Hermeneutics

Why Are There So Many Bible Translations?

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The very fact that we study the Bible in English implies that someone has already interpreted the original message into our language. Discover the Bible’s organization and its numerous translations to understand some of our interpretive challenges. 

How Should We Interpret Apocalyptic Literature?

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While the entire Bible has interpretive challenges, none is so difficult to navigate as the Book of Revelation. Despite the debated details, the main point of the book is full of glorious and guaranteed promises.

How Should We Interpret the Gospels?

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The four Gospels all tell the story of Jesus but are delivered to different audiences from different perspectives. To understand the truth contained fully within them, we must understand the context in which they were written.

How Should We Interpret Prophecy?

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The Old Testament prophets spoke a specific message to a particular people. We can safely unpack the timeless truth and correctly interpret it for our situations with proper hermeneutical guidelines.

How Should We Interpret Wisdom Literature?

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Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament is that portion of Scripture that helps us understand how to apply God’s wisdom in our lives. It makes sense to reason that if the LORD created the world, He knows the best way to navigate through it.

How Should We Interpret the Law?

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In the opening books in the Bible, God establishes the Law upon which the Israelites were expected to live. As New Testament disciples, we must use careful interpretative guidelines as we study and apply this portion of Scripture.

What Are Literary Genres in the Bible?

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The Bible is one book made up of 66 smaller books with distinct genres differing from each other. To interpret the Bible accurately, we must understand the nature of genres and how the Bible is organized.

What Role Does Context Play in the Bible?

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Even without acknowledging it, we project our context upon Scripture in order for it to say what we want it to say. As we study Scripture, we must filter the reader’s context through the knowledge of the author’s context.

Who Determines the Meaning of Scripture?

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A study of Scripture lacking thorough interpretative guidelines can lead to inaccurate beliefs. The foundational task of hermeneutics is deciding who determines the meaning of Scripture. 

What Is Hermeneutics?

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If God took the lead to communicate to us through the Bible, we must take our time to interpret that truth diligently. The task of hermeneutics is interpreting God’s Word into our context.

What Is the Bible?

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Before we attempt to interpret the Bible correctly, we must first recognize what this book is in the first place. The Bible is God’s Word so that we can truly know Him. Purpose The Bible is the greatest indication that the Creator desires to communicate with his creation. Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different …

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Hermeneutics Overview

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We all say that we should know the Bible better than we do. Don’t you think it’s time that we did something about it?

Biblical Context Determines Biblical Content

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Imagine a time in which you were surrounded by danger. Forces were against you that literally threatened your very life. Someone comes up to you at the scariest moment and seeks to encourage you. Instead of providing personal counsel, this individual actually quotes a Bible verse to you. Recited from a beloved psalm, this verse reminds you that God will …

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Interpreting Revelation

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The final book of the Bible is full of glorious promises and yet significant challenges.  While the entire Bible has interpretive challenges, none is so difficult as the Book of Revelation.  In our last session of hermeneutics, let us focus on how to be unashamed in our accurate study of this final book.

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Interpreting Acts

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The Book of Acts is a unique book in all of Scripture.  Being the only narrative-based book in the New Testament that isn’t a Gospel, extra hermeneutical precaution must be made.

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Interpreting the Gospels

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As we approach the New Testament, the first hermeneutical task is to learn how to study the Gospels.  The Gospels are the accounts written to portray the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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Interpreting the Prophets

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Interpreting the Old Testament prophets is an important hermeneutics’ skill.

While the prophets are historical literature, they are more like sermons commenting on the events than detailed reporting of the events.

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Interpreting the Writings

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The Writings section of the Old Testament is also referred to as the Wisdom Literature.  These books don’t fit naturally into the Law, History, or Prophets categories.  While these books are different, they each artistically teach the wisdom in keeping God’s Law.

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Interpreting the Law

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In our study of Hermeneutics, we come to one of the most difficult sections of Scripture to interpret – the Law.

Oftentimes, New Testament believers go too far in relation to the Law – either by expressing strict obedience to all types or by ignoring the commandments altogether as not applying to us.  We must find a healthy balance when it comes to interpreting this wonderful section of Scripture.

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Interpreting the Narratives

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In the study of hermeneutics, one of the most critical steps is learning how to interpret narratives.  Narratives are the story form of literature.  60% of the Bible is composed of historical narratives.  How should we interpret an event that happened one time to one person or to one people?

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The Importance of Context

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When it comes to reading Scripture, context is key.  

Too much of our current biblical study focuses on isolated verses and neglects the context of which the verses were originally written.

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The Interpretation of Translation

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In the 2nd week of our Hermeneutics course, we learned about “The Interpretation of Translation.”  The Bible in our possession has divisions of testaments, books, chapters and verses.  66 books are included and many religious books were left out.  In addition, the Bible was composed in 3 different languages, and a reading in English means that someone has already began the process of hermeneutics without us really thinking about it.

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The Task of Hermeneutics

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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  -2 Tim. 2:15

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The Most Misinterpreted Verse in the Bible

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Today was a great day to be a part of North Side. The praise band led us in this amazing time of “unplugged” worship (have I told you people lately I am working myself out of a job?!) – thank you Eric, John, Peggy, and Leah.  Breathtaking and genuine: Made to Worship – Chris Tomlin Make Me Holy – North …

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NSU – Night #2

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Thanks again for another great night at NSU in our Hermeneutics class. Your insights in our breakout time digging into Romans 12 were fantastic! You guys are really understanding on how to 1) grasp the text in their town, 2) measure the width to cross, 3) cross the connecting bridge, and 4) grasp the text in our town. I think …

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NSU – Night #1

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We had a great first night at NSU. A lot of people showed up for all of the six classes. I had a blast in our Hermeneutics class. Your attendance showed that all of you really want to understand the Bible better. That’s fantastic! You guys listened so great through the beginning foundational stuff and it was just a good …

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NSU This Sunday

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North Side U is starting this Sunday, and I’m so excited about the class that I am teaching: Hermeneutics. Don’t let the big word scare you, it’s about reading the Bible for all its worth. I mean it can’t be hard if I’m using stick people to teach it. Have you ever read a passage that you thought could no …

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Final Hermeneutics Class

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Tonight was our last Hermeneutics class for NSU. Sigh, lil’ tear. I had a great time with our class over the last six weeks. I felt like we attempted a pretty daunting task – looking and trying to learn how to interpret all the different genres of the Bible. It was my first time trying to teach all of this …

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