Agreed, although the first two qualifications are one and the same.
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Bible Study Hermeneutics = interpretation
- Thread starter farouk
- Start date
I always liked Hermen.
Someday I'll get to know him better.
Someday I'll get to know him better.
The disciples pondered the many sayings of The Christ. They often went to him and asked in private for the meanings behind his words. Eventually Jesus told them that "My word has made you clean."
That too was spoken in a parable about growth and results:
My simple thought is that we too, as disciples who sit at the feet of their Master, must do their own 'hermaneutic'.
Saying that we don't need tools to help us as we study is like saying that those of us who write don't need dictionaries or a thesaurus. Sure, we can look at great writes (consider Samuel Clemens as Mark Twain) could he rightly say that writers don't need rules or guidelines? During the learning process there are many tools that are needed simply because of the confusion that was introduced into languages 1,000's of years ago.
Agreed, the Holy Spirit is our Teacher. No doubt about it. For those of us that find history to be chock full of valuable lessons it seems pretty obvious that there is nothing inherently evil with instruction be it from man (who is taught by God) or from God Himself.
Who may build upon the foundation without studying the basics first?
That too was spoken in a parable about growth and results:
My simple thought is that we too, as disciples who sit at the feet of their Master, must do their own 'hermaneutic'.
Saying that we don't need tools to help us as we study is like saying that those of us who write don't need dictionaries or a thesaurus. Sure, we can look at great writes (consider Samuel Clemens as Mark Twain) could he rightly say that writers don't need rules or guidelines? During the learning process there are many tools that are needed simply because of the confusion that was introduced into languages 1,000's of years ago.
Agreed, the Holy Spirit is our Teacher. No doubt about it. For those of us that find history to be chock full of valuable lessons it seems pretty obvious that there is nothing inherently evil with instruction be it from man (who is taught by God) or from God Himself.
Who may build upon the foundation without studying the basics first?
Speaking of Dictionaries, we might consider the Oxford English Dictionary (it's good for word origins) as we stop and think about our language structures and the various words that are currently at the disposal of English speaking students.
For instance if we went to OED and look at the various words that included "EPI" we would find a wealth of information. One just can't miss the word "Episcopalians". The word is something that just arrests your eye. There are about four columns dedicated to it. So if we were to begin a preliminary examination of our language itself and try to peer behind the scenes somewhat we could compare the sheer number of words in our vocabulary that are based on this segment of our society to another group, the Baptists, for instance.
There are less than three columns there. Shall we compose a mini-essay on the subject? Is there an unwitting bias in the Oxford English Dictionary? What about "Presbyterians"? How many words or space do words that are common to this group given? Words like ophthalmology, presbyopia (far-sightedness) may be considered. "Presbyter" means 'elder'. The old Presbyterians were known as "the fighting saints," and words were often the weapon of choice. I was surprised by just how many of 'their' words are found in our common language.
The Episcopals didn't go through a series of schisms so they are missing a column on "Reformed Episcopals" and you won't find a distinct "Bible Believing Episcopalians" category. But just because they have fewer columns, this does not mean they have fewer concepts. An "episcopacy" is an oversight or ecclesiastical authority. One may be an episcopal, of course, but to be episcopable means "qualified for appointment as a bishop."
Coming to an understanding that may be agreed upon by those who study words and/or documents is not evel and they who do 'dat is not evel-doers. As a final example, consider the word 'episcopicide'. This the crime of murdering a bishop.
~Sparrow
For instance if we went to OED and look at the various words that included "EPI" we would find a wealth of information. One just can't miss the word "Episcopalians". The word is something that just arrests your eye. There are about four columns dedicated to it. So if we were to begin a preliminary examination of our language itself and try to peer behind the scenes somewhat we could compare the sheer number of words in our vocabulary that are based on this segment of our society to another group, the Baptists, for instance.
