Index/Table of Contents
Old Testament
and New Testament
Credits and Copyright
BACKGROUND
LECTURE 3
INTERPRETATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Students will be able to
1. identify hermeneutics, exegesis, textual criticism, historical criticism.
2. discuss five principles of interpretation.
Content of Lecture
How do you study the Old Testament?
Why do you think there is so much disagreement about the message of the Bible?
If three different people read the same passage of Scripture, do you think they would all agree on the meaning of the text?
Read Song of Solomon 4:1-6 and discuss the appearance of the person being described. Would it be a mistake to interpret this passage literally?
If you were introducing the Bible to a person who had never looked at it before, what advice would you give them as to where to start or how to understand the Bible's message?
Can you think of any warnings you might give?
Are there passages that a novice might want to avoid?
If you were directing our study of the Old Testament, would you have any idea as to where to start the study?
HERMENEUTICS is the science and art of proper interpretation (The term is derived from Hermes, the Greek god who was reported to communicate with humanity).
"It is science because it is guided by rules within a system; and it is art because the application of the rules is by skill, and not by mechanical initiation" (Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, 1).
Bernard Ramm suggests that the primary tasks of hermeneutics are to:
1. understand the original meaning of the passage under consideration; and
2. to be able to "span the linguistical, cultural, geographical and historical gaps which separate our minds from those of the Biblical writers" (Ramm, 7).
The two-fold challenge of hermeneutics is to
1. determine the original meaning of the passage (what it meant); and
2. then determine the meaning for a different culture (what it means).
EXEGESIS
is a Greek expression meaning to bring out the message or properly interpret. Eisegesis refers to the error of reading one's personal bias into the text. By utilizing the Principles of hermeneutics, the interpreter will properly exegete the passage. (DQ#1)
"CRITICISM"
in the context of Biblical interpretation is defined as "the scientific investigation of literary documents in regard to such matters as origin, text, composition, character or history" (Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary).
The critical interpretation of Scripture is simply that interpretation which has adequate justification.
TEXTUAL CRITICISM
(lower criticism) concerns the restoration of the original wording of the passage.
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
(higher criticism) is related to questions of date, authorship, literary unity, historical context and composition of the document.
General hermeneutical principles are those which apply to all types of literature in the Bible. Specific hermeneutical rules are appropriate for specific types of literature such as poetry, prophecy or apocalypse (Old Testament documents such as Daniel and Ezekiel).
The following principles are part of the hermeneutical process.
1. The passage must be studied in its historical context.
Bernard Ramm says, "The understanding of most passages of Scripture is dependent on some understanding of history. If geography is the scenery of Scripture, history is the plot of Scripture" (Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, 6).
Knowledge of geography, marriage customs, legal practices, language tendencies and other cultural patterns assist in interpretation.
When Abraham and Sarah decided to have a child by the handmaid, Hagar (Gen. 16), they were following a common marriage custom of the Near East according to documents discovered in the Nuzi archive dated between 1500 and 1300 B.C.
Prior to the birth of Ishmael (the son born to Hagar), Abraham only had an adopted heir, Eliezer of Damascus. The Nuzi texts indicate that it was common practice for a childless couple to adopt a slave as their heir.
2. The interpreter should have some understanding of the original of biblical languages.
H. H. Rowley wrote: "To ask that every interpreter of the Bible should possess a wide linguistic equipment would be to deny the task of its interpretation to all but a handful of specialists, who might lack other essential qualities even though they possessed the linguistic knowledge. It does not seem unreasonable to ask, however, that all who would interpret the Bible to others should have some acquaintance with Hebrew and Greek" (Rowley, "The Biblical Interpretation," 10-11). (DQ#2)
When students do not have the desired language training, two secondary resources will facilitate a better understanding of the meaning of the passage in its original languages. First, students are advised to compare various English translations, especially those which attempt to make a literal translation (i.e., the New American Standard Version and The New Revised Standard Version). Secondly, assistance in the meaning of original languages can be found in commentary study. (TN#3)
3. The passage or words must be studied in context.
The first context is the material which immediately precedes and follows the passage under consideration. "A text without a context is a pretext." (TN#4)
The second context is the book in which the material is located.
The pessimistic outlook of Ecclesiastes must be viewed against the author's self-indulgence and dissipation.
Ramm states, "The better we know the theme of a book, the motivation of the author, the goals intended, the better we can handle the individual passages and sentences." (Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, 137).
The third context is the Bible itself, which suggests the principle of interpreting obscure passages in light of the more clear.
Barrows stated, "To interpret without regard to the context is to interpret at random; to interpret contrary to the context is to teach falsehood for truth" (Barrows, Companion to the Bible, 531).
4. Special attention must be given to the type of literature or genre being examined.
To interpret literally the poetic imagery of passages such as the Song of Solomon creates a grotesque picture of the beloved (Song of Solomon 7:1-4).
