootnotesCautionshouldbetakenconcerningfootnotes,particularlyinastudybible.Toomuchcredencecanbegiventoacommentsimplybecause“it’sinmyBible”.ItisgoodtorememberthatitisScripturethatisinfallibleandnotsomeone’sopiniononthemeaningthathappenstobeincludedasanoteatthebottomofthepage.
h. ComparisonofGalatians3:23-29AcarefulcomparisonofthispassagebetweentheKJV,theNRSV,theNASB,theNIV,TheREB,andtheLivingBible;willrevealsometheologicaldifferences.Whilenoneofthesearesevereenoughtoleadtoheresy,thedifferencesexist,nonetheless.
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5.AnIntroductiontoHermeneutics-Part1
I. AnIntroductiontoHermeneutics(part1)
a. Originoftheword"hermeneutics"HermeneuticsisatransliterationofaGreekverb,hermeneu,whichmeans“tointerpret”.
b. ThreeComponentsInvolvedinCommunicationi. Theauthor(encoder)
iii. TheauthorgivesthemeaningThetraditionalapproachtohermeneuticsistorecognizethatitistheoriginalauthorwhoisthedeterminerofmeaning.IfthereisadebateonmeaninginoneofPaul’sletters,andPaulwalkedintheroom;thedebatewouldbesettled.IfyouweretryingtodeterminewhatPaulmeantinaparticularpassageinRomans,youmightlookatwhathehassaidonthesamesubjectinGalatians.Thisisthecommonsenseapproach.TheBibleshouldnotbetreatedassomeautonomouspieceofartbutrather,aformofcommunication.
a. CannotexperiencethelifeoftheauthorThefirstobjectiontoauthorialmeaningistosaywecan’tgobackandexperiencewhattheauthorwasexperiencingwhenhewrotethetext.Thisistrue,butwearen’ttryingtorelivehisinnerfeelings/emotions.Thegoalissimplytounderstandwhathewasseekingtocommunicate.
b. AuthormaynotbecompetentThismaybehypotheticallytruebutasChristians,webelievethatthebiblicalauthorswereinspired.ThismeansthatGod,throughHisSpirit,enabledthemtoadequatelyexpresswhatHeintendedtocommunicatethroughthem.
a. MeaningDefinitionofmeaning:Thepatternofmeaningtheauthorconsciouslywilledtoconveybythewordsorshareablesymbolshe/sheusedAllthreeentitiesarepresentinthisdefinition.Theauthorwillstocommunicate.Thetextisrepresentedbythewords/symbols.Thereaderispresentbytheshareablenatureofthesymbols.
b. ImplicationsDefinitionofimplications:Thosemeaningsinatextofwhichtheauthorwasunawarebutneverthelesslegitimatelyfallwithinthepatternofmeaninghe/shewilled.
i. Galatians5:2Look:I,Paul,saytoyouthatifyouacceptcircumcision,Christwillbeofnoadvantagetoyou.PaulwasspeakingtopeoplewhowerebeingpersuadedthatfaithinChristalonewasnotsufficient.TheJudaizerswereconvincingthemthattheymustalsobecircumcisedinordertobesaved.Paulrefutesthisspecificallyintheconsciousmeaningofhiswords.InMartinLuther’sday,thechurchwassellingindulgencesinexchangeforgrace(thepromiseofbeingsaved).Paulwouldhavehadnoknowledgeofindulgences;theydidn’texistinhisday.However,iftheycouldbeexplainedtoPaul,hewouldsaythatisexactlythesortofthingIwastalkingabout.TheimplicationsofPaul’spatternofmeaningwouldincludeanythingthataddsastipulationtobeingsavedbygracethroughfaithinChristalone.
ii. Deuteronomy22:8Whenyoubuildanewhouse,youshallmakeaparapetforyourroof,thatyoumaynotbringtheguiltofblooduponyourhouse,ifanyoneshouldfallfromit.
iii. 1Corinthians16:20Allthebrotherssendyougreetings.Greetoneanotherwithaholykiss.Howagreetingisexpressedwillvaryfromculturetoculturebutthewarmnessofthegreetingdoesnot.
iv. Psalm150LetEverythingPraisetheLORD.PraisetheLORD!PraiseGodinhissanctuary;praisehiminhismightyheavens!Praisehimforhismightydeeds;praisehimaccordingtohisexcellentgreatness!Praisehimwithtrumpetsound;praisehimwithluteandharp!Praisehimwithtambourineanddance;praisehimwithstringsandpipe!Praisehimwithsoundingcymbals;praisehimwithloudclashingcymbals!LeteverythingthathasbreathpraisetheLORD!PraisetheLORD!Shouldworshipbelimitedtoonlyincludetheinstrumentsspecificallylistedbythewriter?TheimplicationseemstobepraisingGodwiththetotalityofwhatwehaveavailable.
v. Deuteronomy6:6-9AndthesewordsthatIcommandyoutodayshallbeonyourheart.Youshallteachthemdiligentlytoyourchildren,andshalltalkofthemwhenyousitinyourhouse,andwhenyouwalkbytheway,andwhenyouliedown,andwhenyourise.Youshallbindthemasasignonyourhand,andtheyshallbeasfrontletsbetweenyoureyes.Youshallwritethemonthedoorpostsofyourhouseandonyourgates.
vi. Mark7:5-7AndthePhariseesandthescribesaskedhim,“Whydoyourdisciplesnotwalkaccordingtothetraditionoftheelders,buteatwithdefiledhands?”Andhesaidtothem,“WelldidIsaiahprophesyofyouhypocrites,asitiswritten,“‘Thispeoplehonorsmewiththeirlips,buttheirheartisfarfromme;invaindotheyworshipme,teachingasdoctrinesthecommandmentsofmen.’"ThisisinterestingbecauseJesuspullsanimplicationoutofthewordsofIsaiahandappliesittothePharisees.ThesewerenotthehypocritesthatIsaiahhadinmindbutitfitshispatternofmeaning.
vii. Mark7:20ffAndhesaid,“Whatcomesoutofapersoniswhatdefileshim.Forfromwithin,outoftheheartofman,comeevilthoughts,sexualimmorality,theft,murder,adultery,coveting,wickedness,deceit,sensuality,envy,slander,pride,foolishness.Alltheseevilthingscomefromwithin,andtheydefileaperson.”Thisisanotherexampleofimplicationsfoundwithinthetext.IfyoucomparetheparallelpassageinMatthew(Mat.15:10-20),youwillseethatsomeofthesinslistedinMarkareomittedinMatthewwhileothersinsareaddedinMatthew’sversion.ThereisnotaproblemwiththesetwoEvangelistsfailingtorecordexactlywhichsinsJesusspecificallymentioned.Itwouldbeperfectlyacceptableforeachoftheseinspiredwriterstoincludetheirownimplicationsbasedonspecificissuesthatwerepresentintheirrespectiveaudiences.
viii. Exodus21:28ffWhenanoxgoresamanorawomantodeath,theoxshallbestoned,anditsfleshshallnotbeeaten,buttheowneroftheoxshallnotbeliable.Butiftheoxhasbeenaccustomedtogoreinthepast,anditsownerhasbeenwarnedbuthasnotkeptitin,anditkillsamanorawoman,theoxshallbestoned,anditsowneralsoshallbeputtodeath.Ifaransomis
xi. Acts1:8ButyouwillreceivepowerwhentheHolySpirithascomeuponyou,andyouwillbemywitnessesinJerusalemandinallJudeaandSamaria,andtotheendoftheearth.TheimplicationsofthiscommissionarethatGod’speoplewillwitnessforHimthroughouttheworld.Thishasspecificimplicationsforeachbelieverinregardstotheirpersonalcircumstanceinlife.
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8.AVocabularyforInterpretation-Part2
II. AVocabularyforInterpretation-Part2
c. SignificanceHowareaderrespondstothemeaningofatext,anactofthewill.Whilemeaningandimplicationsaredeterminedbytheauthor,significanceisdeterminedbythereader.Itpertainstothevolitionalaspectofhowwe,asreaders,aretorespondtothetext.
d. SubjectmatterThecontent(or"stuff")talkedaboutinatext.Thispertainstothedescriptivedata/factsfoundinthetext;notnecessarilyconcernedwithmeaning.
e. UnderstandingThecorrectmentalgraspoftheauthor’smeaningIftwopeoplehavethecorrectunderstandingitwouldmeantheyhavethesameunderstanding.
f. InterpretationTheverbalorwrittenexpressionofareader'sunderstandingoftheauthor'smeaning.Understandingbetweenpeoplecanbethesamebuttheirinterpretationcanbedifferent.Iffact,thesamepersoncanexpresstheirunderstandingusingadifferentexample.Therefore,interpretationsmayvaryevenwhenunderstandingisconsistent/correct.Onceanunderstandingisexpressed,itbecomesaninterpretation.
g. MentalactsTheexperiencestheauthorwentthroughwhenwritingthetext.(C.S.Lewis,"FernseedandElephants")Attemptsatreconstructingtheexperienceofanauthorashewrote,isseldompossibletodowithaccuracy,evenwithacontemporarywriter.Tothinkonecanaccomplishthiswithabiblicalauthorthatwrote2000yearsago,inanentirelydifferentculture,isbeyondoptimistic.OurjobasinterpretersisnottotryandguesswhatwasgoingthroughPaul’smindashewrotetheletter.Ourjobisunderstandwhathemeantbywhathewrote.
