A Difficult Task

Do you understand what you are reading?(Acts 8:30). Philip’s question to the Ethiopian finance officer was a question of Bible interpretation. We must know the meaning of the Bible before we can apply its message. But the search for meaning (interpretation) is not an easy thing. It is difficult and time-consuming. As we study the Bible we are continually confronted with numerous questions. Seeking to determine what a passage really means is an intriguing intellectual and spiritual challenge. But we need to undertake this challenge, because we must understand the sense of the Bible before we can see its significance. It is a means to an end – the application of God’s Word to one’s life. Without proper interpretation there can be no correct application. Many of the informal and home Bible study groups focus on discussion and application of the passage without giving adequate attention to the principles involved in understanding the meaning of the Scriptures. This results in confusion and subjective conclusions.

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The Bible is God’s gracious revelation of Himself to men and women. It claims to be God’s book given to us over a period of approximately fifteen hundred years by more than forty human authors. Since God is the divine author of the Book, it is unique. But the Bible has been given to us through human channels. The fact of dual authorship poses problems to the interpreter. How do the divine-human components affect our interpretation? How can we reconcile the tension between the combination of objective divine revelation and its subjective interpretation? Can we apply sound principles of interpretation to understand the Bible? Should the Bible be interpreted spiritually (mystically) or in a natural manner as we would read any other book? If scholars disagree about how to interpret the Bible, how can we hope to make sense of the Scriptures? Can the Bible be made to mean anything we want? Why are there conflicting interpretations of many passages? Even Peter wrote, Our dear brother Paul also wrote some things that are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:15-16). One must humbly admit that hermeneutics (the science of interpretation) is an area of study with numerous problems.

 

Gaps to Bridge

One of the major reasons the Bible is difficult to interpret is because of the several gaps which exist between our day and Bible times. For us to understand what God was communicating then, these gaps need to be bridged.

1. A Time Gap (Chronological/Historical): There is a time gap between us and the writers and initial readers of the Bible. An understanding of Bible history will help us to place the people and events in their proper historical perspective.

2. A Space Gap (Geographical): Most of us live thousands of miles from countries where Bible events took place. An understanding of biblical geography is essential in studying the Bible.

3. The Customs Gap (Cultural): It is important to know the cultures and customs of peoples in Bible times.

4. A Language Gap (Linguistic): The languages in which the Bible is written – Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek have peculiarities unknown in our languages. Understanding the meaning of a word or phrase in the original languages of the Bible is of great help in correctly interpreting a passage.

5. A Spiritual Gap (Supernatural): The Bible is written by God and man. It is not simply a book with man’s ideas and thoughts. With our limited understanding and finite minds we cannot comprehend divine revelation. We need divine enabling to know God’s truth.

 

The Way to Discovery

In spite of the challenges and difficulties, we can still understand, interpret and apply the Bible. This is because the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit goes hand-in-hand with the interpretation of Scriptures (Jn.16:12-15; ICor.2:9-3:3; IJn.2:20, 27). The Author of the Bible has not left the reader alone. The Spirit of truth will guide us into all the truth (Jn.16:13). Paul signaled God’s commitment to help us when he wrote to Timothy, Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything (2 Tim.2:7). Much of the Bible is plain and easy to understand. The Psalmist wrote, Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Psa.119:105). God’s Word gives understanding to the simple (Psa.119:130; 19:7). Jesus opened the eyes of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus to comprehend the Word of God (Luke 24:44-45). Paul reminded Timothy to Be diligent to present yourself approved to God a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of truth (2 Tim.2:15). Handling accurately (Rightly dividing- KJV; Cutting in a straight line - JN Darby) literally means to cut straight.

 

This concept reminds us of the responsibility and possibility of right interpretation. 

As skillful and accurate handlers of the Word of God we need a method of study and interpretation that allows us to come away from the text with the true meaning and intent of the passage. We must correctly handle the Word of God in both its analysis and in its presentation (exegesis and exposition). Yes, a meaningful understanding and legitimate interpretation of Scripture is possible. Let’s figure out how.

 

Beginning with the Basics

To discover the flow of ideas that are related to the process of correctly interpreting the Bible, it is important that we stream through some basic concepts and definitions. Careful students have found these explanations really helpful in the exercises of interpretation, Bible study, preaching and teaching.

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Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics is the science and art of interpretation. It is the science (principles) and art (task) by which the meaning of the biblical text is determined. The English word hermeneutics comes from the Greek verb hemeneuo and the noun hermeneia. The basic meaning of the word is explanation or translation. It is the process of making clear something that was unclear. The meaning of the biblical text can only be determined through proper hermeneutics.

 

Exegesis

The term exegesis comes from the Greek word exegeomai which means interpretation or explanation . It is the technical application of the hermeneutical principles to a biblical text with a view to an informed understanding of the text (exposition). Exegesis is the actual process of interpretation, while hermeneutics consists of the principles of interpretation.

 

Exposition

Exposition means opening up. It comes from two Latin words, ex (out) and pono (to place. It is placing out, displaying or exhibiting. In an expository sermon the truth of the selected Scripture portion is placed out or displayed. In expository preaching Scripture is expounded as a coherent and coordinated body of revealed truth. It includes detailed interpretation and practical application of a passage of Scripture. Zuck has summarized the relation between exegesis and exposition: Exegesis is the study in private, and exposition is the presentation in public. Exegesis is done in the study, exposition is done in the pulpit or at the teachers desk or podium. The primary concern in exegesis is an understanding of a biblical text, whereas the primary concern of exposition is the communication of the meaning of the text. Exegesis is thus a means to an end, a step toward exposition. Exegesis is more technical and is basic to exposition, which is more practical (Roy B. Zuck, Basic Bible Interpretation), 20-21.

 

Text

By the text we mean whatever portion of Scripture we want to study. Choosing a text is the very first step in Bible study.

 

Context

The word context means that which goes with the text. Context is the environment or the setting in which something exists or occurs. Behind every statement of Scripture is an immediate setting. This provides clues as to what was on the author’s mind. Because context determines the interpretation of the passage and gives meaning to words, it is vitally important for us to know the context of any passage that we are studying.

 

Homiletics

Homiletics is the science and art of preaching. It refers to the process governing the preparation and delivery of sermons. It is the art of homily, a discourse delivered to a congregation. Homiletics is the science of which preaching is the art. Augustine introduced the terms homilia and sermo into the language of the Latin Church. From these the English words preaching and sermon are derived.

 

Observation

In the process of observation we observe or see. It answers the question, What do I see (in the text/passage) What does the passage say? Observation is discovering what the passage is saying.

 

Interpretation

Interpretation is the process of discovering what the passage means. What does the passage mean? Interpretation flows out of observation.

 

Application

Application is the most important practical element in Bible study. It answers the question: How does the meaning of this passage apply to me? Application demands a response to the truth that is expounded from the Word. 
 

Observation, interpretation and application are considered to be the three fundamental and basic components of meaningful bible study. 
The series of articles presented here deal more with the intricate questions of the fundamentals of legitimate Bible interpretation. But in this process we will also investigate valuable principles of personal Bible study methods. These basic concepts and definitions are inter-related and inter-connected. They complement each other and help us in our study. There is a tie that binds them together in the process of Bible interpretation. Hence they are relevant to our discussion.