The theories and methods of studying a text.
5
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1answer
108 views
What is the Hermeneutical significance of the lack of direct mention of God in Esther?
It is a fairly well-known piece of trivia that Esther (minus the apocryphal chapters) is the only book of the bible that does not directly mention God. Which of the accepted schools of Hermeneutics ...
5
votes
1answer
58 views
What is the “New Hermeneutic”?
I have come across the term New Hermeneutic a number of times in Christian hermeneutics books and articles, but I can't really find a clear definition for what this is referring to. (Most of the ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
What is an anagogical interpretation and when should it be considered?
First of all, what exactly is an anagogical interpretation? What is a good example of a text that can be understood to be anagoge?
Secondly, what textual clues should one look for when considering ...
5
votes
1answer
65 views
Which hermeneutics follow the tradition of Friedrich Schleiermacher?
Friedrich Schleiermacher is often referred to as "the father of modern hermeneutics." He was a Protestant, and is highly respected by many Protestant interpreters for his contributions to the field.
...
5
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1answer
222 views
Influence of Tubingen School of F.C. Baur
What were the main conclusions reached by the Tubingen School of Ferdinand Christian Baur? What impact did they have on the field of hermeneutics?
5
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1answer
202 views
What are the main tenets of the contextual analysis hermeneutical approach?
When using the hermeneutical approach of contextual analysis, What are the main tenets of this approach? How much context is usually necessary to consider?
4
votes
3answers
189 views
Can we use “linguistic fingerprints” to identify different authors of the Bible?
I read, what was to me, quite an interesting blog post about different authors' contributing to different parts of the bible measured by analysing "linguistic fingerprints":
For millions of Jews ...
4
votes
4answers
74 views
Is synoptic parallelism a valid hermeneutic?
I'll give an example:
Matt. 4:17 (KJV)
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:15 (KJV)
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and ...
4
votes
3answers
497 views
Jewish interpretation of Genesis 1:26?
I am under the impression that the Trinity is a Christian idea, and that the Jews did not view God as "three in one and one in three". How, then, was the following passage interpreted by the people ...
4
votes
1answer
40 views
What is socio-rhetorical criticism?
I've heard David DeSilva and Ben Witherington III associated with the term "socio-rhetorical criticism" and Witherington even has a series of commentaries titled the "Socio-Rhetorical Commentary" ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Was Origen Adamantius an “allegorist” in the modern sense of the word?
Allegory is often referred to in a negative way (at least by Protestant interpreters) to signify a sort of irresponsible replacement of authorial intent with some subsequent spiritualization of each ...
4
votes
2answers
406 views
What are higher and lower criticism?
What is historical criticism (also known as higher criticism)? What is textual criticism (also known as lower criticism)? How can they help us understand the scriptures? How can they interefere with ...
4
votes
2answers
136 views
How does one determine whether an apparent demand in scripture is absolute or relative [closed]
Jesus tells us both that "you should also wash one another's feet" and "do this in remembrance of me", yet most churches practice the latter and not the former. On what ground do we choose which of ...
4
votes
2answers
130 views
A word for the fallacy of assuming whatever brings God the most glory is the correct interpretation a text?
I ran across the word somewhere in my reading, but I can't find it. It is a word that has the idea that it is not right to assume that an answer to any given question is right because it is assumed to ...
3
votes
3answers
211 views
Is there a scriptural warrant for the literal-historical approach?
Jesus appears to establish the Christological approach used by the apostles:
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me.
...
3
votes
2answers
217 views
How are verses indicating that God is a God of war, and others indicating that he is a God of peace reconciled to not be contradictory? [closed]
Sometimes, skeptics note that the Bible makes contradictory statements about God. For instance, is God warlike:
Exodus 15:3—The Lord is a man of war.
Psalm 18:34—He teacheth my ...
3
votes
2answers
423 views
What is “the hermeneutical circle”?
This question mentions "the hermeneutical circle":
I sometimes hear ... of hermeneutical "methods", such as the grammatico-historal approach, or literal-historical approach, or sensus plenior. ... ...
3
votes
4answers
202 views
Was the angel of the Lord the pre-human appearance of Messiah? [closed]
I have noticed some commentators interpret the phrase "Angel of the Lord" ("מַלְאָךְ יהוה" mal'ak YHWH) in the Hebrew Scriptures to refer to a pre-human appearance of Messiah?
I am considering to ...
3
votes
1answer
232 views
How many common hermeneutical approaches are there and how do they differ?
How many distinctly different common hermeneutical approaches are there, and what are the major distinctives of each approach?
I'm not asking for a long description of each - just a concise summary ...
3
votes
1answer
168 views
Catholic explanation of the “spiritual sense” of Scripture?
In Catechism of the Catholic Church we read the following, pertaining to Biblical Hermeneutics:
115 According to an ancient tradition, one can distinguish between two senses of Scripture: the ...
3
votes
1answer
205 views
How many “layers” are there to the Scriptures?
In my quest to understand hermeneutics, I am at the stage of reviewing the different "layers of meaning" to the Scriptures. So far I have identified two layers; a "literal" meaning and a "divine" ...
3
votes
2answers
47 views
Is the water jar in John 4:28 a symbol?
At the end of Jesus' conversation with the woman by the well, John records
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to
the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all ...
2
votes
4answers
390 views
Which hermeneutical approaches support a literal interpretation of the Creation account?
I had always been told that a day meant 24 hours, but a systematic theology textbook I read disputed that pretty well. (Please do not address this item in particular. This isn't the question I'm ...
2
votes
2answers
191 views
Is interpretation and application of the Bible dynamic?
