BASIC HERMENEUTICS

“But these are written that

you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you
may have life in his name.”
(John 20:31)
 What is HERMENEUTICS?

From the Greek word

hermeneuo that means “to
interpret, translate, or explain.”
Greek thoughts Hermes was a
messenger of their God. His job
is to deliver and interpret divine
messages.
 What is HERMENEUTICS?

• The science and art of biblical

interpretation. (Virkler)
• Science because it has rules and these rules
can be classified into an orderly system.
• Art because communication is flexible…and
rigid application of rules will sometimes
distort the true meaning of a
communication.
 What is HERMENEUTICS?

• The science and art of biblical

interpretation. (Virkler)
• Science because it has rules and these rules
can be classified into an orderly system.
• Art because communication is flexible…and
rigid application of rules will sometimes
distort the true meaning of a
communication.
 Four Reasons to Study
Hermeneutics
• To learn principles of Interpretation
The antidote to bad interpretation is not no
interpretation but good interpretation, based on
common-sense guidelines.”
• To learn skills in answering difficult questions
• To learn to stand on God’s Word without stumbling
• To learn to cross the gaps between Biblical Times
and Our Times
 TENSION
Eternal Relevance Historical Particularity

HUMAN DIVINE
 The Goals of Biblical Interpreter

First: “What did the author mean?”

[OBSERVATION/INTERPRETATION]
To know what is said to its original hearers
and why.
To understand the then and there, or the task
for Exegesis
The Biblical world (Context, setting,
historical and cultural background, meanings,
author’s intent, occasion)
 The Goals of Biblical Interpreter
Second: “What does it mean for us today?” (Deriving
Principles) [CORRELATION]
To learn to hear the Word the writers heard
To find the relevance of the Word in the here and now
The present world (situation, condition, language,
status of relationship, morals and values, practices,
pop culture, acceptable ethics)
 The Goals of Biblical Interpreter
Third: “What will I do about it?” [APPLICATION]
The goal is to find similarity in concept, universal
principle, particular principle, contextual
application, language, morals and values, common
convictions, etc., then apply the drawn message to
these realities.
Interpretation without application is abortion
Exegesis: The First Task of
Interpretation
[OBSERVATION/INTERPRETATI
ON]
Question: “What did the author
mean?”
What is Exegesis?
From the Greek word exegeisthai,
meaning “to lead out”
(ex, “out” + hegeisthai, “to lead”)
Background of the Book Historical-
Five questions about the author Cultural
• Who was he? Background
• When did he write the book?
• What setting was he in?
• What relationship did he have with those to
whom he wrote?
• What was his purpose?
Three questions about those who received the biblical
book.
• Who were they?
• What was their city or town like?
• What was their social status? (Were they Jews?
Wealthy? Slaves? Educated?)
Background of a specific passage Historical-
Cultural
Some specific passages need further understanding.
Background
• The Genealogy of Christ (Mt. 1: 1-17)
• Historical figures like the magi (Mt. 2:1-12)
• The meaning of cultural items like myrrh (Mt.
2:11)
• The historical background of the Pharisees,
Sadducees, Herods, Herodians, and the Zealots
• The location of places like Bethlehem, Jerusalem,
Nazareth, Tyre, Sidon, Galilee, Capernaum, and
others
• The cross
 Literary Context

• The written context

A person who ignores his social context will
miss the meaning of life…and those who ignore
the literary context will miss the meaning of a
verse. C
• The meaning is in the text
• Out-of-context (ex. Phil. 4:13; Jer. 29:11)
 Literary Context

One verse reading can be complicated

• Do not preach to the Gentiles, but only to Jews (Mt. 10:5)
• Do not take money on a trip, but do go barefooted (Mt.
10:10)
• Preach standing on top of the house (Mt. 10:27)
• Teach sitting in a boat (Mk. 4:1)
• It is God’s will to turn sons against their fathers (Mt. 10:36)
• Sacrificing a bull is like killing a man (Isa. 66:3)
• Believers do not need teachers (public school is unbiblical)1
(Jn. 2:27)
• Spit before you pray for people (Mk. 8:23)
 Literary Context

Understand the verse by considering

• Same author, different book
• Same testament, different author
• Different author, different testament
 Literary Context
How to Interpret a Passage?

Immediate Context

Wider Context
Book Context

Whole Bible Context

 Word
Meanings
• Taking a microscopic look at the origin,
definition, occurrences, and uses of a
particular word, especially as it relates
to the context of a passage of Scripture.
• Correct interpretation of biblical truths
depends on the correct understanding of
the words used to convey these truths
 Word
Word Study requires… Meanings

• Finding the meaning of the word in the original language

God – Theos (Gk); Yahweh/Elohim (Heb); Eli (Aram)
• Finding the meaning of the word by its biblical usage: 1
Corinthians 13:1-13
• Finding the meaning of the word by its socio-cultural use
Oil – olive oil, fuel, food, healing, anointing, offering
• Finding the meaning of the word by its function in the text
Word: LOVE, John 21:15-17
 Word
Meanings
• 15
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon
Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly agape me
more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know
that I fileo you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly
agape me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that
I fileo you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do
you fileo me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked
him the third time, "Do you fileo me?" He said,
"Lord, you know all things; you know that I fileo
you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
Deriving Principles: The Second Task of
Interpretation [CORRELATION]
Question: “What does it mean for us today?”
• After getting the original meaning of the text
the second task is identify the similar message
for us.
• In this task we derive the comparable
particulars or common idea, and similar
principles, situation, teachings, ethics, belief
and practices.
INTERPRETATION CORRELATION APPLICATION

The Biblical The Present

World World
• Common belief – “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23); “by
grace [we] have been saved, through faith.” (Eph.
2:8); “Clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience” (Col. 3:12)
• Similar situation – local churches with leaders,
families
• Comparable situation – how local churches look like
in the Bible as compared to present time; master and
slave relationship is similar to boss and employee
relationship.
• Comparable idea – physical circumcision to spiritual
circumcision (holiness); flesh and blood to bread and wine
(symbols-buco juice and meat)
• Deriving principle - 6 "These words, which I am commanding you
today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your
sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you
walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 "You
shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on
your forehead. 9 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house
and on your gates. (Deut. 6:6-9). The passage is telling that parents are
responsible in teaching and reminding their children of God’s
command at all times.
Workshop: Matthew 18:20
APPLICATION
“What will I do about it?”
Application is Hardwork…
1. because it requires serious thinking.
2. because Satan fights it viciously.
3. because we naturally resist change.
Four factors in writing out a good application
• Your application should be personal. First person.
• Your application should be practical. Doable.
• Your application should be possible. Can be
accomplished in a given time frame.
• Your application should be provable. It can be
measured.
Workshop
Text: Acts 17:11
11
Now the Bereans were of more noble
character than the Thessalonians, for they
received the message with great eagerness
and examined the Scriptures every day to
see if what Paul said was true.