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THE SCIENCE AND ART OF
INTERPRETATION
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GRAMMATICAL-HISTORICAL-CONTEXTUAL
METHOD or
“Literal Method”
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ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES
1. Linguistic
2. Contextual
3. Historical
4. Cultural 5. Metaphorical
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METAPHORICAL
Interpret according to appropriate metaphorical
conventions Natal
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FIGURES - Kinds 1. Symbols
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SYMBOLS E = MC2
A = pr2
H2O
Tan q = y/x
V = d/t
A = v/t
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INTERPRETING SYMBOLS
1. Definite Meaning 2. Bible Interprets 3. Few Un-interpreted 4. Possibility of Multiple Uses
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FIGURES - Kinds 1. Symbols 2. Comparisons
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COMPARISON
v Simile - explicit
v Metaphor - implicit
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FIGURES - Kinds 1. Symbols 2. Comparisons 3. Substitutions
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SUBSTITUTION
Ø Personification - personality Ø Anthropomorphism - humanity Ø Metonymy - substitution Ø Hendiadys - coordinate Ø Merism - totality Ø Euphemism - indirect
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FIGURES - Kinds 1. Symbols 2. Comparisons 3. Substitutions 4. Omissions
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OMMISSION
v Ellipsis - omissions
v Rhetorical Questions - not needed
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FIGURES - Kinds 1. Symbols 2. Comparisons 3. Substitutions 4. Omissions 5. Overstatement
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OVERSTATEMENT
v Hyperbole - exaggeration
v Irony - different
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FIGURES - Kinds 1. Symbols 2. Comparisons 3. Substitutions 4. Omissions 5. Overstatement 6. Inconsistency
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INCONSISTENCY
v Paradox - seeming contradiction
v Oxymoron - opposites combined
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IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
7. Literary
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LITERARY Take literary form into
consideration in interpretation
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LITERARY FORM 1. Narrative 2. Poetry 3. Discourse 4. Prophetic 5. Parabolic 6. Other
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IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
1. Literary 2. Single Meaning
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SINGLE MEANING
Meaning in each text is single, definite, & fixed
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SINGLE MEANING 1. Words & sentences can have
but one meaning 2. Author’s intended meaning 3. One interpretation but many
applications 4. Sensus plenior - subjectivity 5. NT Authors - inspiration
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IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
1. Literary 2. Single Meaning 3. Clarity 4. Unity
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CLARITY
Scripture was intended to be understood
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UNITY
Use Scripture to interpret Scripture
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IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
1. Literary 2. Single Meaning 3. Clarity 4. Unity 5. Analogy
6. Progress
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ANALOGY
No interpretation of a passage can contradict
the rest of Scripture
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PROGRESSIVE REVELATION
God has revealed His mind over time
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IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
1. Literary 2. Single Meaning 3. Clarity 4. Unity 5. Analogy
6. Progress 7. Logical 8. Supernatural
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LOGICAL
Utilize basic principles of logic & communication
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LOGICAL Ø Priority of Objectivity Ø Eliminate
Subjectivity Ø Give writer
benefit of doubt 1Cor 13:12
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SUPERNATURAL
Interpret Scripture as a divine book
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IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
1. Literary 2. Single Meaning 3. Clarity 4. Unity 5. Analogy
6. Progress 7. Logical 8. Supernatural 9. Finite 10. Christological
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FINITE
Interpret aware of mystery in Scripture
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CHRISTOLOGICAL
Interpret with Christ as central to All Scripture
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THE SCIENCE AND ART OF
INTERPRETATION
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GRAMMATICAL-HISTORICAL-CONTEXTUAL
METHOD or
“Literal Method”
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ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES
1. Linguistic
2. Contextual
3. Historical
4. Cultural 5. Metaphorical
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IDEA-DRIVEN
ü Preacher -> need
ü Biblical Texts ü Illustrations ü Incomplete
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TEXT-DRIVEN ü H.S. ->
guided ü Sentence by
Sentence ü Apologetics ü Theology ü Whole Counsel
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BIBLE HERMENEUTICS HERMENEUTICS
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
EXEGESIS
EXPOSITION
SPECIAL HERMENEUTICS
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SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Ø Observation - data collection
Ø Generalization - relationships
Ø Verification -
testing
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Fo
un
der
s O
f S
cien
ce
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SCIENTIFIC METHOD
SCIENCE EXEGESIS 1. Observation Nature Text 2. Generalization Hypothesis Interpretation
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GENERALIZATION Hypothesis ->
Theory -> Law
Interpretation -> Doctrine -> Orthodoxy
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SCIENTIFIC METHOD
SCIENCE EXEGESIS 1. Observation Nature Text 2. Generalization Hypothesis Interpretation 3. Verification Testing Substantiation
4. Utilization Engineering Application Construction Exposition
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SUGGESTIONS 1. Be Objective
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SUGGESTIONS 1. Be Objective 2. Do Simultaneously 3. Be Selective 4. Practice Principles 5. Cannot Exhaust 6. Be Filled with HS
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PRELIMINARY EXEGESIS
1. Book Study