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h. NormsoflanguageTherangeofmeaningsallowedbythewordsortheverbalsymbolsofatext.Thenormsoflanguagepermitmultiplemeaningsforthesameexpression.Adictionaryishelpfulindeterminingthisrangeofmeaning.
i. NormsofutteranceThespecificmeaningthattheauthorhasgiventoaword,phrase,sentenceandthelikeinatext.Weareabletomovefromnormsoflanguagetonormsofutterancebyconsideringcontext.Thisisthesentence,paragraph,story;inwhichthewordisused.Themosthelpfultooltodeterminespecificmeaningisaconcordance.Hereyoucanfindwheretheauthorusedthesamewordelsewherewhichcanbeveryhelpfulinunderstandinghisspecificuseoftheword.
j. LiterarygenreTheliteraryformusedbytheauthorandtherulesthatgovernthatform.Determiningtheformofliteratureandapplyingtheappropriaterulesareessentialforcorrectinterpretation.
k. ContextThewilledmeaningthatanauthorgivestotheliterarymaterialssurroundingthetext.Contextismorethanjustthewordssurroundinganexpression.Contextinvolvesthemeaningthatisbeingcommunicatedbytheauthor.
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9.AVocabularyforInterpretation-Part3
II. AVocabularyforInterpretation(part3)
l. DiscussionofKlein,Blomberg,andHubbardonMeaning
i. "OurgoalremainstohearthemessageoftheBibleastheoriginalaudienceswould[should]havehearditorasthefirstreaderswould[should]haveunderstoodit."(pg.11)Thisisdifferentthanthedefinitionofmeaninggiveninthisclass.However,thereferenceto“shareablesymbols”bringsinthereader.Ingeneral,ifweunderstandhowtheoriginalaudiencewouldhaveunderstoodwhatwascommunicated,thenyouwillunderstandwhattheauthormeant.Itshouldbepointedoutthattherearetimeswhentheoriginalauthorismisunderstoodbytheoriginalaudience.E.g.2ndThessalonianswasneededtoclarifythe1stletter.Therefore,the“shouldhaveheard”ispreferableto“wouldhaveheard”.
ii. "Weareconvincedthatthegoalofhermeneuticsistoenableinterpreterstoarriveatthemeaningofthetextthatthebiblicalwritersoreditorsintendedtheirreadertounderstand."(pg.97)Thisismuchclosertothedefinitionusedbythisclass.
iii. "Wepresupposethegoalofhermeneuticstobethemeaningthebiblicalwriters'meant'tocommunicateatthetimeofthecommunication,atleasttotheextentthatthoseintentionsarerecoverableinthetextstheyproduced."(pg.98)Again,thisisfairlyclosetothewordingforthisclass.
iv. "Thoughagivenpassagemaybecapableofbeingunderstoodinseveralways,ourgoalistodeterminewhat(ofthosevariouspossiblemeanings)thetextmostlikelywouldhavemeanttoitsoriginalreadersbecausethatiswhypeoplecommunicate:theyintendforwhattheycommunicatetobeunderstoodastheycommunicatedit."(pg.133)Thebiblicalwritersintendedtocommunicateaspecificmeaningandthereforeusedlanguagethatwouldbeunderstood.Theoriginalaudienceisthepeoplemostlikelytounderstandbecausetheywerethewriters
v. "Themeaningofatextis:thatwhichthewordsandgrammaticalstructuresofthattextdiscloseabouttheprobableintentionofitsauthor/editorandtheprobableunderstandingofthattextbyitsintendedreaders."(pg.133)Thisbringstheideastogetherbut,inthisclass,wewillstaywiththeonedefinitionofmeaning.
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10.TheRoleoftheHolySpirit
III. TheRoleoftheHolySpirit
a. Quotes
i. J.RobertsonMcQuilken,UnderstandingandApplyingtheBible“AlthoughGoddesirestocommunicatetoallpeople,notjustanyonecanunderstandScripture.TheBibleisveryclearonthatpoint.FaithistheprerequisitefortrulyunderstandingGod’sWord.Apersonwhoreadswithoutfaithmayunderstandsomerevealedtruth,buthecannotexpecttofullyunderstandanytruthrevealedinScripture.Thereareseveralaspectsoffaith,allofwhichareessentialforthestudentwhowouldinterpretthemeaningofScripture.” See 1 Cor. 2:6-16; 2 Cor. 2:15-18
ii. MillardErickson,ChristianTheologyEriksonwrites:“Theobjectiveword,thewrittenScripture,togetherwiththesubjectiveword,theinnerilluminationandconvictionoftheHolySpirit,constitutesauthorityfortheChristian.TheReformersfromtheReformationonspeakverymuchabouttheilluminationandconvictionoftheHolySpiritintheprocessofbiblicalinterpretation.Itisacombinationofthesetwofactorsthatconstitutesauthority”
iii. WestminsterConfessionofFaith“ThewholecounselofGodconcerningallthingsnecessaryforhisownglory,man'ssalvation,faithandlife,iseitherexpresslysetdowninScripture,orbygoodandnecessaryconsequencemaybededucedfromScripture:untowhichnothingatanytimeistobeadded,whetherbynewrevelationsoftheSpirit,ortraditionsofmen.Nevertheless,weacknowledgetheinwardilluminationoftheSpiritofGodtobenecessaryforthesavingunderstandingofsuchthingsasarerevealedintheWord”
iv. JamesDeYoungandSarahHurty,BeyondtheObvious:TheDeeperMeaningofScripture“SincetheHolySpirit,notthehumanauthoristheultimateauthoroftheScripture,meaningsofthetextunknownandunintendedbythehumanauthorsarepossibletodiscoverthroughthecontinuingdirectrevelatoryworkoftheHolySpirittobelieversbothintheirreadingoftheBibleandapartfromtheScripture.”The“intentionedmeanings”inthisquoteshouldbeofgreatconcern.TheHolySpiritisnecessary;butwehavetobecarefultorememberitistheinspiredauthor’swilledmeaningthatisthegoal.Theconvicting,persuadingwordoftheSpiritfitsmoreintheareaofsignificance.
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b. CananunbelieverunderstandthemeaningofScripture?Folly(foolishness)referstovaluejudgmentratherthanunderstanding.Godseesthewisdomofthisworldasfolly(see1Cor.3:14).Thisdoesn’tmeanthatGoddoesn’tcomprehendthewisdomoftheworld;hesimplyassessesitasfolly.Likewise,when1Cor.2:14saysthatanunspiritualmancannotunderstand;itisreferringtohislackofacceptanceratherthanhismentalgraspofthewords.
ii. 1Corinthians1:20Whereisthewiseman?Whereisthescribe?Whereisthedebaterofthisage?HosGodnotmadefoolishthewisdomoftheworld?1Cor.1:20
iii. 1Corinthians3:19ForthewisdomofthisworldisfollywithGod.Foritiswritten“Heknowsthethoughtsofthewisearefutile”.1Cor.3:19
iv. Mark9:32Buttheydidnotunderstandthesayingandwereafraidtoaskhim.Mark9:32
d. Correctmentalgraspvs.avaluejudgmentIntheverseabovefromMark,JesusspeaksoftheSonofManbeingdeliveredintothehandsofmenandtheywouldkillhim.Afterthreedayshewouldrise.Theyunderstoodthewordsbutdidn’tacceptthetruthofwhathesaid.
e. FactofsinBelieversandunbelieversalikecanbeprejudicedorclosedtoacertainteachingbecauseofsin.
g. DefinitionofUnderstandingIfunderstandingisdefinedasacorrectmentalgrasp,thenunderstandingofabelievermustbequalifiedinsomeway-authenticunderstanding,savingunderstanding,realunderstanding,deeperunderstanding,etc.
h. EffectsofsinTherearetimeswhensinbeginstoaffectapersonsomuchthatwhatisevidentandclear,theyrefusetoseeand,inasense,refusetounderstand.
i. LuthertoErasmus-Twokindsofclarity“TherearetwokindsofclarityinScripture,justtherearealsotwokindsofobscurity:oneexternalandpertainingtotheministryoftheWord,theotherlocatedintheunderstandingoftheheart.Ifyouspeakofinternalclarity,nomanperceivesoneiotaofwhatisintheScripturesunlesshehastheSpiritofGod.
j. Klein,Blomberg,andHubbard,IntroductiontoBiblicalInterpretationSomestatementsinthisbooktendtoseemtobeoncontradictionconcerningunderstanding.However,theypointoutadifferenceinunderstandingofabelieverwithaqualifier:“…throughtheircarefulwork,bothmaycometothesameunderstandingofatext’smeaning.Butdietotheirdifferentfaithcommitments,onthebelievercanperceivethetext’struesignificanceandbewillingtoobeythetruthconveyed.”
