The theories and methods of studying a text.
26
votes
6answers
558 views
How do Jewish scholars differ from Christian scholars in their approach to the Tanakh?
What are the characteristic differences between how Jewish scholarship approaches the text of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and that of Christian scholars? If their approach was the same I assume they ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the difference between exegesis and hermeneutics?
What is the difference between exegesis and hermeneutics? Are they the same, is there overlap, or does one pick up where the other leaves off?
14
votes
6answers
434 views
What role does the Holy Spirit play in hermeneutics?
As Christians in the NT age of the Church it is understood that believers have an indwelling of the Holy Spirit who acts as a counselor and guide, enabling them to rightly understand God's word. How ...
14
votes
2answers
417 views
How can we determine if a text is sarcastic?
What hermeneutical principles help in understanding whether a particular passage is to be understood as sarcastic?
For instance,
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! ...
13
votes
2answers
574 views
What is Sensus Plenior and how does it impact the field of hermeneutics?
What is the Sensus Plenior view of Scripture?
Without trying to resolve it's ultimate validity or not, what significant implications does the idea hold for Biblical hermeneutics in theory and ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
What does it mean that “Scripture interprets Scripture”?
What does the rule that "Scripture interprets Scripture" mean and where does it fit into a larger picture of the field of hermeneutics? What hermeneutical approaches use this as a guiding principle?
12
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between historical-grammatical and historical criticism?
The historical-grammatical method and historical criticism are both hermeneutical approaches seeking to uncover the original meaning of the text.
What is the difference between the two?
12
votes
2answers
501 views
Hermeneutical Approaches vs. Inductive Bible Study
Inductive Bible Study teaches that you observe, interpret, and then apply scripture, and has lots of specific things you should observe such as word repetitions, structural elements such as ...
12
votes
1answer
149 views
When is allegorization of scripture productive?
If I were to run into the story of the three little pigs accidentally used as a bookmark in my Bible I might draw these conclusions:
Clearly the wolf is the Devil trying to devour sinners who are ...
11
votes
2answers
212 views
Bart D. Ehrman - respected critic?
I found Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why troublesome to my understanding of the translation process of the bible. It has made me review my understanding of the bible. ...
11
votes
4answers
656 views
What is “Midrash” and how does it relate to Christian principles of hermeneutics?
What is the Midrash method of interpreting a Biblical verse and what application does it have in Christian studies as a hermeneutic principle?
11
votes
3answers
238 views
Where does the “slippery slope” of allegorical interpretations start?
Besides the Grammatical Historical Approach to hermeneutics, various allegorical or metaphorical approaches exist. It seems to me that if you approach a text with the assumption that the whole thing ...
10
votes
2answers
300 views
What is a Horizon of Understanding and how can it be applied to understanding the Bible?
Hans-Georg Gadamer uses Horizons of Understanding as a model for communication, and the concept of fusion of horizons is sometimes put forth as a way of explaining how one can approach a "text", but ...
9
votes
3answers
948 views
What is the “fourfold sense of Scripture”?
During the Patristic Period in the Middle Ages practiced an exegetical tactic known as the fourfold sense of Scripture. What are these four senses and do these ideas about the nature of Scripture ...
9
votes
2answers
138 views
Whose meaning are we trying to find?
If hermeneutics is the study of the meaning of a text, whose meaning are we trying to find when we study the Bible? How does Scripture being inspired by God but penned by men affect our ability to ...
9
votes
5answers
361 views
Is Ecclesiastes a book of negative wisdom?
When I was younger, I thought that because Ecclesiastes was so dour, it was a sort of negative wisdom—something like, "This is how crazy you get when you don't follow God." However, this ...
9
votes
1answer
216 views
What is the “Grammatical Historical Approach” to hermeneutics?
BH seems to be divided into several different approaches. What is the Grammatical Historical Approach and what are the primary ways that it differs from other modern approaches?
9
votes
1answer
116 views
What are the seven middoth (Hillel's rules for interpretation)?