There are less than three columns there. Shall we compose a mini-essay on the subject? Is there an unwitting bias in the Oxford English Dictionary? What about "Presbyterians"? How many words or space do words that are common to this group given? Words like ophthalmology, presbyopia (far-sightedness) may be considered. "Presbyter" means 'elder'. The old Presbyterians were known as "the fighting saints," and words were often the weapon of choice. I was surprised by just how many of 'their' words are found in our common language.
The Episcopals didn't go through a series of schisms so they are missing a column on "Reformed Episcopals" and you won't find a distinct "Bible Believing Episcopalians" category. But just because they have fewer columns, this does not mean they have fewer concepts. An "episcopacy" is an oversight or ecclesiastical authority. One may be an episcopal, of course, but to be episcopable means "qualified for appointment as a bishop."
Coming to an understanding that may be agreed upon by those who study words and/or documents is not evel and they who do 'dat is not evel-doers. As a final example, consider the word 'episcopicide'. This the crime of murdering a bishop.
~Sparrow
TimothyW
Member
For Qualifications of an Interpreter, I would add "must know the language they are interpreting" to your excellent list. New Testament Greek and/or Hebrew.
MysticalJourney
Member
The reason we have so much bad doctrine in the church today, is because everyone thinks all they need is the Holy Spirit and whatever idea pops into their head and they are a prophet or have a new doctrine. I'm not even talking traditional divisions, but some of the weird and crazy things that are being preached on the TV and internet today.
Proper hermeneutics means reading in context. Do you know what that means? It means not pulling a single verse out of the context of that passage, chapter, book, testament and the Bible. You have to read each part of the Bible, thinking about what the rest of Scripture says.
We need to look at what the Biblical author was saying to the people he was writing to. The culture, the history and the geography are part of this. Understanding what has gone before and after the passage.
Then we need to understand the language the passage was written in. That means using tools, and searching deep. Hermeneutics comes from the Greek word "hermeneuein" which means "to explain, interpret or to translate."
When we have a a background in culture and language, we still need to look closely at the grammar and genre. Poetry means something completely different than a narrative or an epistle.
After we have interpreted, the hope is that we can apply it to our lives. Even Jesus knew these basic principles. When Satan quoted the Bible to him to tempt him, he realized that not everything written in the Bible was specifically speaking to him (and he was the Son of God!) and rebuked Satan with the correct Scripture.
Let us all hope we can learn to read and interpret the Bible correctly, and thus not have the divisions in the church that keep arising because of lack of understanding of hermeneutics!
Proper hermeneutics means reading in context. Do you know what that means? It means not pulling a single verse out of the context of that passage, chapter, book, testament and the Bible. You have to read each part of the Bible, thinking about what the rest of Scripture says.
We need to look at what the Biblical author was saying to the people he was writing to. The culture, the history and the geography are part of this. Understanding what has gone before and after the passage.
Then we need to understand the language the passage was written in. That means using tools, and searching deep. Hermeneutics comes from the Greek word "hermeneuein" which means "to explain, interpret or to translate."
When we have a a background in culture and language, we still need to look closely at the grammar and genre. Poetry means something completely different than a narrative or an epistle.
After we have interpreted, the hope is that we can apply it to our lives. Even Jesus knew these basic principles. When Satan quoted the Bible to him to tempt him, he realized that not everything written in the Bible was specifically speaking to him (and he was the Son of God!) and rebuked Satan with the correct Scripture.
Let us all hope we can learn to read and interpret the Bible correctly, and thus not have the divisions in the church that keep arising because of lack of understanding of hermeneutics!
farouk
Member
The classic bad example is:
"And Judas went and hanged himself."
"Go thou and do likewise."
Tony Hyman
Member
I think the "golden rule of interpretation" as it is understood in Common and Statutary Law, also applies here. "A persons meaning is much stronger than how he says or writes it."
A famous judge in my country pointed out that .It is a problem inherant in any lanquage that we can never really say or write what we mean with perfection.So we should follow the meaning of what Christ said or the Apostles or Patriarchs wrote or had transcribed bearing in mind the human failings regarding interpretation and translation as well as the period and context as well as the particular audience the speaker or writer is adressing within his meaning.