k. Illustration-Interpreting"Mammon"inMatthew6:24Itispossibletohavethetechnicaldefinitionofmammonandnotgraspthesignificanceofthispassage.ItisalsopossiblenottoknowthedefinitionofmammonandyetreadthispassageandbegintoreflectonthingsthatwouldpreventyoufromfullyservingGod.Theformerrepresentsamentalgrasp;whilethelatterindicatesapersonalimplicationandconvictionofsignificancethatispartoftheroleoftheHolySpirit.
i. EugeneB.BorowitzBorowitz(ofaliberalpersuasion)wroteaboutcontemporaryChristologiesintermsofliberalversusconservativeapproaches.HerecognizedthatthefundamentaldividebetweenthetwocampswasadifferingepistemologyratherthansimplyadifferenceinhowScriptureisinterpreted.Therealdifferencehastodowiththesourceof
ii. RudolphBultmannBultmannarguesthatitispossibletoapproachexegesiswithoutpresuppositionsifyouarereferringtopresumingtheoutcome.However,itisnotpossibletostartexegesisfreeofpresuppositions.HewouldagreewithReformersinahistorical/grammaticalmethodofinterpretation.However,hedivergeswithhispresuppositionthathistoryisaclosedcontinuumofcauseandeffecteventsthatprecludeanyinterruptionofhistorybyadivine,miraculousevent.Thisisthebasicpresuppositionofallliberalapproaches.Ifyouareopentothesupernatural,youareinonecamp.Ifyouareclosedtothesupernatural,youareinanothercamp.Thispresentsaradicalforkthatwillleadtodivergentconclusions.
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12.G.B.Caird,TheLanguageandImageryoftheBible
I. G.B.Caird,TheLanguageandImageryoftheBible
a. Chapter1-TwoKindsofLanguage
i. Referential1. Informativelanguage-totalkaboutpeople,thingsandideas2. Cognitivelanguage-expressionofthought
i. Referent=SubjectmatterMeaningwithrespecttothereferentisinregardstothe“stuff”,orsubjectmatter.
ii. Value=SignificanceMeaningwithrespecttovaluehastodowithwhatthisclasshasdefinedassignificance.
iii. Entailment=ImplicationGoingbeyondtheimmediatemeaning,onemightask,“Whatdoesthisentail?”Inthisclasswehaveusedanotherwordforthis:implication.
iv. Sense=MeaningThisisthesimplemeaningofacommunication.
v. Intention=Meaning(ifauthoriscompetent)Meaningwithregardtointentionisthesameastheauthor’s(willed)meaning,assumingtheauthoriscompetent.
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vi. Publicmeaning=normsoflanguage
vii. User’smeanings=normsofutterance
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13.Proverbs
II. TheGenreofProverbs
a. Definition:Ashort,pithysayingthatexpressesageneraltruth-exceptionsareallowed.
b. Examples
i. Proverbs3:9-10HonortheLordwithyourwealthandwiththefirstfruitsofallyourproduce;thenyourbarnswillbefilledwithplenty,andyourvatswillbeburstingwithwine.Thisisgenerallytruebutyoucanfindexamplesofgodlypeoplewhohaven’tfaredthatwellandungodlypeoplewhoseemtomakeoutquitenicely.
ii. Proverbs10:3-4TheLorddoesnotlettherighteousgohungry,buthethwartsthecravingofthewicked.Aslackhandcausespoverty,butthehandofthediligentmakesrich.Ingeneral,ifyouworkhardyouwillberewardedandifyouarelazy,youwillsuffertheconsequences.However,thisdoesn’tholdtrue100%ofthetime.
iii. Proverbs13:21Disasterpursuessinners,buttherighteousarerewardedwithgood.Ingeneral,lifestyleswillaffectwhathappenstopeople,butagain,thereareexceptions.
iv. Proverbs15:1Asoftanswerturnsawaywrath,butaharshwordstirsupanger.Thisisgoodadvicethatwillgenerallyhavegoodresults;butnoteverytime.
v. Proverbs22:6Trainupachildinthewayheshouldgo;evenwhenheisoldhewillnotdepartfromit.
vi. Proverbs22:16Whoeveroppressesthepoortoincreasehisownwealth,orgivestotherich,willonlycometopoverty.Somepeopleseemtodowellbyoppressingthepoor,atleastintheshortterm.However,thisisgenerallyatruestatement.
vii. Matthew6:21Forwhereyourtreasureis,thereyourheartwillbealso.Jesus,Himself,taughtusingproverbs,aswiththisexample.
viii. Matthew26:52Forallwhotaketheswordwillperishbythesword.ThisisanotherillustrationofJesusmakinguseafaproverb.
ix. Luke16:10Onewhoisfaithfulinaverylittleisalsofaithfulinmuch,andonewhoisdishonestinaverylittleisalsodishonestinmuch.
c. DifferencebetweenbiblicalproverbsandotherproverbsBiblicalproverbsarewiseobservationsoflifethathavebeenfilteredthroughthetruthofScripture;thewisdomisthereforemorereliable.
d. TheProblemofJobThefollowingversesareexamplesofJob’sfriendsquotingproverbstoJob.Theproblemistheyuniversalizethegeneraltruth-likenatureofaproverb.Jobistheexceptionbuthisfriendsfailedtorecognizeit.Theyfailedtorealizethatproverbsteachgeneraltruthsbuttheycannotbeapplieduniversally.
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i. Job4:7-9Remember;whothatwasinnocenteverperished?Orwhereweretheuprightcutoff?AsIhaveseen,thosewhoplowiniquityandsowtroublereapthesame.BythebreadthofGodtheyperish;andbytheblastofhisangertheyareconsumed.
ii. Job5:15Buthesavestheneedyfromtheswordoftheirmouthandfromthehandofthemighty.
iii. Job8:3-4,5-7DoesGodpervertjustice?OrdoestheAlmightyperverttheright?Ifyourchildrenhavesinnedagainsthim,hehasdeliveredthemintothehandoftheirtransgression.IfyouseekGodandpleadwiththeAlmightyformercy,ifyouarepureandupright,surelythenhewillrousehimselfforyouandrestoreyourrightfulhabitation.Andthoughyourbeginningwassmall,yourlatterdayswillbeverygreat.
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14.TheGenreandLanguageofProphecy
III. TheGenreofProphecy(part1)
a. JudgmentProphecy
i. Rule-Judgmentprophecyassumes,evenifnotstated,thatifthepeoplerepentjudgmentwillnotcome.
ii. Isaiah35:1-2,8-10Thewildernessandthedrylandshallbeglad;thedesertshallrejoiceandblossomlikethecrocus;itshallblossomabundantlyandrejoicewithjoyandsinging.ThegloryofLebanonshallbegiventoit,themajestyofCarmelandSharon.TheyshallseethegloryoftheLord,themajestyofourGod.Isa.35:1-2Andahighwayshallbethere,anditshallbecalledtheWayofHoliness;theuncleanshallnotpassoverit.Itshallbelongtothosewhowalkontheway;eveniftheyarefools,theyshallnotgoastray.Nolionshallbethere,norshallanyravenousbeastcomeuponit;theyshallnotbefoundthere,buttheredeemedshallwalkthere.AndtheransomedoftheLordshallreturnandcometoZionwithsinging;everlastingjoyshallbeupontheirheads;theyshallobtaingladnessandjoy,andsorrowandsighingshallfleeaway.Isa.35:8-10
iii. Isaiah65:25Thewolfandthelambshallgrazetogether;thelionshalleatstrawliketheox,anddustshallbetheserpent'sfood.Theyshallnothurtordestroyinallmyholymountain,saystheLord.Isa.65:25
i. Cosmiclanguage-GodactinginhistoryInRev.21:1thereislanguageaboutanewheavenandearth;andtheoldpassingaway.ThisisapictureofGodactinginhistoryjustasheactedintheoriginalcreation.ThecosmiclanguagecallstheattentiontoGod.
ii. ImpressionisticpaintingInRev.21:9ff.,thereispoeticlanguagedescribingtheNewJerusalem.Thegreatwallsare144cubitsbutthe12gatesarewideopen.Thismakesnoliteralsensebutinthefigurativesense,bothofthesepointtosecurityandtheabsenceofanoutsidethreat.Pavingthestreetswithgoldwouldbefoolishdueitssoftproperties,butthisisaperfectlyeffectivewayofdescribingthepreciousnessofheaven.Theemotivelanguageinvitesustostepbackconsiderourimpressionratherthanoveranalyzethedetails;muchasonewouldstepbackandengageanimpressionisticpainting.
e. Acts2AndIwillshowwondersintheheavensaboveandsignsontheearthbelow,blood,andfire,andvaporofsmoke;thesunshallbeturnedtodarknessandthemoontoblood,beforethedayoftheLordcomes,thegreatandmagnificentday.AnditshallcometopassthateveryonewhocallsuponthenameoftheLordshallbesaved.Acts2:19-21Here,PeterexplainstheeventsatPentecostbysaying“thisiswhatwasspokenthroughtheprophetJoel.TheversesabovewereincludedbyPeter,demonstratingthatthecosmiclanguageusedbyJoelwasmeanttodescribethedemocratizationoftheHolySpiritatPentecostratherthanan“endoftime”event.
