Theology

MDiv – Hermeneutics

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MDiv – Hermeneutics
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Lesson1: The Bible as a Word of God

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Lesson 2: Biblical Hermeneutics and Interpretation Methods
The sources define **hermeneutics** as the **science and art of interpretation**, with the aim of understanding the Bible’s message. It is the process of making clear something that was previously unclear. The interpretive task involves two main steps: 1. **Exegesis:** This is the **first task** and involves careful study to discover the **Original meaning of the text** within its historical and literary context. Interpreters must insist that biblical texts first mean what they meant to the original recipients. 2. **Hermeneutics (Narrow Sense):** This is the **second task**, referring to the application of the text to **contemporary contexts** ("here and now"). The opposite of exegesis is **eisegesis**, which is reading *into* the Scripture what the interpreter thinks it means, and this must be strictly avoided. The ultimate goal of teaching the Bible is so that "we may present every man **mature in Christ**". This maturity includes the ability to make strong moral decisions and understand God's priorities. The recommended approach for study is the **Inductive Bible Study method**, which progresses through three main steps: **Observation** (what the text says), **Interpretation** (analyzing context, historical background, and type of writing), and finally, **Application**. Guidelines are crucial because the correct meaning is not always the literal meaning, as seen in Jesus’ use of hyperbole (e.g., cutting off a hand), and because the Bible was written in different cultures. The challenge of interpretation is complicated by the reader’s initial pre-understanding, which interacts dynamically with the text in a process known as the **Hermeneutical Spiral**.

Lesson 3: Hermaneutics- Dynamic Equivalence, Interpretation, and Contextualizatio
This topic explores essential guidelines for biblical interpretation, primarily focusing on the **two-fold task of determining what the text *meant* (then) and what it *means* (here and now)**. The methods discussed include **Dynamic Equivalence**, which translates biblical words, customs, and circumstances into culturally understandable equivalents, and **Contextualization**, the process of adapting the Gospel message to the specific cultural and socio-political realities of the present audience for relevant communication.

Lesson 4: Avoiding Wrong Biblical Interpretations
This lesson examines **several wrong ways of interpreting the Bible** with the aim of identifying and avoiding mistakes made when correct methods are not utilized.

Leson 5: The Twelve Steps of Biblical Exegesis: Step One
The sources introduce **Lesson 5**, which begins the study of the **Twelve Steps of Exegesis** by detailing the initial phase, **Step One - Dialogue with the Text** (or **Getting to Know the Text**), emphasizing that careful reading and observation are essential to properly "open up" the Bible and avoid reading one's own ideas into the text.

Lesson 6: Biblical Interpretation: Step 2 -Discovering Context
This material centers on **Step Two of biblical interpretation, emphasizing that studying the literary, historical, and cultural context is essential to correctly discern the author's original meaning and avoid distorting the text**.

Lesson 7: Biblical Exegesis: Step 3 -What is the Historical Background?
This covers Step Three of Exegesis: finding the historical background and the Bible text's original intent.

Lesson 8: ( Coming soon) see lesson 9

Lesson 9: Step 4: Checking Other Bible Translations for Interpretation
Explaining the necessity of checking other translations, how translations are made, and comparing textual differences in biblical passages

Lesson 10: Step 5: Checking and Using Cross References
Checking cross references reveals new biblical ideas and improves understanding of biblical text

Lesson 11: Step 6: What Kind of Writing?
M3C2L11-Interpreting Biblical Literary Genres and Narratives

Lesson 12: Step 7: -Interpreting Key Biblical Words and Figures of Speech
This response covers key words, figures of speech, and the necessity of word studies for accurate biblical interpretation.

Lesson 13: Step 8- Using Commentaries to Interpret the Bible
The introduction outlines that this lesson, Step Eight, builds upon preceding steps. Previously, Step Six covered differentiating various types of writing in the Bible and interpreting them, and Step Seven detailed finding Key Words and understanding them using a Concordance and a Bible Dictionary. The purpose of this current lesson is to look at what others have said to better understand the text, which involves the use of Commentaries.

Lesson 14: Step 9- -Outlining Biblical Texts and Teachings

Lesson 15: Step 10- M3C2L15-Establishing the Bible’s Original Meaning

Lesson 16:

Lesson 17: Step 12: Active Response to Scripture: Step Twelve

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