The "middoth" were Rabbi Hillel's rules for interpretation. There are seven of them. What are they? Please list them and include one or two clear examples for each.
9
votes
3answers
229 views
What hermeneutical approach does Hebrews use on the Old Testament
Psalm 2:7 is quoted in two different contexts in Hebrews, seeming to be used to support two vastly different arguments.
In Hebrews 1:5, we read
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
...
9
votes
1answer
218 views
Structuralism's influence on Biblical interpretation
What is the structuralist view of literary criticism, and how has structural literary theory influenced modern approaches to Biblical interpretation?
9
votes
2answers
98 views
Are there any hermeneutics principles that can be related to scientific principles?
Do any principles commonly used in the field of hermeneutics have any counterparts in scientific principles? Is there a corollary in hermeneutics to the requirements that science demands as far as the ...
8
votes
7answers
475 views
According to Scripture, how should we interpret Scripture?
There have been many principles proposed for how to properly interpret Scripture. Some of those principles actually come from Scripture. Here are some examples of principles which seem to come from ...
8
votes
3answers
447 views
What is morphological analysis, as it relates to Bible study?
As far as I can tell, morphological analysis is a technique used by Bible students to better understand the original languages in context.
How does one go about using a tool such as Robinson's ...
8
votes
2answers
165 views
Is dispensationalism a theological framework or a hermeneutical approach?
I most often hear about dispensationalism in the context of a theological framework where God's relations with men are understood to be divided up into different periods of time or dispensations each ...
8
votes
1answer
68 views
How is literary dependence or relationship established?
I see many claims that texts are related to or dependent upon each other in many publications. For example:
Although Paul did not write Hebrews, the text possesses a crucially important ...
8
votes
2answers
284 views
What is “Regula Fidei”?
What is "Regula Fidei" and is this principle of interpretation considered obsolete by those who practice the Grammatical Historical approach to hermeneutics or does it survive in some form?
8
votes
2answers
185 views
Are there scriptural warrants for using the rule of first mention?
The rule of fist mention is used by various forms of allegorical interpretation. Rather than inventing an allegorical meaning, clues are taken from the first mention.
For example: Garments are ...
8
votes
2answers
100 views
What is the “systematic typology” hermeneutic method and how does it work?
There's a hermeneutic method that's been used on this site called "systematic typology". What is it? How does one apply it? Are there contexts where it is considered to be a particularly good or ...
8
votes
1answer
212 views
How does Canon Criticism relate to the concept of a Gesamtbiblische Theologie?
It is my understanding that Brevard Childs's so-called canonical (or canon) criticism places an emphasis on looking at the Bible as a complete work. This reminds me of the concept of a Gesamtbiblische ...
8
votes
1answer
196 views
Pros and Cons of Barth's Commentary on Romans
What are the merits/problems with Karl Barth's commentary on Romans?
How much does he treat the details of the Greek?
What is his overall hermeneutic of the book? (Please steer away from explaining ...
8
votes
3answers
327 views
Is hermeneutics primarily descriptive or prescriptive?
I sometimes hear (particularly on this site) of hermeneutical "methods", such as the grammatico-historal approach, or literal-historical approach, or sensus plenior. These all seem to be tools or ...
7
votes
3answers
268 views
How is this passage on the authority of women to be interpreted?
I have heard it said that 1 Timothy 2:11,12 is to be examined through the "lens" of culture but what Paul writes right after it in verses 13 and 14 seems to nullify that.
A woman should learn in ...
7
votes
3answers
851 views
What are the differences between allegorical and typological interpretation?
In a recent discussion on a question about allegory, it was pointed out that allegory and typology are not the same thing. What are the differences between the two approaches? Is one a subset of the ...
7
votes
1answer
198 views
What is the “Theological Interpretation of Scripture” movement?
As the title asks--what is meant by "Theological Interpretation of Scripture", a.k.a. TIS, and how does it differ from other methods?
