Essay about How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

The introduction deals with the ideas of authority and perspective, and how they function properly in the process of Biblical interpretation. A key idea is that reading is a dialogue between the text and the reader. Both sides have a role to play. If we acknowledge this, then we must also acknowledge that the perspective of the reader has some significance in how the Bible is interpreted and exercises authority. This dialogical reading transcends the categories of ‘objective’ and ‘subjective’, and

Moving forward and upon careful consideration, I find that Ferrin’s four- step “building a house” analogy approach might help me to get to know a book of the Bible and all of its elements. For example, during the foundation phase the background study of the author,

I have read various books on Theological Hermeneutics, and one, whose title has slipped my mind, had once suggested the Hermeneutics isn’t only about picking up the Bible, analyzing it, and putting it back down, but also making an application through it. So, in this paper I have followed such a suggestion. First I will mention the background of the book being hermeneutically analyzed. This answers many of the questions needed to contextualize the book into its original socio-cultural setting for better understanding. Secondly, I will do an exegesis, or commentary, on the verses of the book to explain the interpretation that I had gotten out of it. This is done in

            Translating this ought not to be difficult…. The problem here is caused by the fact

Brown and published by Westminster John Know Press is a book that provides basic information

The book is composed of twenty chapters each with a separate contributing author(s). Each chapter has the same format as an essay with a brief overview of the section

The association further believes there is only one true interpretation of Scripture, although there may be several applications. The true meaning lies in the text and is that which the divinely-guided author willed to convey. It is recoverable through careful application of a literal (grammatical, historical, contextual) method of interpretation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in the community of Christ. The Holy Spirit illumines the text, enabling the reader to embrace the significance of what God has communicated, and to see the glory of Christ in the Word of God. To sum this up, they believe they are right about

To truly comprehend a biblical passage, it is important to have knowledge of the ‘hermeneutics which enables an understanding of the locus of meaning and the principles of bible interpretation’ . The audience needs to have a clear interpretation of the biblical passage which includes ‘content and unity of the whole of Scripture if the meaning of the sacred texts is to be correctly worked out’ , this supports the argument that all worlds of the text are equally important. ‘Biblical passages are often taken out of context and interpreted to support a particular viewpoint of justify a particular action’ . It is imperative to note that ‘in order to discover the sacred authors' intention, the reader must take into account the conditions of their

Barry, John D. James: Simply the Gospel. Not Your Average Bible Study. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.

The following illustrates the four steps of the Interpretive Journey for New Testament Letters in Duvall and Hays Journey into God's Word: Your Guide

In editing this book, Clouse hoped "that these [four] articles [and responses would] aid the serious student of Scripture in formulating his or her own conclusions concerning the interpretation of the millennium."

Likewise, translation cannot be considered to interact with the reader, seeking to communicate the meaning of the original text as the content is not essential in our appreciation of the text. His question assumes the original and the translation as distinct categories, both of which, for him, are works of art. Apart from carrying messages and prolonging the value of texts, what is unique to translation is its potential to “express the central reciprocal relationship between languages”(72), its kinship to another language and its potential to bring out the pure language where the “mutually exclusive elements among languages can mingle and supplement one another” (74) and where ‘complementary intentions’ between two languages can be communicated. Therefore, the translator should not be restrained by the burden of relaying what the original means. Benjamin claims that “languages are not strangers to one another, but are, a priori and apart from all historical relationships, interrelated in what they want to express” (72).

In its most basic definition, biblical hermeneutics refers to the art and science of biblical interpretation. It is considered an art because understanding, which is required for interpretation, requires a feel for the subject matter being interpreted, not just an analyzation of data. Biblical hermeneutics is also considered a science due to the fact that some aspects of the interpretation process resemble the activities of natural science. Because of this dual nature of hermeneutics, it is almost impossible for an interpreter to arrive at a neutral conclusion. Good or bad, most biblical interpreters translate scripture based upon

It is important that we understand and preserve the many different languages the Bible is translated into because they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Through these translations we may find a deeper meaning and understanding. Jost Zetzsche stated it best when he said, “I believe that translations of Scripture are not secondary fill-ins but as integral part of the ongoing and primary expression of God’s message in written form.”

Biblical Interpretation is important and necessary so that we can understand what the text is saying, what the intended theological message is, and how to personally apply and teach these Scriptural truths to carry forward the Gospel in rescuing others from despair and death to hope and life, thus displaying His glory and growing His Kingdom. It is about finding what God is revealing about Himself and His Son Jesus Christ. Moreover, it is for us to know that God desires to have a relationship with us and for us to be set apart in a covenant relationship with Him to display holy lives that bring Him glory. Interpretation, using hermeneutical principles, help guide us in proper boundaries for interpreting Scripture so that we can reveal the intended meaning of the text. Without this, we run the risk of imposing our own ideas on the text, therefore misinterpreting. Misinterpreting can cause us to miss theological truths, administer the wrong application, and neglect or overlook the meaning of the text which weakens the impact of God’s truth in our personal lives as well as others we are teaching.