Misreading Scripture With Western Eyes

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

I examined Jeremiah 13:1-11in these three translations: New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), and The Message (MSG); most of the perspectives will be coming from the NIV. The NIV calls this narrative ‘A Linen Belt’, the ESV called it ‘The Ruined Loincloth’, and the MSG called it ‘People Who Do Only What They Want to Do’. The story starts out with God telling Jeremiah to buy a linen belt and not to let it touch water. Jeremiah bought the linen belt and tied it around his waist just as God told him to do. Then God said to him that he should take the belt to Perath (possibly the Euphrates) and hide it in a crevice amongst the rocks. Jeremiah obeyed God, went to Perath and hid the linen belt in a crevice between the rocks. Many days later God told him that he should go get the belt that he hid amongst the rocks and Jeremiah listened to God so he went back to Perath to retrieve the linen belt. Jeremiah retrieved the belt, but now has a belt that is ruined and useless. Then God said, “In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless!  For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me, to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they

Other than considering the matter of genres, the differences of culture and language should also be part of the element we should think of when we discover the truth of the Bible. Different cultures will cause different understanding of the Bible. Placher uses the example of Thucydides that “keeping as closely as possible to the general sense of the words that were actually used” was “called for by each situation (Placher 12).” in this example, situation can be realized as someone’s own view imposed to the text, according to the culture or experience he goes through. Placher argues that if a biblical author writes in a attitude of culture which is different from the readers’ attitude, then he or she writes as the products of such a culture. Like what the author says, “to treat them as having an attitude to history different from what they do is not to interpret them with maximum accuracy, but to get them wrong (Placher 16). ” Moreover, the confusion of reading the Bible, which is originated in a culture different from ours, happens when there are different social conditions that give different meanings. The author gives an example of the slavery in ancient Israel and the slavery in the American South. He says that the slaves in ancient Israel are supposed to be free at the end of seven days, and their identity of slave is not based on race. However, the slavery in American, on the contrary, differs from the one in the Bible. In addition, the author talks about homosexuality. He claims that in ancient Israel, two men cannot love each other, for that is an abomination, and they will be condemned. However, in modern society, even if people do not follow the Bible, that is they love each other, they seldom be condemned. In brief, the author claims that understanding the genres, recognizing the attitudes toward the reporting of historical details, and considering the social context in

In the sixth chapter of Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Foster examines the Bible and its importance throughout stories, poetry and film. The Bible is one of the most commonly known pieces of literature and is even “nonsectarian” in Foster’s eyes (44). Because stories from the Bible are so well known, the Bible is a tremendously easy for authors to reference when constructing a new composition. Especially “prior to sometime in the middle of the twentieth century” writers were “solidly instructed in religion” and could count on the public being very well acquainted with Biblical stories (47). This widespread knowledge of the Bible lead to greater understandings throughout literature, and the recognized allusions helped

How does being familiar with a biblical worldview help us understand the big picture of God’s design, and how can you apply that understanding to your calling?

This book review is from the readings of Biblical Inspiration by Howard Marshall. The book is published by Regent College Publishing located in Vancouver, and British Columbia published the book in 2004. The book is braces around the interpretation of the Bible, and the inspiration of the Bible in our lives of today. There are many questions that are brought up the book, and these include: Is the Bible infallible? How do we interpret the Bible today? is its inspiration believable in and biblical criticism believable? All of the different opinions on biblical issues equivalent to these bring up issues and questioning within the community. It is Marshall’s goal to try and produce a statement that is concrete of what the Bible says in our lives today.

In Paul’s epistle to the Romans he gives us the foundation of Christian life in regards to how we should not only see the world, but also how we should act in a world that rejects the gospel of Christ. In Romans 1-8 Paul teaches us how we are not able to come to a saving grace through our works, but that it must come from Christ alone, and not only to the Jews, but to the Gentiles also. Paul tells us however, that this will not be easy, but we that we need to remember who is ultimately in control of everything around us.

Throughout the course of the semester, we have constantly talked about and expressed the idea of reading the Bible in a historical context. Picking out the pieces that coincide with evidence that has been found with archeological findings, the accuracy of dates, and important people. The critical study of the Bible is to look at the book as a piece of historical text. The use of our “historical lens” allows us to pick out to various pieces that appear to be factual. Using this analysis of looking at the Bible through our “historical glasses”, we can understand the true meaning of the Bible in its original historical setting.

As the world of literature has continued to grow over the last few centuries, many writers have begun to incorporate several allusions within their works to enhance meaning and provide a deeper context in relation to their novel. These allusions can pertain to historical events, mythological tales, and even stories within the Holy Bible. Specifically, within John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, the profound useage of biblical allusions work throughout the entire book to create a deeper meaning and establish a context for which readers can explore.

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

When reading the bible it is very important to be able to understand and interpret what is being said or taught by Jesus. In Upside-Down kingdom Kraybill, really puts into perspective for us what was really meant by text in the Bible. In Chapter 7 Kraybill explains to the reader how, “our economic commitments often distort our reading of the scripture and divert us around the biblical teaching on wealth.” (Kraybill pg.120) He goes on to touch on parables and teachings of Jesus that we often misinterpret as readers and clarifies to us the true meaning in the context of Jesus’ time. In detour nine he explains to the reader and give us an example on how we as readers can take something Jesus has said and twist it into something

Understanding biblical dispensations helps with knowing more about how God rules His kingdom. There are two dispensations that make up God’s will for humanity and His kingdom before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The dispensations of promise and law are foundations that God uses to make up His administration in His kingdom on earth. A dispensation is a distinct period in the outworking of God’s purpose. Looking at these two dispensations we can see that the promise leads into the law, and progressively transforms because God’s kingdom plan continues to be revealed slowly. God creates a land covenant during these dispensations that has roots founded

When studying any piece of literature there are many different methods and techniques that can be used. The Bible, in specific, is often referred to as a source of moral code, hope, and answers to social, ethical, and political questions. However, this incredibly influential book can also be read as if it were any other novel. The events, settings, and characters can all be evaluated for what they are, forgetting the notion that they are from a religious text. This approach is called narrative criticism. When regarding to the Bible in this way, we do not need to know any historical information or focus on seeking a deeper theological meaning. Instead, the stories are evaluated in terms of how

The first 39 books of the larger work called the Bible, is called the Old Testament. The Bible itself is arguably the best selling and most read book of all time, yet it’s well known to be quite challenging to read through and understand. The Old Testament portion of the Bible, notably the most difficult portion of the Bible for most to study and follow, yields 39 books from multiple authors, and spans over 4000 years of crucial world and church history. If that were not enough to take on, the Old Testament comes our way through multiple styles of authorship and formats, including but not limited to, books of history, law, proverbs, ethics,

Although the bible is left up for interpretation, many believe that over time the words have been misconstrued. They yearn to