7
votes
1answer
274 views
Primary components of lexical-syntactical analysis
What is lexical-syntactical analysis as it applies to Biblical hermeneutics? What are the primary steps involved in a lexical-syntactical analysis of a Biblical passage?
7
votes
2answers
97 views
Does “days” in prophecy equal “years” (Daniel 9 - Seventy Weeks)
A lot of theologians take Daniel's seventy weeks and interpret the seventy weeks to be 490 years, a year for each day. From a hermeneutic standpoint, I seek to know if this type of calculation is ...
7
votes
1answer
645 views
What is “verbal plenary inspiration” and to what texts does it apply?
What is the "verbal plenary" view of the inspiration of Scripture and to what texts is it considered to apply? What hermeneutical approaches hold this view and how does it affect the way they ...
7
votes
3answers
112 views
Are there scriptural standards by which a hermeneutic method can be measured?
Jesus appears to be specifically criticizing the interpretive method used by the Sudducees, saying, they do not know the scriptures.
Mt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not ...
6
votes
6answers
174 views
What are the limits to the Christological hermeneutic?
According to Wikipedia:
The Christo-Centric Principle: "The mind of deity is eternally centered in Christ. All angelic thought and ministry are centered in Christ. All Satanic hatred and ...
6
votes
1answer
113 views
Has Pesharim left any mark on modern hermeneutics?
I understand that the Qumran monastic community—those primarily responsible for having collected and preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls and other works—endorsed the Pesharim approach to scriptural ...
6
votes
2answers
165 views
What are the strict set of rules followed by sensus plenior?
I realize there are similar questions posted but not seeking an exact explanation where it can be shown rationally that three or more independent people, not talking to each other, can come out with ...
6
votes
1answer
74 views
Is translation a subset of exegesis?
This site is in an odd position. Questions about the site are also questions that are valid for the site. This is another such question.
It seems that there has been discussion on chat multiple ...
5
votes
5answers
163 views
Are there any rules on which things in Revelation must be interpreted literally and which symbolically?
Are there any rules on which things in Revelation must be interpreted literally and which symbolically? The one that comes from the back of my mind is that if a certain thing or a character is already ...
5
votes
3answers
274 views
How do I find out when a Bible passage applies to me?
Can I read a Bible passage and personalize it? Meaning, does it apply to me? How do I know when it is for me or for someone else ?
For example, Isaiah 54:4:
“Do not be afraid; you will not be put ...
5
votes
3answers
218 views
What's the difference between “sensus plenior” and “inspired sensus plenior”?
What's the difference between "sensus plenior" and "inspired sensus plenior"?
Are the terms interchangeable? If "the deeper meaning intended by God but not intended by the human author" (sensus ...
5
votes
4answers
107 views
How can we determine when an image is a symbol?
Put simply, a symbol is a tangible representation of an intangible idea. Authors, both ancient and modern, use symbolic images to convey abstract concepts. The problem with symbols, however, is that ...
5
votes
3answers
106 views
Does Paul intend that what follows after 1 Corinthians 7:25a have less authority?
In some of Paul's writings, he maintains that his teachings have the authority of God the Father and Jesus Christ. But in 1st Corinthians 7:25, Paul specifically states that his next advice comes not ...
5
votes
4answers
345 views
What does Paul mean by allegory in Galatians 4:24?
Paul's method of interpretation in Galatians 4:21-31 seems a bit unusual as compared to most modern methods. He says these things may be "interpreted allegorically." What is his method of exegesis? ...
5
votes
2answers
67 views
To what degree is understanding the feelings of a biblical author necessary in exegesis?
I find that miscommunication is often about feelings and not words. Ancient writings requires linguistics, history and cultural knowledge to provide accurate English versions that convey the original ...
5
votes
3answers
98 views
To what extent do deductive approaches consider authorial intent?
Bottom-up approaches start analyzing a text by first determining the original intent of the human author of a text. From there, they use inductive reasoning to construct theories of broader meanings. ...