iii. Luke4:18ff(18-19)TheSpiritoftheLordisuponme,becausehehasanointedmetoproclaimgoodnewstothepoor.Hehassentmetoproclaimlibertytothecaptivesandrecoveringofsighttotheblind,tosetatlibertythosewhoareoppressed,toproclaimtheyearoftheLord'sfavor.Luke4:18-19ThisisaspeechbyJesusatthebeginningofhisministry.Therewerenoliteralprisonerswhowerereleasedfromjailasaresultofhisministry.Thisreferstobeingreleasedfromtheoppressionofsinanditsconsequences;throughforgiveness.
g. Matthew2andHosea-ImplicationsoftheprophecyWhenIsraelwasachild,Ilovedhim,andoutofEgyptIcalledmyson.Themoretheywerecalled,themoretheywentaway;theykeptsacrificingtotheBaalsandburningofferingstoidols.Hosea11:1-2ThisisafairlyclearreferencetotheExodusunderMoses.However,MatthewusesthispassagefromHoseainreferencetoJosephandMarytakingJesustoEgyptinordertoescapeHerod:
h. Whythiskindoflanguage?Whyspeakofthesunbeingdarkenedandthemoonturningtoblood?Thisimagerycouldpossiblybeusedtodescribeacitybeingdestroyedduringatimeofwar.Inthiscase,itwouldbeausefulwaytofigurativelydescribejudgment.
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16.ProphecyandtheBeginningDiscussionofMark
III. TheGenreofProphecy(part3)
i. DiscussionofMark13Mark13beginswithJesusdescribingacomingdestructionofthetemplewherethestoneswouldbethrowndown.Heisaskedbyhisdisciples,“whenwillthesethingsbe,andwhatwillbethesignwhenallthesethingsareabouttobeaccomplished?”Jesusresponded:Andwhenyouhearofwarsandrumorsofwars,donotbealarmed.Thismusttakeplace,buttheendisnotyet.Fornationwillriseagainstnation,andkingdomagainstkingdom.Therewillbeearthquakesinvariousplaces;therewillbefamines.Thesearebutthebeginningofthebirthpains.“Butbeonyourguard.Fortheywilldeliveryouovertocouncils,andyouwillbebeateninsynagogues,andyouwillstandbeforegovernorsandkingsformysake,tobearwitnessbeforethem.Andthegospelmustfirstbeproclaimedtoallnations.Andwhentheybringyoutotrialanddeliveryouover,donotbeanxiousbeforehandwhatyouaretosay,butsaywhateverisgivenyouinthathour,foritisnotyouwhospeak,buttheHolySpirit.Andbrotherwilldeliverbrotherovertodeath,andthefatherhischild,andchildrenwillriseagainstparentsandhavethemputtodeath.Mark13:7-12NormallywhenyouhearareferencetowarsandrumorsofwaritisconsideredinconjunctionwiththeLord’sreturn.Here,itseemsthattheoppositemessageisgiven:“don’tbealarmed;thismusttakeplace,buttheendisnotyet”Butwhenyouseetheabominationofdesolationstandingwhereheoughtnottobe(letthereaderunderstand),thenletthosewhoareinJudeafleetothemountains.Lettheonewhoisonthehousetopnotgodown,norenterhishouse,totakeanythingout,andlettheonewhoisinthefieldnotturnbacktotakehiscloak.Andalasforwomenwhoarepregnantandforthosewhoarenursinginfantsinthosedays!Praythatitmaynothappeninwinter.ForinthosedaystherewillbesuchtribulationashasnotbeenfromthebeginningofthecreationthatGodcreateduntilnow,andneverwillbe.AndiftheLordhadnotcutshortthedays,nohumanbeingwouldbesaved.Butforthesakeoftheelect,whomhechose,heshortenedthedays.Andthenifanyonesaystoyou,‘Look,hereistheChrist!’or‘Look,thereheis!’donotbelieveit.Forfalsechristsandfalseprophets
ii. Exodus14&15Exodus14recordsthecrossingoftheRedSeainprose:ThentheLordsaidtoMoses,“StretchoutyourhandovertheseathatthewatermaycomebackupontheEgyptians,upontheirchariots,andupontheirhorsemen.”SoMosesstretchedouthishandoverthesea,andthe
iii. Colossians1HeistheimageoftheinvisibleGod,thefirstbornofallcreation.Forbyhimallthingswerecreated,inheavenandonearth,visibleandinvisible,whetherthronesordominionsorrulersorauthorities—allthingswerecreatedthroughhimandforhim.Andheisbeforeallthings,andinhimallthingsholdtogether.Andheistheheadofthebody,thechurch.Heisthebeginning,thefirstbornfromthedead,thatineverythinghemightbepreeminent.ForinhimallthefullnessofGodwaspleasedtodwell,andthroughhimtoreconciletohimselfallthings,whetheronearthorinheaven,makingpeacebythebloodofhiscross.Col.1:15-20Eventhoughmosttranslationsdonotbreaktheselinestoindicatepoetry,thisismostlikelyapre-PaulineChristologicalhymnthatherecitesinhisletter.Understandingthepoeticrhythmoftheoriginal
iv. 1Corinthians15ForasinAdamalldie,soalsoinChristshallallbemadealive.1Cor.15:22InthisverseweseeanotherexampleofPaulusingabalancedrhythmtosaysomethingthatisnotintendedasastatementsupportinguniversalism.
v. Romans5Therefore,asonetrespassledtocondemnationforallmen,sooneactofrighteousnessleadstojustificationandlifeforallmen.Rom.5:18InRomans5:15,17,18,&19;Paulutilizesabalancedrhythmyetagain.Thepointistorecognizethese,andnotletyourtheologybedefinedbyinstanceswherethewordsarecontrolledrhythm.ThereareplentyofplaceswhererhythmisnotutilizedfromwhichwecandeterminethatPaulwasclearlynotteachinguniversalism.
vi. Psalm18Psalm18isagoodexampleofpoetryfoundusedbypsalmists.Here,DavidissingingforJoybecauseGodheardhispleaforhelpwhenfacingenemies.TheLordalsothunderedintheheavens,andtheMostHighutteredhisvoice,hailstonesandcoalsoffire.Andhesentouthisarrowsandscatteredthem;heflashedforthlightningsandroutedthem.Psalm18:13-14
vii. 2Samuel1SaulandJonathan,belovedandlovely!Inlifeandindeaththeywerenotdivided;theywereswifterthaneagles;theywerestrongerthanlions.2Sam.1:23ThisisfromalamentbyDavidforSaulandJonathan.Aeulogyisaperfectlygoodplacetousepoeticlanguagetohonorsomeone.
v. Whyusepoeticlanguage?Countedtogether,thereareover200examplesofsynonymousandantitheticparallelismsintheGospels.Thisrhythmic-typelanguagelendsitselftomemorizationwhichwasespeciallyimportantinanon-literalsocietywhichexistedinthe1stcentury.Thisisevidentinthewayarhythmishelpfulinrememberingthewordstoasong.
ii. "Breakaleg."(Asayingwhensomeonestartsanewtheatreplay)
iii. "Howareyou?"(Actually,asimplegreetingratherthanaquestion)
b. BiblicalExamples
i. Joshua8:17,Judges4:16,2Kings10:21-"Noonewasleft.”(Exaggeratedterminology)
ii. 1John3:17-"Shuttethuphisbowels."It’sanidiomthatmeans“havenopity”
iii. Genesis22:17ff,Genesis41:43,Joshua11:4,Judges7:12-"Sandsoftheseashore."
iv. Matthew17:20,1Corinthians13:2-"Faithtomovemountains"
c. Howtodetectidioms
i. Foundfrequently
ii. Cannotbeinterpretedliterallyincontext
d. Specificexample-"LoveandHate"
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Thelove-hatelanguageisfoundfrequentlyinScripture.
i. Malachi1:2-3,Romans9:13Ihavelovedyou,”saystheLord.Butyousay,“Howhaveyoulovedus?”“IsnotEsauJacob'sbrother?”declarestheLord.“YetIhavelovedJacobbutEsauIhavehated.Ihavelaidwastehishillcountryandlefthisheritagetojackalsofthedesert.Mal.1:2-3Asitiswritten,“JacobIloved,butEsauIhated”Rom.9:13
ii. ExplanationfromGenesis29:31SoJacobwentintoRachelalso,andhelovedRachelmorethanLeah,andservedLabanforanothersevenyears.WhentheLordsawthatLeahwashated,heopenedherwomb,butRachelwasbarren.Gen29:30-31Gen.29:31statesthatLeahwashatedbutwhencomparedtotheprecedingverse,thetruemeaningofthisbecomesclear.Jacob’saffectionforRachelwasgreaterthanhisaffectionforLeah.
iii. Deuteronomy21:15-17Ifamanhastwowives,theonelovedandtheotherunloved,andboththelovedandtheunlovedhavebornehimchildren,andifthefirstbornsonbelongstotheunloved,thenonthedaywhenheassignshispossessionsasaninheritancetohissons,hemaynottreatthesonofthelovedasthefirstborninpreferencetothesonoftheunloved,whoisthefirstborn,butheshallacknowledgethefirstborn,thesonoftheunloved,bygivinghimadoubleportionofallthathehas,forheisthefirstfruitsofhisstrength.Therightofthefirstbornishis.Deut.21:15-17TheaboveversesarequotedfromtheESV.Theword“unloved”istranslatedas“disliked”intheRSV.IntheoriginalHebrew,theliteralwordusedis“hated”.Thusthisisanotherexampleofthelove/hateidiomaticimageryfoundbothintheOTandtheNT.
