 Interpretation of Word of god

CONSEQUENCES OF WRONG
HERMENEUTICAL METHODS
CONSEQUENCES OF WRONG HERMENEUTIC METHODS

THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD Repented, humbled, divine fear

16Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has
been committed to them. 17They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have
entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” 18Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the
priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. 19When the king heard the
words of the Law, he tore his robes. 20He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of
Micah, a Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21“Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for
the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s
anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in
accordance with all that is written in this book.”
2 Chronicles 34:16-21

27Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke
against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in
my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.
2 Chronicles 34:27
CONSEQUENCES OF WRONG HERMENEUTIC METHODS

THE WRONG RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD Lack of reverence to God’s words

20After they put the scroll in the room of Elishama the secretary, they went to the king in the courtyard and
reported everything to him. 21The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of
Elishama the secretary and read it to the king and all the officials standing beside him. 22It was the ninth
month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him.
23Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and
threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. 24The king and all his attendants who
heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes.
Jeremiah 37:20-24

31I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those
living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not
listened.’
Jeremiah 37:31
CHURCH HISTORY

THE EARLY CHURCH

Alexandrian School of Thought
 Medieval Quadriga: One scripture verse can have 4 different
styles of meanings
– Literal interpretation of scripture
– Moral interpretation of scripture
– Mystical interpretation of scripture
– Ecclesiastical, anagogical
 By 4th century enforced in catholic church
 By 12th century affirmed by Thomas Aquinas
 Bible was not available to common man
 Was in Latin, any person reading the Bible was a sin
 Only priest could interpret the Bible
 Most of the catholic norms, Bible was below the sacraments,
below church authority and below charities
 Church traditions came over the scripture
 Common man had no clue what Bible meant
Antiochian School of Thought
 Followed the literal interpretation of scripture
 Called literalist, traditional grammatic historical method
 Grammatic-historical-literal synthesis hermeneutics
 During 15th century, reformation Martin Luther, Huldrych
Zwingli, John Calvin
 Sola Scriptura: a complete reliance on Scripture as the
only source of proper doctrine
Scripture is clear even for a common man
Single meaning of the scripture: A verse can
have only one meaning as the author intended
unless and otherwise exceptional change the
context demand so
ANTIOCHIAN SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

OBJECTIVITY OF THE SCRIPTURE

 Word of God
 Ultimate Authority
 Authenticity of the scripture
– Inerrant
– Infallible
– All sufficient
– Inspired
 When the scripture speaks, God speaks

The reality of the divine

inspirational scripture
MOST POPULAR HERMENEUTIC METHODS
OUR GENERATION OF HERMENEUTICS
Post-Reformation
 17th century, René Descartes laid the
foundation for enlightenment thinking
 Intellectualism, extreme rationale
 Epistemology
 Existential subjectivism
 Human reason and rationale
 Bible is full of myths and superstitions
 Studied Bible as book of science,
literary text
 Literal-historical-critical methods
through a chaotic time
 Denied the inspiration and dual
authorship of the Bible (verbal plenary
inspiration)
Modern era
 Textual autonomy
(independence of the Bible)
 Human reason, philosophy
and rationale as a starting
point when studying Bible
Our generation going
Post-Modern era
 Suspicion hermeneutics
 Full of errors
 Liberal theology
 Moral, social, charitable,
sympathetic, emotional,
humanistic messages
 Universalism, tolerance,
ecumenical
 Ethno-theology, cultural-based
theology and liberation
theology (black theology, dalit
theology, social theology,
feminist theology, etc.)
GOSPEL

RIGHT HERMENEUTICS
 Gospel transforms a man inside out
 Jesus is 100% God, incarnate, Lamb of God who took the sin of the world, died on the cross, redeemed humanity
 Perspicuity of the scripture (clarity)
 Grammatical, historical, literal, synthesis and practical approach
 Normative way of studying scripture where we give Bible the ultimate authority
 Sensus Literalis

Dangers of hermeneutics
 Emphasis given to application  Single meaning of text principle
 What can I get out of the text? What  What did god mean in this text?
does this text mean to me?
RIGHT HERMENEUTICS

HYPERBOLE
Hyperbole > Exaggeration of the statement to bring out literal truth

6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large
millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Don’t cause these little ones to sin
Matthew 18:6

29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your
body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. We should not tolerate sin in life and take aggregate actions
Matthew 5:29 not to sin.

4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. Don’t waste your time greetings, don’t
Luke 10:4 get distracted, and focus on your mission

25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
Luke 9:25 Futility of life without God, an unsaved life.
The importance of God and having salvation of soul
RIGHT HERMENEUTICS

HYPERBOLE
Hyperbole > Exaggeration of the statement to bring out literal truth

39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me
everything I ever did.” Jesus did not say everything
John 4:39

26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the
one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.
John 3:26

19So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone
after him!”
John 12:19
RIGHT HERMENEUTICS

HYPERBOLE
Hyperbole > Exaggeration of the statement to bring out literal truth

5Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah,
either before him or after him. Jesus did not say everything
2 Kings 18:5

26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—
the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.
2 Kings 23:25

19So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone
after him!”
John 12:19
MOST POPULAR HERMENEUTIC METHODS APPLIED

SELF-GRATIFICATION HERMENEUTICS
 My personal desire, scripture revolves around me
 Hedonist method
 Narcigesis means self love
 Prosperity gospel, e.g.,

9Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, a saying, “I gave birth to him
in pain.” 10Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your
hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10

 Importance of synthesis principle, one truth of the scripture is always explained in the rest of the scripture

Scripture never contradicts Scripture

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9