It is trite knowledge that an evil person twists the meaning of what a person says or writes taking what a person says without reagard to the meaning and twisting that meaning to the advantage of those evil ends.Satan would be a spesialist in that field, I believe.So one needs to be guided by the power of The Spirit.
A famous judge in my country pointed out that .It is a problem inherant in any lanquage that we can never really say or write what we mean with perfection.So we should follow the meaning of what Christ said or the Apostles or Patriarchs wrote or had transcribed bearing in mind the human failings regarding interpretation and translation as well as the period and context as well as the particular audience the speaker or writer is adressing within his meaning.
It is trite knowledge that an evil person twists the meaning of what a person says or writes taking what a person says without reagard to the meaning and twisting that meaning to the advantage of those evil ends.Satan would be a spesialist in that field, I believe.So one needs to be guided by the power of The Spirit.
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I would agree with your assessment. It is easy to think that we are being guided by the Holy Spirit even when we are not. Every word of the 'more sure word of prophecy' is profitable.
2 Timothy 3:16 (GNV) | In Context | Whole Chapter
For the whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable to teach, to convince, to correct, and to instruct in righteousness
Profitable to:
- Teach
- Convince
- Correct
- Instruct in righteousness
... and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we didn't seek it in the days of Sha'ul [King Saul]. All the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
[1Ch 13:3-4 HNV]
[1Ch 13:3-4 HNV]
What could possibly be wrong here? It is good for the Arc to be in the possession of the children of Israel.
- David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader:
- "Let us bring the ark of our God back to us."
- For the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
- The ark of God represented the immediate presence and glory of God in Israel.
- David considered it a high priority to bring the ark out of obscurity.
- David wanted Israel to be alive with a sense of the near presence and glory of God.
There can be no fake leading of the Holy Spirit allowed. The Body of Christ is given a gift by the Holy Spirit called The Discernment of Spirits.
It is correct to say that we do indeed need to study the Word of Truth while joined intimately with The Teacher who is with us as we learn of His Way. It is His job to teach us. We are also commanded to be no longer ignorant concerning Spiritual [things]. Doing what seems right in our own sight without the Holy Spirit is as bad as trying to study the Word of Truth out there on our own while making stuff up. Nothing good can come from it.
~Sparrowhawke
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K
kevinmaynard
Guest
I believe the best tools for interpreting the bible is my own brain, and conscience.
If I read a passage that is troubling I think about it. What is God saying. Would God really say something like that?
If I read a passage that is troubling I think about it. What is God saying. Would God really say something like that?
farouk
Member
...with the Holy Spirit giving light and understanding so that our conscience is informed by Scripture...
K
kevinmaynard
Guest
...with the Holy Spirit giving light and understanding so that our conscience is informed by Scripture...
I don't disagree. However, a thoughtful mind is required to understand. Idea of I get a feeling or compelled by emotion is often what people refer to as being guided by the holy spirit. The bible is a book. The mind is the best tool to understand it.
T
Tristan
Guest
Everyone has an interpretation. Everyone thinks they're right. Most people will claim to be led by the Holy Spirit. Almost everyone can back up what they believe by using scripture. You can read something and interpret whatever you want. People do it all the time, and we have historical evidence of the atrocities that have been committed by people claiming to be carrying a message from God.
I worry when I see people worshiping Bible instead of the God who inspired it...or worse, arguing that because a belief is mainstream, that it's correct. In order to verify, I believe one should look outside of the source. This gets people into a trouble though...
I worry when I see people worshiping Bible instead of the God who inspired it...or worse, arguing that because a belief is mainstream, that it's correct. In order to verify, I believe one should look outside of the source. This gets people into a trouble though...
farouk
Member
Well actually I would understand the Holy Spirit as an essential Person, one of the three Persons of the Godhead, Who gives light and understanding of the Scriptures.
Acts speaks of 'Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened'.
The Lord Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, in John: 'He shall not speak of Himself'; 'He shall glorify Me'.