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iv. Luke14:26Ifanyonecomestomeanddoesnothatehisownfatherandmotherandwifeandchildrenandbrothersandsisters,yes,andevenhisownlife,hecannotbemydisciple.Luke14:16Whatisevidentthroughtheseexamplesisthefactthathate(inthelove/hateidiomreallymeanstoloveless.It’sarelativeexpressionratherthanaliteralexpressionoftwoextremes.
v. Proverbs13:24Whoeversparestherodhateshisson,buthewholoveshimisdiligenttodisciplinehim.Prov.13:24
e. MeaningisdeterminedbytheauthorTheuseofidiomsisagoodillustrationofthefactthatthemeaningofwordsisdeterminedbytheauthor.Thetextcan’t,inandofitself,bearmeaningbecauseitissimplyacollectionofwordswhich,iftakenliterally,couldsaysomethingquitedifferentfromtheintendedmeaningoftheauthor.
f. LearninganewlanguageAlllanguageshaveidiomaticexpressions.It’simportanttolearnthoseinordertoavoidsomepotentiallyembarrassingsituations.TheBiblemakesfrequentuseofidiomsanditisimportanttorecognizethoseinordertomakeavalidinterpretation.
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20.TheGenreofExaggeration-Part1
VI. TheGenreofExaggeration(part1)
a. RecognizingExaggerationintheTeachingsofJesus(part1)
i. Hyperbolic-literallyimpossibleHyperboleisexaggerationthatissogreatitisliterallyimpossible:Youblindguides,strainingoutagnatandswallowingacamel!Matt.23:24
ii. ConflictswithwhatJesussayselsewhereAnotherwaytodetectexaggeratedlanguagebyJesusistonoteifitobviouslyconflictswithhisteachingelsewhere.Ifanyonecomestomeanddoesnothatehisownfatherandmotherandwifeandchildrenandbrothersandsisters,yes,andevenhisownlife,hecannotbemydisciple.Luke14:26Weknowthatthisisnotintendedtobeinterpretedliterallybecauseheteacheselsewheretohonoryourfatherandyourmother.
iii. ConflictswithJesus'behaviorandactionselsewhereButwhenyoupray,gointoyourroomandshutthedoorandpraytoyourFatherwhoisinsecret.AndyourFatherwhoseesinsecretwillrewardyou.Matt.6:6
iv. ConflictswithteachingsoftheOldTestamentTheinstructionstohateyourfatherandmotherareclearlyinconflictwiththe5thCommandmentwhichtellustohonoryourfatherandyourmother.
v. ConflictswithteachingsoftheNewTestamentNoticetheuniversallanguageinMatthewconcerninggivingtoabeggar:Givetotheonewhobegsfromyou,anddonotrefusetheonewhowouldborrowfromyou.Matt.5:42Thisisaformofexaggerationbecauseweseeanexceptiontothisinstructioninthefollowingverse:Forevenwhenwewerewithyou,wewouldgiveyouthiscommand:Ifanyoneisnotwillingtowork,lethimnoteat.2Thess.3:10
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21.TheGenreofExaggeration-Part2
VI. TheGenreofExaggeration(part2)
a. RecognizingExaggerationintheTeachingsofJesus(continued)vi. Interpretedbytheevangelistinanon-literalway
vii. NotalwaysliterallyfulfilledinpracticeInMark13,JesusprophesiedtohisdisciplesconcerningthefallofJerusaleminwhichhesaysnotonestoneofthetemplewallwillbeleftuponanother.ThetemplewasdefinitelydestroyedbytheRomansin70A.D.,butthereareportionsofthewallthatremainedintactdowntothefoundationrock,evenuntiltoday.Ask,anditwillbegiventoyou;seek,andyouwillfind;knock,anditwillbeopenedtoyou.Foreveryonewhoasksreceives,andtheonewhoseeksfinds,andtotheonewhoknocksitwillbeopened.Matt.7:7-8Thiscan’tbeliterallytruewithnoexceptions.Ratherthantryingtoqualifytheexceptions,Jesuswantedtoteachtheimportanceofprayer.
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viii. LiteralfulfillmentwouldnotachievethedesiredgoalIfyourrighteyecausesyoutosin,pluckitout.Thiswouldnotsolvetheproblemoflustingwithyourlefteye.Jesusisusingoverstatementtoexpresstheseriousnatureofsin.
ix. ThestatementusesaparticularliteralformpronetoexaggerationProverbs,prophecyandpoetryareallliteraryformsthatmakecommonuseofexaggeration,oftenthroughmetaphoriclanguage.
xi. Thestatementusesall-inclusiveanduniversallanguageE.g.“Givetoeveryonewhobegsyou…”inLuke6:30.Or“allthingscanbedonefortheonewhobelieves.”Matt.9:23
b. Whyuseexaggeration?Itisnotenoughtosimplyrecognizeexaggeratedlanguageandsay,“Idon’tneedtointerpretthatliterally”;thenmoveon.Theverypurposeoftheoverstatementistocallattentiontowhatisbeingtaught.Itindicatesthatthissubjectisverysignificantandrequiresourattention.
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22.IntroductiontoParables
VII. Parables(Part1)
Parablesarebrieforextendedcomparisons.
a. HistoricalInterpretationsConsidertheParableoftheGoodSamaritan:Jesusreplied,“AmanwasgoingdownfromJerusalemtoJericho,andhefellamongrobbers,whostrippedhimandbeathimanddeparted,leavinghimhalfdead.Nowbychanceapriestwasgoingdownthatroad,andwhenhesawhimhepassedbyontheotherside.SolikewiseaLevite,whenhecametotheplaceandsawhim,passedbyontheotherside.ButaSamaritan,ashejourneyed,cametowherehewas,andwhenhesawhim,hehadcompassion.Hewenttohimandbounduphiswounds,pouringonoilandwine.Thenhesethimonhisownanimalandbroughthimtoaninnandtookcareofhim.Andthenextdayhetookouttwodenariiandgavethemtotheinnkeeper,saying,‘Takecareofhim,andwhatevermoreyouspend,IwillrepayyouwhenIcomeback.’"Luke10:30-35
i. Marcion-140A.D.Madefirstreferencetothisparable.MacionwasaGnosticwhorefutedtheincarnation.HeallegorizedJesusastheGoodSamaritanandconcludedthiswasJesus’firstappearanceinhistory.
ii. ClementofAlexandria-180A.D.(earlyChurchera)Clementcontinuedthepracticeofallegorizingthisparable,pressingeachdetailformeaning.
iii. Origen-(earlyChurchera)Origenreasonedthathumanshadatri-partnature(body,soul,andspirit)from1Thess.5:23.HemadetheleapofsayingthereforeScripturehadatri-partnature-aliteralmeaning,amoralmeaning,andspiritualmeaning.Origencontinuedthepracticeofallegorizingparablesbutintroducedthislayeredapproachtointerpretation.
v. JohnCassian-(MiddleAges)Cassianaddeda4thlevelofmeaning(aheavenlymeaning).
vi. ThomasAquinasOneofthegreattheologiansoftheMiddleAges,continuedwiththeallegoryinterpretationandwiththefourlevelsofCassian,(literal,moral,spiritual,&heavenly)
vii. MartinLuther-(ReformationPeriod)ManyofthechainsofallegoricalinterpretationintherestofScripturebegantobebrokenduringthereformation.However,Luthercontinuedtoapplyittoparables.TheReformersdidnotrecognizepapalauthorityorthetraditionoftheEarlyChurchFathers.ItisnotsurprisingthatLutherdisagreedstronglywithsomeoftheirformerinterpretations.
viii. JohnCalvinJohnCalvinisthefirstknowntheologianinallofchurchhistorytosaythatthisparableisnotastoryaboutJesus.“Noneofthisstrikesmeasplausible.WeshouldhavemorereverenceforScripturethantoallowourselvestotransfigureitssensesofreely.AnyonemayseethatthesespeculationshavebeencookedupbymeddlersquitedivorcedfromthemindofChrist.”JohnCalvin
ix. R.C.Trench-19thCenturyTrenchpublishedabook,NotesontheParablesofourLord,inwhichheoffersaliteral,thendeeperspiritualmeaningoftheparables.Hemakesstronguseofallegoryinhisinterpretivemethod.
i. Parablesgenerallyteachonemainpoint.Thereareexceptions,butessentiallyaparableisacomparisonthatisteachingoneprimarylesson.Avoidtryingtoreadintothetext(eisogesis)bypressingthedetailsofthestory.Readoutofthetext(exegesis)bylookingforthemainpoint.
