First things first, let’s start with what hermeneutics is and why it is so important.
What is hermeneutics?
Hermeneutics is the art and science of interpretation. The particular type of hermeneutics we will be discussing is biblical hermeneutics, or the art and science of interpreting the bible.
If you’re like me you are thinking to yourself, “Why didn’t he just say that in the first place?” Why is it that we in the field of biblical studies always have weird names for things? Are we just trying to sound smart?
Well let me tell you it is not all about exclusivity. These words, like hermeneutics, have very rich meanings behind them, and not just simple definitions. For example the word “hermeneutics actually comes from the classic Greek word hermeneus, which means an interpreter, or someone who explains things.”
Also in Greek mythology the character Hermes was a messenger between the Gods and man. His job was to deliver the message of the Gods to the people. He served as an interpreter for the message of the Gods. In much the same way biblical hermeneutics is the way in which we interpret the word of God.
So, as we look into the background of the word we start to understand why the word hermeneutics was chosen for the study of interpretation. Also as we look into the background of the word we start to understand what it is we must do to use it to our advantage.
Why is hermeneutics important?
It is important because we as Christians have to interpret. So, we must do our best to interpret correctly, that is to see what it true.
God has chosen to reveal Himself to man in many ways, the greatest of which was in His son Jesus the Christ. God literally walked the earth and spoke to people. He taught and answered questions that people had which allowed them to understand things that they had misunderstood at first hearing. This was God’s greatest revelation; He would correct those around Him when they misunderstood what He was saying.
We as Christians today do not have this benefit. Our revelation comes mainly from the bible. The bible is static; it is the same today as the day when it was inspired, minus minor errors between original manuscripts and the copies we have today. This means that we cannot simply ask a question and expect a clarifying statement to be made, as the disciples did. The bible will never respond when we ask it to clarify something for us.
However, we can look at the text of the bible as it is and find answers to questions that are already present in the text. This is what makes us interpreters, we have to look into a text that is not changing ask a question of it and then find an answer for that question within it without clarification or guidance from the source.
This means two important things. One, we will only find answers for the questions that we ask of the text, which means we are limited by our own ability to interrogate. Two, we will find answers to the questions that we ask by our own searching and by our own interpretation.
Do you see why this stuff is important? It is not all theological mumbo jumbo. This is one of the contributing factors in understanding who God is, and who we are. This matter of hermeneutics is a matter of life and death.
I hope that we all understand the weight that this matter has not only in this life, but in the one to come. With this new or renewed understanding I hope and pray that we will all devote ourselves to the careful matter of interp… I mean hermeneutics.
Next week we will go over some important principle to keep in place when you are interpreting.
HOMEWORK- read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 1 Peter 1:19-21
