Many of us want to understand the Bible better than we have in the past. We also want to know that we are interpreting the scriptures correctly. We want to be confident that we can pull the actual truth out of a text, and not develop an incorrect explanation. The process of grasping biblical meaning is similar to going on a journey. Reading the text thoroughly and carefully lies at the beginning of the journey. From this watchful understanding we become able to determine what the passage meant to the biblical audience of that time period.
When we try to apply the scriptural meaning directly to ourselves, we run into problems. We are separated from the biblical audience by culture and customs, language, situation, and a vast expanse of time. These differences form a river that separates us from the meaning of the text for ourselves. Any attempt to interpret and to apply the Bible involves trying to cross the river. While often unconscious of their interpretive method, many Christians today nonetheless frequently employ an intuitive or feels-right approach to interpretation.
If the text looks as if it could be applied directly, then they attempt to apply it directly. If not, then they take a spiritualizing approach to the meaning — an approach that borders on allegorizing the biblical text (which shows little or no sensitivity to the biblical context). Or else they simply shrug their shoulders and move on to another passage, ignoring the meaning of the text altogether.
We need a consistent approach that does not leave us stranded on the banks of the interpretive river, and one that does not dump us into the river to be washed ashore downstream. We need a way to study the Bible to cross over the river with validity and accuracy. Below are a few details you may find helpful in better understanding the topic of Hermeneutics
1.
Hermeneutics is all about
interpretation in fields of study such as interpreting plays, novels, or the Bible, but also in day-to-day life such
as interpreting the actions of our friends or what our employment means in the
context of our life.
2.
Hermeneutics is the art of
understanding and of making oneself understood. It goes beyond mere logical
analysis and general interpretive principles.
3.
Philosophical hermeneutics refers to
the detailed and systematic examination of human understanding that began with
the German philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900-2002). He argued that our
perception of the world is not primarily theoretical but practical. We don’t
assess objects neutrally from a distance, but they disclose themselves to us as
we move around in an already existing totality of meaningful relations.
4.
The word ‘hermeneutics’ comes from
the ancient Greek language. Hermeneuein
means ‘to utter, to explain, to translate, and was first used by thinkers who
discussed how divine messages or mental ideas are expressed in human language.
[i] Sources used:
· “9 facts about hermeneutics” By Jens Zimmermann
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