Biblical hermeneutics

So, I'm taking a 12 week course in Biblical hermeneutics and was curious whether others have also, if there's any advice to help better prepare for this course..... please feel free to share any input. I've always heard Pastors speak about and emphasize context context context. But more or less having not been trained in a process of interpretation has been somewhat of a disadvantage. The pickings were between global missions, evangelism, and biblical hermeneutics in a discipleship program. Have to say that I'm pretty excited about this course and I look forward to learning with others sharing the same interests.


Question: "What is Biblical hermeneutics?"

http://www.gotquestions.org/Biblical-hermeneutics.html

Edited by SF Staff

[theophilus]

This is an excellent post. We wouldn't have so much false teaching about the Bible if more people understood these principles and followed them.

Originally Posted by TeeHee

The most important law of biblical hermeneutics is that the Bible should be interpreted literally.

Otherwise known as fundamentalism.

Originally Posted by LIFE

Otherwise known as fundamentalism.

Which always works out fine. Just look at the lovely people at the Westboro Baptist Church if you have any doubts.

Originally Posted by Animus27

Which always works out fine. Just look at the lovely people at the Westboro Baptist Church if you have any doubts.

Yes indeed- a very fine and slippery line between biblical literalism (i.e., religious fundamentalism) and fanaticism of one shape or another.

With that being said, lets go handle some poisonous snakes!

I always wonder how one intends to discover the true meaning of the words of the Bible after it has been translated into so many languages from the original writings...

[Reverend Keith]

Something I'd like to point out is that these hermeneutical rules on how to interpret the Bible are not, for the most part, actually FOUND in the Bible. They become a filter between the interpreter and the text. No way of avoiding that, of course, and better to have your filters right out in the open where you can examine them. But we shouldn't make the mistake of thinking our hermeneutical rules are the Word of God.

For example, the rule about always preferring the literal meaning of the text. Many of the early fathers of the Church often violated this rule, as did the authors of the New Testament. Often, the symbolic or hidden meaning of the text was considered the "true" or "spiritual" meaning.

Originally Posted by tragblack

I always wonder how one intends to discover the true meaning of the words of the Bible after it has been translated into so many languages from the original writings...

So many varying languages (Entire bible or sections into over 2,000 languages)

So many divergent translations (over 450 in the english language alone)

So many revisions

[Triner]

Originally Posted by Reverend Keith

Something I'd like to point out is that these hermeneutical rules on how to interpret the Bible are not, for the most part, actually FOUND in the Bible. They become a filter between the interpreter and the text. No way of avoiding that, of course, and better to have your filters right out in the open where you can examine them. But we shouldn't make the mistake of thinking our hermeneutical rules are the Word of God.

For example, the rule about always preferring the literal meaning of the text. Many of the early fathers of the Church often violated this rule, as did the authors of the New Testament. Often, the symbolic or hidden meaning of the text was considered the "true" or "spiritual" meaning.

Hmm, wouldn't the literal interpretation kinda defeat the purpose of all of the allegorical stories and parables?

Most great literature is translated from the original language so many people can enjoy or benefit from it. So what? If the subject interests one should that prevent one reading a translation?

As for Westboro "Baptist" Church they seem to me to be a one man sect which no other church organization will touch because of a blatant disregard of the most fundamental beliefs of Christianity, such as love, compassion, non judgmentalism, etc.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whosoever believes on him should not perish but have eternal life."