To interpret a figurative passage literally is to mistranslate. The true meaning of a figurative reference is that which was intended by the original writer. The figurative interpretation, then, is actually the "literal meaning".
In Genesis 1:26, "image" and "likeness" may be synonymous expressions since parallelism or repetition of the same idea is a characteristic of Hebrew writings.
"The Scriptures employ the 'simile' (a comparison of two things in one or more aspects usually employing the words 'as' or 'like'); the allegory (where a moral or spiritual truth is told in terms of a narrative or segment of history); the ellipsis (the condensation of the meaning of a sentence by the omission of elements supplied by the reader usually gathered from the context); the metaphor (the comparison of two things without the use of the words 'as' or 'like'); the paradox (the assertion of two propositions as true which seem to be contradictory but may in fact not be); irony (a method of criticizing or judging by seeming to praise or congratulate); the hyperbole (the intentional use of exaggeration for effect)" (Ramm, 142).
With some reservations, two other principles of interpretation may be helpful (These are more controversial because some fanciful interpretations have resulted from their usage).
5. The principle of progressive revelation implies that certain lessons or teachings of Scripture are qualified, fulfilled or amplified by subsequent revelation.
In Jesus' teaching in the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5:17-48), He stressed that His ministry brought fulfillment to much of the Old Testament (Note Matthew 5:38-39).
In Ezekiel 18, the prophet was told to stop repeating the proverbial wisdom which suggested that a Father's guilt was transferred to his son.
Jesus swept aside many Jewish dietary regulations with a single pronouncement that nothing that a person eats can defile him/her (Mark 7:18-20).
The corollary of the principle of progressive revelation is the principle of studying the Old Testament in light of the New.
Psalm 22 has many remarkable parallels to the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion; and by looking at it from that perspective, it can justifiably be classified as a "Messianic Psalm". No one can adequately understand the New Testament apart from the Old Testament. (DQ#5)
6. Using typology, an interpreter finds correspondence between people, institutions, or events in various parts of the Bible, especially between the Old and New Testaments.
The mysterious Melchizedek visited by Abraham after defeating the eastern kings (Genesis 14) is identified as a type of Christ (Hebrews 7:1-17).
The writer of Hebrews uses the Sabbath as a type for eternal rest (Hebrews 4:1-11).
Typology emphasizes the essential unity of the two testaments and suggests that a passage of the Old Testament is historically correct while having added significance revealed only from a future perspective.
Assignment
Read an article on geography of the Old Testament (i.e., Hill & Walton pages 43-55).
INTERPRETATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Terms to identify
Hermeneutics-
Exegesis-
Textual criticism-
Historical criticism-
Principles for Properly Interpreting the Old Testament
1. The passage must be interpreted in light of its historical setting.
2. The passage should be studied in the original languages or with reference to commentaries which provide background material.
3. The passage must be studied in context.
4. Special attention must be given to the type of literature being examined.
5. The principle of progressive revelation implies that certain lessons or teachings of Scripture are qualified, fulfilled or amplified by subsequent revelation.
6. Typology suggests that there is correspondence between people, institutions or events in various parts of the Bible, especially between the Old and New Testament.
| DISCUSSION QUESTIONS #1 What causes people to "read things into" the text? Can this happen to sincere, honest people? #2 Roley suggests that a person with excellent linguistic skills may lack "other essential qualities" required for proper interpretation of Scripture. What qualities might Rowley have had in mind? #5 Do you feel someone can understand the Old Testament apart from the New Testament? Could the use of typology allow interpreters to read too much of their New Testament theology back into the Old Testament? How does a person know whether to interpret a passage literally or figuratively? Would humility be another principle of interpretation? What would that principle imply?
The New Testament author of James states that believers must "be doers of the Word and not hearers only..." (James 1:22). He implies that those who hear without application are subject to self-delusion. How do you feel about the application of Scripture as a prerequisite for understanding? Does the interpreter have to be willing to apply the truth before it can be truly understood? |
| Teacher's Notes: #3 The teacher might want to identify and characterize some of the available commentaries. #4 Larenzo Dow preached a sermon titled "Top Knot Come Down" against the hair styles of certain women and justified his opposition on Matthew 24:17.
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Resources:
Credits and Copyright This online text book is provided by the Division of Student Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, 333 N. Washington Dallas, Texas 75246-1798 214.828.5100 Use the text to meet your academic needs. If you copy any part of this online text, please give credit to the Division of Student Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Any donations which you give will be used in the Division of Student Ministry Summer Missions Programs.
Credits and Copyright This online text book is provided by the Division of Student Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, 333 N. Washington Dallas, Texas 75246-1798 214.828.5100 Use the text to meet your academic needs. If you copy any part of this online text, please give credit to the Division of Student Ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Any donations which you give will be used in the Division of Student Ministry Summer Missions Programs.