For example, take a Bible passage X, which is in debate about how literally it should be applied.
Say we have person A and person B—in completely different life situations.
Is it possible ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
How does a less Messianic reading of Song of Solomon interpret 5:16 “He is altogether lovely”?
Song of Solomon is a book with some seriously divergent interpretations. I have just started reading a pamphlet by John Flavel called Christ Altogether Lovely on this verse:
His mouth is sweetness ...
2
votes
2answers
70 views
Can Enoch's hermeneutical approach be determined?
This is related to Jack's hemeneutical approaches
And follows Abel's hermeneutic
Enoch is the second on the list of faithful. Can we determine a plausible hermeneutic that explains Enoch's 'pleasing ...
2
votes
2answers
222 views
Are all major hermeneutical methods compatible?
I am trying to learn more about Biblical Hermeneutics, including the different philosophies Christians have about how Scripture should be interpreted. So far I have heard a wide variety of different ...
2
votes
2answers
331 views
Where did Abel get the idea to sacrifice sheep?
The purpose of this question is to examine if Abel's hermeneutic principles can be reversed out of the text. The presupposition is that Abel had access to the information contained in Genesis 1-3. ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
In Dispensationalism what rule determines applicability of a scriptural demand?
This is an attempt at re-scoping this.
Dispensationalism as an interpretive framework closely related to a doctrinal predisposition and a literal hermeneutic.
Given that an interpretive framework, ...
2
votes
1answer
129 views
How does “Sensus Plenior” differ from Allegory, Gnosticism, Kaballah, and Midrash?
People are divided on hermeneutic approaches. This is probably more true with the introduction of Sensus Plenior to the discussion. It would be helpful to have an explanation of it and how it differs ...
1
vote
2answers
363 views
Do any Hermeneutical approaches have a specific meaning for the number 11?
I have read that in biblical numerology the number 11 indicates a system or period given to chaos or disorganization, and a survey of the text seems to bear this out. See, for example: Meaning of ...
1
vote
2answers
37 views
Is their a name for a hermeneutic that includes experiential esthetics as a criteria of truthful exegesis?
This question is about the experience of a text. It is therefore a little lengthy because I have to provide some sample experience that I mean.
Background:
As a young man I was introduced to a ...
1
vote
2answers
136 views
Are biblical texts concerning slavery transcultural or finite? [closed]
This question concerns cultural analysis as a principle in biblical hermeneutics, specifically the determination if a biblical statement has a finite application or if it is transcultural. But rather ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Which Hermeneutical schema support individual portions of texts taken out of order?
The "Roman Road" is a common evangelistic tool that features quoting 5 passages from Romans out of textual order (3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:13, 10:9-10.)
This has been rejected by some because of the small ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Existing beliefs or contents of the text more formative in hermeneutics?
This answer states:
In general: philosophy informs one's reading of a text, not the other way around.
This statement in itself is an answer to one of the biggest issues of hermeneutics: the way ...
1
vote
2answers
207 views
Was the discounting by the manager in Luke 16 a dishonest act?
The shrewd manager in Luke 16 discounted the debts in order to win favor with the debtors. What hermeneutic principle should be used to determine if this was an evil act, or just good business?
0
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2answers
105 views
Reading the Bible via verse and chapter and not getting the intended meaning? [closed]
I have noticed a very discouraging and confusing trend when reading the Bible verse for verse, chapter for chapter—more like a book.
I completely understand that we must consider context, time, ...
0
votes
2answers
94 views
Does Jesus address hermeneutical assumptions?
Mt 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot
or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled.
Mr 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: ...
0
votes
2answers
107 views
Were the apostles “expert” witnesses?
The testimony of an expert witness depends on the competency of the witness, whereas, the testimony of an ordinary witness is validated by corroborating testimony.
We are free to challenge an expert ...
0
votes
2answers
101 views
Does the Gospel of Thomas help in reproducing the hermeneutical methods of the apostles?
The assumed genre of a work affects how it is interpreted. Most have assumed the Gospel of Thomas is a Gnostic work and attempt to interpret it literally as such.
This question has nothing to do ...
0
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1answer
91 views
Using literal hermeneutics how does one determine if a demand is made on the reader?
This is an attempt at rescoping this.
Given that an interpretive framework, whether it be a set of rules or a theological predisposition, guides the interpretation of scripture, what are the rules or ...
0
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1answer
51 views
Were offices given to produce “unity of the faith” or to hold things in place until Christ comes and gives it to us?
Eph 4.11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the ...
0
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0answers
33 views
What are the exegetical supports for each side of the debate concerning annihilationism? [closed]
In HELL: ETERNAL TORMENT OR ANNIHILATION? (Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Andrews University), the author presents compelling evidence for the theory that at death the unbeliever is sentenced not to ...
-1
votes
1answer
106 views
Is there any scriptural warrant for the literalist approach to scripture?
Jesus appears to establish the Christological approach used by the apostles:
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me.
...
-1
votes
1answer
59 views
Is there an interpretive significance for nashak (kiss) and nasak (burn) being puns?
It was suggested here that 'kissing the calf' may be a play on words for 'burning the calf'. Is there other support in scripture where the use of 'kiss' and 'burn' has interpretive significance?
See ...
-2
votes
1answer
81 views
Gift or slaughter
Often we hear that the Bible contains lots of stories without indicating if the actions were good or bad.
When Jacob returned home in Gen 33, he sent the crowds ahead of him (Gen 32:13-21). By what ...
-2
votes
1answer
100 views
Does Joh 14:26 speak to assumptions about hermeneutics?
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said ...