ii. Seektounderstandtheparableasthe1stcenturyaudience.C.H.Doddstressedthissimple,yetsometimesoverlooked,pointinhisbookParablesoftheKingdom.Avoidjumpingtoimplicationandsignificancebeforefirstconsideringhowtheoriginalaudiencewouldhaveunderstoodthemessage.(Thereandthenbeforehereandnow.)Anotherwaytostatethisprincipleistosimplyask,“WhatdidJesusmeanbythisparable?”
iii. ConsiderwhattheGospelwritersweretryingtoteachfromtheparable.RedactionCriticismledtotherealizationofspecialemphasesthatweremadebytheindividualinspiredEvangelists.
iv. Askhowitappliestous;toourcurrentsituation.Askthequestion.“WhatdoesGodwantmetodoinregardtothisparable?”
c. ApplyingthePrinciplestoTheGoodSamaritan
i. Principle#1Basedontheprecedingverse(Luke10:29)andtheversethatfollowstheparable(Luke10:36);itisapparentthattheparableisaboutwhoisaneighbor.Inessence,Jesustwiststhequestionattheendbyasking(fromthestory)“Whoprovedtobeaneighbor?”Thisisthemainpoint-what
ii. Principle#2UnderstandingthelongestablishedhatredbetweenJewsandSamaritansthatexistedinJesus’daygreatlyenhancestheforceofthisparable.Thiswouldnothavebeenreceivedasawarmandfuzzystoryofcompassion,especiallybythereligiousleadersoftheday.Thiswasadamningindictmentofsocial,racial,andreligioussuperiority.
iii. Principle#3IntryingtounderstandtheparticularemphasesofLuke,itishelpfultonote(bothinhisGospelandinActs)thathehasparticularconcernforoutcasts,women,publicans,andsinners.OfalltheGospelwriters,Lukeistheonlyonewhoincludesthisparable.Also,heistheonlyonewhoincludesastoryofJesusmeetingandhealingaSamaritan.
iv. Principle#4Thequestionherehastodowithourowncircumstancesandopportunitiestoasbeingalovingneighbortothoseweencounter.
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23.InterpretationofParables
VII. Parables(Part2)
d. DiscussionofVariousParables
i. ParableoftheHiddenTreasureThekingdomofheavenisliketreasurehiddeninafield,whichamanfoundandcoveredup.Theninhisjoyhegoesandsellsallthathehasandbuysthatfield.Matt.13-44Thisverybriefparableisanexampleofasimilitude.ThesimplepointhereistoteachthatGod’sKingdomisthegreatesttreasureonecanhave.ThisisplacedbesidetheParableofFinePearlswhichhasthesamepoint.Thereisnoneedtopressthedetailsfurtherbytryingtoanalyzethecharacteroftheman,etc.
ii. ParableofTenVirginsThenthekingdomofheavenwillbeliketenvirginswhotooktheirlampsandwenttomeetthebridegroom.Fiveofthemwerefoolish,andfivewerewise.Forwhenthefoolishtooktheirlamps,theytooknooilwiththem,butthewisetookflasksofoilwiththeirlamps.Asthebridegroomwasdelayed,theyallbecamedrowsyandslept.Butatmidnighttherewasacry,‘Hereisthebridegroom!Comeouttomeethim.’Thenallthosevirginsroseandtrimmedtheirlamps.Andthefoolishsaidtothewise,‘Giveussomeofyouroil,forourlampsaregoingout.’Butthewiseanswered,saying,‘Sincetherewillnotbeenoughforusandforyou,gorathertothedealersandbuyforyourselves.’Andwhiletheyweregoingtobuy,thebridegroomcame,andthosewhowerereadywentinwithhimtothemarriagefeast,andthedoorwasshut.Afterwardtheothervirginscamealso,saying,Lord,lord,opentous.’Butheanswered,‘Truly,Isaytoyou,Idonotknowyou.’Watchtherefore,foryouknowneitherthedaynorthehour.Matt25:1-13Thisisaninterestingandthereforememorableparable.Thepointisnottomakeastatementonwhatpercentageofvirginswillmakeittoheaven;ortoinstructChristiansoftheneedtosharetheGospel(even
iii. ParableoftheDishonestManagerHealsosaidtothedisciples,“Therewasarichmanwhohadamanager,andchargeswerebroughttohimthatthismanwaswastinghispossessions.Andhecalledhimandsaidtohim,‘WhatisthisthatIhearaboutyou?Turnintheaccountofyourmanagement,foryoucannolongerbemanager.’Andthemanagersaidtohimself,‘WhatshallIdo,sincemymasteristakingthemanagementawayfromme?Iamnotstrongenoughtodig,andIamashamedtobeg.Ihavedecidedwhattodo,sothatwhenIamremovedfrommanagement,peoplemayreceivemeintotheirhouses.’So,summoninghismaster'sdebtorsonebyone,hesaidtothefirst,‘Howmuchdoyouowemymaster?’Hesaid,‘Ahundredmeasuresofoil.’Hesaidtohim,‘Takeyourbill,andsitdownquicklyandwritefifty.’Thenhesaidtoanother,‘Andhowmuchdoyouowe?’Hesaid,‘Ahundredmeasuresofwheat.’Hesaidtohim,‘Takeyourbill,andwriteeighty.’Themastercommendedthedishonestmanagerforhisshrewdness.Forthesonsofthisworldaremoreshrewdindealingwiththeirowngenerationthanthesonsoflight."Luke16:1-8Tryingtopressthedetailsofthisparablecanleadtoallsortsofdistortedinterpretations.However,thesimplepointtoseeisthatthemanwasfacingjudgmentandhepreparedhimselfaccordingly.Hewasnotcommendedforhisintegrity;hewascommendedforhisshrewdness.Areweatleastassmartasthisscoundrel?Arewepreparedforjudgment?
iv. ParableoftheLostSheep(CompareLuketoMatthew)Sohetoldthemthisparable:“Whatmanofyou,havingahundredsheep,ifhehaslostoneofthem,doesnotleavetheninety-nineintheopencountry,andgoaftertheonethatislost,untilhefindsit?Andwhenhehasfoundit,helaysitonhisshoulders,rejoicing.Andwhenhecomeshome,hecallstogetherhisfriendsandhisneighbors,sayingtothem,‘Rejoicewithme,forIhavefoundmysheepthatwaslost.’Justso,Itellyou,therewillbemorejoyinheavenoveronesinnerwhorepentsthanoverninety-ninerighteouspersonswhoneednorepentance."Luke15:3-7
v. LaborersintheVineyard“Forthekingdomofheavenislikeamasterofahousewhowentoutearlyinthemorningtohirelaborersforhisvineyard.Afteragreeingwiththelaborersforadenariusaday,hesentthemintohisvineyard.Andgoingoutaboutthethirdhourhesawothersstandingidleinthemarketplace,andtothemhesaid,‘Yougointothevineyardtoo,andwhateverisrightIwillgiveyou.’Sotheywent.Goingoutagainaboutthesixthhourandtheninthhour,hedidthesame.Andabouttheeleventhhourhewentoutandfoundothersstanding.Andhesaidtothem,‘Whydoyoustandhereidleallday?’Theysaidtohim,‘Becausenoonehashiredus.’Hesaidtothem,‘Yougointothevineyardtoo.’Andwheneveningcame,theownerofthevineyardsaidtohisforeman,‘Callthelaborersandpaythemtheirwages,beginningwiththelast,uptothefirst.’Andwhenthosehiredabouttheeleventhhourcame,eachofthemreceivedadenarius.Nowwhenthosehiredfirstcame,theythoughttheywouldreceivemore,buteachofthemalsoreceivedadenarius.Andonreceivingittheygrumbledatthemasterofthehouse,saying,‘Theselast
ii. ParableoftheGreatBanquetWhenoneofthosewhoreclinedattablewithhimheardthesethings,hesaidtohim,“BlessediseveryonewhowilleatbreadinthekingdomofGod!”Buthesaidtohim,“Amanoncegaveagreatbanquetandinvitedmany.Andatthetimeforthebanquethesenthisservanttosaytothosewhohadbeeninvited,‘Come,foreverythingisnowready.’Buttheyallalikebegantomakeexcuses.…Sotheservantcameandreportedthesethingstohismaster.Thenthemasterofthehousebecameangryandsaidtohisservant,‘Gooutquicklytothestreetsandlanesofthecity,andbringinthepoorandcrippledandblindandlame.’Andtheservantsaid,‘Sir,whatyoucommandedhasbeendone,andstillthereisroom.’Andthemastersaidtotheservant,‘Goouttothehighwaysandhedgesandcompelpeopletocomein,thatmyhousemaybefilled.ForItellyou,noneofthosemenwhowereinvitedshalltastemybanquet.’”Luke14:15-24Lukeisfairlyspecific,therearetwosendingouts:onetotheimmediateareaandonefurtherout.LukewouldhaveexpectedTheophilustounderstandtheparableallegorically.TheKingdomofGodisfrequentlylikenedtoagreatbanquet.ItwasnotonlytheoutcastsofIsraelwhowereinvited,buttheoutcastsoftheGentileworld(the2ndsendingout).Theophiluswouldhaveunderstoodthisconnection.Intheparable,thosethatyouwouldhaveexpectedtobefrontandcenteratthedinnerdidnotcome.Jesus’audiencewouldhavecaughtonthathewastalkingaboutthescribesandPharisees.
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g. FinalInterpretiveDiscussionsonParables
i. TheFinalJudgmentWhentheSonofMancomesinhisglory,andalltheangelswithhim,thenhewillsitonhisgloriousthrone.Beforehimwillbegatheredallthenations,andhewillseparatepeopleonefromanotherasashepherdseparatesthesheepfromthegoats.Andhewillplacethesheeponhisright,butthegoatsontheleft.ThentheKingwillsaytothoseonhisright,‘Come,youwhoareblessedbymyFather,inheritthekingdompreparedforyoufromthefoundationoftheworld.ForIwashungryandyougavemefood,Iwasthirstyandyougavemedrink,Iwasastrangerandyouwelcomedme,Iwasnakedandyouclothedme,Iwassickandyouvisitedme,Iwasinprisonandyoucametome.’Thentherighteouswillanswerhim,saying,‘Lord,whendidweseeyouhungryandfeedyou,orthirstyandgiveyoudrink?Andwhendidweseeyouastrangerandwelcomeyou,ornakedandclotheyou?Andwhendidweseeyousickorinprisonandvisityou?’AndtheKingwillanswerthem,Truly,Isaytoyou,asyoudidittooneoftheleastofthesemybrothers,youdidittome.’“Thenhewillsaytothoseonhisleft,Departfromme,youcursed,intotheeternalfirepreparedforthedevilandhisangels.ForIwashungryandyougavemenofood,Iwasthirstyandyougavemenodrink,Iwasastrangerandyoudidnotwelcomeme,nakedandyoudidnotclotheme,sickandinprisonandyoudidnotvisitme.’Thentheyalsowillanswer,saying,‘Lord,whendidweseeyouhungryorthirstyorastrangerornakedorsickorinprison,anddidnotministertoyou?’Thenhewillanswerthem,saying,‘Truly,Isaytoyou,asyoudidnotdoittooneoftheleastofthese,youdidnotdoittome.’Andthesewillgoawayintoeternalpunishment,buttherighteousintoeternallife.Matt.25:31-46Thealmostmonotonousrepetitionofdoingactsofloveisprobablyanexampleofsynonymousparallelism;butthekeyquestiontoanswerinunderstandingthemeaningis,“whoare‘mybrothers’,intheparable?”
ii. TheRichManandLazarusTherewasarichmanwhowasclothedinpurpleandfinelinenandwhofeastedsumptuouslyeveryday.AndathisgatewaslaidapoormannamedLazarus,coveredwithsores,whodesiredtobefedwithwhatfellfromtherichman'stable.Moreover,eventhedogscameandlickedhissores.ThepoormandiedandwascarriedbytheangelstoAbraham'sside.Therichmanalsodiedandwasburied,andinHades,beingintorment,helifteduphiseyesandsawAbrahamfaroffandLazarusathisside.Andhecalledout,FatherAbraham,havemercyonme,andsendLazarustodiptheendofhisfingerinwaterandcoolmytongue,forIaminanguishinthisflame.’ButAbrahamsaid,‘Child,rememberthatyouinyourlifetimereceivedyourgoodthings,andLazarusinlikemannerbadthings;butnowheiscomfortedhere,andyouareinanguish.Andbesidesallthis,betweenusandyouagreatchasmhasbeenfixed,inorderthatthosewhowouldpassfromheretoyoumaynotbeable,andnonemaycrossfromtheretous.’Andhesaid,‘ThenIbegyou,father,tosendhimtomyfather'shouse—forIhavefivebrothers—sothathemaywarnthem,lesttheyalsocomeintothisplaceoftorment.’ButAbrahamsaid,‘TheyhaveMosesandtheProphets;letthemhearthem.’Andhesaid,‘No,fatherAbraham,butifsomeonegoestothemfromthedead,theywillrepent.’Hesaidtohim,‘IftheydonothearMosesandtheProphets,neitherwilltheybeconvincedifsomeoneshouldrisefromthedead.’Luke16:19-31PeoplehavequestionedwhetherthisisaparableoratruestorybecauseofthefactthatLazarusiscalledbyname.However,theintroductionisverysimilartomanyotherparablesrecordedbyLuke.(SeeLuke10:30;Luke14:16;Luke15:11,Luke16:1;Luke19:2)Theyareallintroducedin
VIII. HistoricalNarrativeFromtheearlychurchandupthroughmostofthe17thcentury,thefacticityofBiblicalnarrativewasnotanissue.Theenlightenmentbroughtrationalisminwhichpeoplebegantodoubtthemiraclesincludedinthehistoricalnarrativesofthebible.Theresultwasapolarizationoftwoextremes:supernaturalistsandnon-supernaturalists.
b. Interpretivemethods
i. SupernaturalistsThisgroupacceptedthemiraclesashistoricaleventsandthereforesawtheliteralmeaningandthehistoricalcontentofthetextasbeingunified.
ii. Non-supernaturalists(naturalists)Thisgroupdidnotacceptthemiraclesasfactbutsoughtotherwaysofdeterminingmeaningfulness(significance)inthenarratives.Intheirattemptstofindmeaning,threegroupsemerged:
i. ContextThe“hermeneuticalcircle”-Thereaderseekstounderstandtheparticularnarrativeinlightofthewholebook.Inturn,understandingtheparticularaidsinunderstandingthewhole.Theauthorassumesthathisreaderwillbefamiliarwithhiswholebookandwillinterpretaparticularstoryinlightofthat.Thisissimilartothewayonewoulduseasinglepieceofapuzzlebasedonwhereitfitsinthewhole.
ii. AuthorialCommentsManytimes,theauthorwilladdacommentthatwillgivethereaderaclueabouthowtointerpretthetext.E.g.:becauseDaviddidwhatwasrightintheeyesoftheLordanddidnotturnasidefromanythingthathecommandedhimallthedaysofhislife,exceptinthematterofUriahtheHittite.1Kings15:5HewalkedinallthewayofAsahisfather.Hedidnotturnasidefromit,doingwhatwasrightinthesightoftheLord.Yetthehighplaceswerenot
iii. RepetitionAnotherwaytheauthorshareshismeaningwiththereaderisbyrepetitionofkeythemes.Highlightingtheauthorialcommentsisagoodwaytoidentitytheserepeatedthemes.E.g.intheBookofJudges,therearetworepeatedthemes:
iv. AuthoritativeSpeakersWhentheauthorattributeswordsdirectlytoGodorJesus,thereaderknowsthattheauthorwantshim,orher,toacceptwhatisbeingsaidastrue.ThisisalsothecaseforwordsattributedtofaithfulservantsofGod;suchaspatriarchs,prophets,andapostles.
iii. MovingfromnormsoflanguagetonormsofutteranceNormsoflanguageinvolvestherangeofmeaningofaterm.Forthis,adictionaryisavaluabletool.However,letterscontainfinelywordedarguments,thereforeitisimportanttoseekthespecificmeaningofaword,astheauthorintendedinaparticulartext(thenormsof
b. HowSentencesareUnderstoodThekeytoolforunderstandingstatementsisgrammar,whichinvolvessyntaxstructures.Thisvariesbetweenlanguages.InEnglish,thepositionofthewordsinasentencedeterminesthemeaningofthesentence.InGreek,theorderofthewordsareirrelevant;ratherit’stheendingofthewordsthatdeterminesmeaning.IntheabsenceofknowingGreek,areaderisonestepremovedfromtheoriginallanguageandthusreliesontheEnglishtranslator.Whilethereareobviousadvantagesinhavingaccesstotheoriginallanguage,itisnotedthatmostEnglishtranslationsareveryreliableintheirabilitytoaccuratelyexpresswhatthebiblicalauthorsintended.
ii. FollowinganArgumentLookatthefollowingexampleinRomans:Leteverypersonbesubjecttothegoverningauthorities.ForthereisnoauthorityexceptfromGod,andthosethatexisthavebeeninstitutedbyGod.ThereforewhoeverresiststheauthoritiesresistswhatGodhasappointed,andthosewhoresistwillincurjudgment.Forrulersarenotaterrortogoodconduct,buttobad.Wouldyouhavenofearoftheonewhoisinauthority?Thendowhatisgood,andyouwillreceivehisapproval,forheisGod'sservantforyourgood.Butifyoudowrong,beafraid,forhedoesnotbeartheswordinvain.ForheistheservantofGod,anavengerwhocarriesoutGod'swrathonthewrongdoer.Thereforeonemustbeinsubjection,notonlytoavoidGod'swrathbutalsoforthesakeofconscience.Forbecauseofthisyoualsopaytaxes,fortheauthoritiesareministersofGod,attendingtothisverything.Paytoallwhatisowedtothem:taxestowhomtaxesareowed,revenuetowhomrevenueisowed,respecttowhomrespectisowed,honortowhomhonorisowed.Rom.13:1-7
i. GreetingorsalutationAseculargreetingorsalutationwouldincludethewriter’snameandtherecipient(s)name.IfitwasaJewishletterthegreetingwouldincludeshalomwhichistypicallytranslatedaspeaceinEnglish.ChristiansaddedgracesothatmostoftheNTletterscontainbothofthese-“Gracetoyouandpeace…”
ii. ThanksgivingorprayerE.g.“IthankGodforyouinJesusChrist”;etc.
iv. ConclusionThereisnostandardkindofconclusion.Sometimestheconclusionisasimplewishforpeace.Inotherlettersitmightconsistofaconcludingautographorabenediction.
i. ParityCovenantThisisacovenantmadebetweenequals.
ii. SuzerainCovenantStudiesinA.N.E.(AncientNearEastern)literature,haverevealedaformoftreatyorcovenantthatstronglyresemblestheformofcovenantfoundintheOT.Unlikeaparitycovenant,theSuzerainCovenantwasaonewaytreatyfromthekingornobletothepeople.Theseweretypicallyacceptedbythepeopleduetothegenerallygraciousnatureofthecovenant.
i. InExodus2,GodhearsthegroaningofIsraelunderthebondageofslaveryinEgypt.GodremembershisformercovenantwithAbraham
ii. InMark14,JesustookthecupattheLastSupperandsaid,“Thisismybloodofthecovenant,whichispouredoutformany”.
iii. Peter,preachingatPentecostinActs3:22ff,recalledtheAbrahamicCovenantbyquotingfromtheOT.“YouarethedescendantsoftheprophetsandofthecovenantthatGodgavetoyourancestors,sayingtoAbraham…”
iv. InwritingtothechurchinCorinth,PaulspeaksabouttheLord’sSupperandreferstothecupastheNewCovenant.
iii. TypesoflawintheOTThelawsoftheOTareessentiallystipulations.Assuch,itisamistaketoviewthemassomesortofmeansofenteringthecovenant.Thereforelegalism;theideaofkeepingthelawtotheextentitwarrantsGod’sgraciousness,isnotapossibility.TypesoflawfoundintheOT:
i. Book1-Psalms1-41;closingwith:BlessedbetheLord,theGodofIsrael,fromeverlastingtoeverlasting!AmenandAmen.Psalm41:13
ii. Book2-Psalms42-72;closingwith:Blessedbehisgloriousnameforever;maythewholeearthbefilledwithhisglory!AmenandAmen!TheprayersofDavid,thesonofJesse,areended.Psalm72:19-20
iii. Book3-Psalms73-89;closingwith:BlessedbetheLordforever!AmenandAmen.Psalm89:52
iv. Book4-Psalms90-106;closingwith:BlessedbetheLord,theGodofIsrael,fromeverlastingtoeverlasting!Andletallthepeoplesay,“Amen!”PraisetheLord!Psalm106:48
v. Book5-Psalms107-150;closingwith:LeteverythingthathasbreathpraisetheLord!PraisetheLord!Psalm150:6Note:theentirePsalmisadoxology.
c. Authorship73PsalmsareattributedtoDavid;12toAsaph;and11tothesonsofKorah.Muchofthearrangementsofthesebooks,andtheeditingworkwasdonebyunknowneditorialists.Thisunderstandthisworkasbeingdivinelyauthorized.HowthePsalmsarearrangedhelpsintheirinterpretation.
d. CategoriesofPsalms
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i. PsalmsofZionZionspeaksofthecityofGod.WhenyouspeakofthegloryofZion,youarespeakingofthegloryofGod.ExamplesincludePsalm46,76,84,87,&122.
ii. RoyalPsalmsThesearepsalmsaboutthekingofIsrael,God’sanointedruleroverhispeople.Typically,whatistrueforthiskingiseventruerfortheultimateKingofkings,Jesus.ThereforethereareMessianicimplicationsintheseRoyalPsalmsthattheNTwritersrecognized.Examplesinclude:Psalm2,18,20,21,45,72,89,101,132,&144.
iii. HymnsExamplesinclude:Psalm19,24,29,47,95-100,&104.
iv. WisdomPsalmsPsalm1,37,49,73,112,127,128,&133
v. PenitentialPsalmsThesePsalmsexpresspenitenceforsinandapleaforforgiveness.Examplesinclude:Psalm6,32,38,51,102,&130.
vi. ImprecatoryPsalmsThesearepetitionstoGodforjudgmentonenemies.Thelanguagecanbedifficultbutwearemostlyshelteredfromthekindofbrutalitytowhichancientpeoplewereexposed.ItisimportanttorememberthatthePsalmistisnotaskingforpersonalvengeance;rathertheyarecallingforGodtoexecutehisjustice.ExamplesincludePsalm35,58,69,83,109,&137.
vii. PraisePsalmsSomeoftheseareindividualinnature.Examplesinclude:8,18,30,32-34,40,66,75,81,92,103,104,106,108,111-113,116,118,135,&138,145-150.OtherpraisePsalmsareclearlycorporateinnature:Psalm65,67,107,114,117,124,&136
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viii. LamentPsalmsAlmostathirdofallthePsalmsarelaments.Thesearenotoftentaughtinchurchservicesbutitisamistaketoavoidthem.Sufferingispartoflifeandtheyareextremelybeneficialisthisregard.Afewexamplesofthemanylamentsare:Psalm13,71,&142.Lamentshaveatypicalfromconsistingof5parts:
i. ScriptureinJesus’dayInJesus’day,theOldTestamentwasalreadyfairlywellestablished.ItconsistedoftheLaw,theProphetsandtheWritings.TheProphetsweresubdividedintoformerandlatterProphets(containingtheMajorandMinorProphets).FortheJewsinJesusday,the12MinorProphetswereconsideredasonesinglebook.
ii. ScriptureintheearlychurchAtPentecost,theBibleofthechurchwastheOldTestament.TheyalsohadtheJesusTraditions.ThesewerethedeedsandwordsofJesusthatwerecirculatedwithgreatcareduringtheperiodbetweenthedeathandresurrectionofJesus,andthewritingoftheGospelsandotherbooksoftheNT.
b. Theriseofcanonconsideration
i. TheheresyofMarcionMarcionwasaGnostic,aChristianheretic,whodeniedtheOTandalltheGospelsexceptLuke.HeendedupclaimingaBiblethatconsistedofLukeand10lettersofPaul.ThiswasrejectedbyChristiansbutitbeganthediscussionaboutwhatbooksshouldbeconsideredasScripture.
ii. CodexinventionCodexwasanewformofwritingmaterialthatreplacedthescroll.Scrollsweretypicallylimitedtoabout20feetorless.Withtheadventofcodex,multiplebookscouldbeassembledtogether.Thiscausedthechurchtocontinuetowrestlewiththeproblemofwhichbookswouldbeincludedintheassembledcodex.
i. NewTestamentreferencesTherearenumerousreferencesintheNewTestamentthatindicatethepassingonoftheJesustraditionsandtheacknowledgmentofauthoritativeScripturebeyondtheOldTestament.TheserepresentthebeginninggermformofacanonofScripture.
i. EusebiusEusebiuswasagreatchurchhistorianwhosummarizedthewritingsoftheNewTestamentandwhocharacterizedtheantilegomenabooksasbeingacceptedbythemajority.Thisdemonstratedthat,byEusebius’day,the27booksofourNewTestamentwereacceptedbythemajority.
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ii. Recognitionofour27NTbooksFurtherrecognitionofthe21NTbooksascanonicalwasmadeby:
i. ApostolicauthorshipWasthebookwrittenbyanapostleoronecloselyassociatedwithanapostle?E.g.Mark’sassociationwithPeterandLuke’sassociationwithPaul?
ii. ContinuoususageWasthebookusedfromtheearlyyearsofthechurchorwasita“Johnny-come-lately”?
iii. UnityandagreementDidthebookcontainconflictswithotherbooksofthecanon?
iv. SuperintendenceoftheHolySpiritIntheprovidenceofGod,HenotonlyguidedwriterstorecordtheScripturesthroughinspiration;Healsoguidedthepreservationandrecognitionofthoseinspiredbooks.
f. ThearrangementofNTbooksTheNTbooksarearrangedinlogicalorderratherthanchronologicalorder.ThefourGospelsweregroupedtogether,followedbyActs.Paul’sletterswerearrangedbysize.HebrewswasassociatedwithPaulandwaslocatedattheendofhisletters.Thiswasfollowedbythecatholic(universalepistles).Revelationtakesustotheendofhistoryandis,therefore,placedattheendoftheBible.
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g. Concludingcomments
i. InerrancyAlthoughmanuscriptcopiesareextremelyaccurate,itispreferabletotalkaboutinerrancyinthecontextoftheoriginalautographs.
ii. InspirationThewritersrecognizedthatwhattheywerewritingwasinspiredandthereforauthoritative.(References:1Thess.5:27;2Thess.3:14;1Cor.14:37;1Cor.7:17;