Getting Job-ed
When you come to read and study the Bible, how do you do it? What processes do you use to understand what is being spoken? Do you just go off of your own interpretation, based on your own cultural setting in a specific place in history? Or, when you have a question about life that needs to be answered, do you close your eyes and flip through the Bible hoping whatever verse you land on God will somehow answer your issue that’s at hand? Aren’t we all guilty of these? In this two-part study, we’re going to briefly look at some tips to help us study and understand what Scripture is saying (a simple definition of Biblical Hermeneutics), which will help us better apply Scripture to our setting today. Much more can be said on this topic, but this would be a good intro for someone looking for techniques in studying.
* Also, as a note, the resources used in the Bibliography are great and can really be of much benefit to anyone that’s wanting to take the process of studying Scripture to a new level! Also, there is a lot of technical jargon used in this paper, try to see past the technical word to understand what it actually means.
The following is a paper written by Austin Rankin for Belhaven University in 2022. This is part 2 of 2:
Once there is a firm grasp on the meaning of the text, then the interpreter may move to application to our current setting and situation. (15)There is truly only one meaning intended by the original author to the original audience (original meaning). Yet, there are many applications and implications this has for our modern-day setting. (16)
Application
Although there is a definite difference in culture and historical setting from modern-day readers back to the days of Scripture, there are also many similarities as well that help the reader connect to the past. (17) God is immutable from the Old Testament all the way to modern times, mankind is sinful and rebellious, the world itself is similar, and societal classes of people are still relatively similar. (18) God is sovereign over time and space, therefore, the words that He spoke long ago to the writers of Scripture still have their relevance to us today. God intends those words to still be received and applied to our current situation.
We actually see this concept used in Scripture:
Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? 1 Corinthians 9:8-12 ESV
Here, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 (a case-law written by Moses to the Israelites heading to the Promised Land) in order to make the point to the church of Corinth that it would not have been wrong for Paul or Barnabas to reap material benefits from their church because they serve the church in spiritual matters (and yet they haven’t as seen later in the chapter). Paul uses that verse from Deuteronomy and applies it to their situation.
Adjustments, Connections, Impacts
Adjustments are made in order for the person applying the text to connect themselves or their audience to the teaching from Scripture (epochal, cultural, or personal adjustments). (19) Connecting the interpreter or their audience to Scripture is built off of a need that is identified that is intended to be impacted by making the connection in Scripture. As stated in the Third Millennium Lecture Applying Scripture, “to benefit properly from Scripture, we have to be impacted by it; our concepts, behaviors, and emotions have to be changed.” (20)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study of hermeneutics could be stated as a process or methodology that is taken to interpret the Bible. (21) The purpose of this paper was to discuss the importance and necessity of the hermeneutical process of preparation, investigation, and application as discussed in the Third Millenium Course and in He Gave Us Stories by Richard Pratt Jr. Personally, the coursework and study will greatly impact my future studies and application to my life and also the audience that I teach.
Footnotes
15. Pratt, He Gave Us Stories: The Bible Student’s Guide to Interpreting Old Testament
Narratives, 312.
16. R.C. Sproul, “Knowing Scripture: Literal Interpretation,” Ligonier Ministries, accessed April 8,
2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1vzMEHtexQ&list=PLWi0qXEimM4a6N-
17. Third Millenium Ministries, “He Gave Us Stories: Foundations for Interpretation: Applying
Scripture,” accessed April 6, 2022, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/158
18. Third Millenium Ministries, “He Gave Us Stories: Foundations for Interpretation: Applying
Scripture.”
19. Pratt, He Gave Us Stories: The Bible Student’s Guide to Interpreting Old Testament
Narratives, 330-332
20. Third Millenium Ministries, “He Gave Us Stories: Foundations for Interpretation: Applying
Scripture.”
21. Pratt, He Gave Us Stories: The Bible Student’s Guide to Interpreting Old Testament
Narratives, 1.
Bibliography
R.C. Sproul, “Knowing Scripture: Private Interpretation,” Ligonier Ministries, accessed April 5,
2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBZXN7Vul9I&list=PLWi0qX
EimM4a6N-4xWS1DNV-EFk7ZDt4l&index=2
R.C. Sproul, “Knowing Scripture: Literal Interpretation,” Ligonier Ministries, accessed April 8,
2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1vzMEHtexQ&list=PLWi0qXEimM4a6N-
4xWS1DNV-EFk7ZDt4l&index=4
Richard Pratt Jr., He Gave Us Stories: The Bible Student’s Guide to Interpreting Old Testament
Narratives, (Tennessee, Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1990).
Third Millenium Ministries, “He Gave Us Stories: Foundations for Interpretation: Applying
Scripture,” accessed April 6, 2022, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/158
Third Millenium Ministries, “He Gave Us Stories: Foundations for Interpretation: Introduction to
Biblical Hermeneutics,” accessed April 6, 2022, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/
lesson.asp/vid/152
Third Millenium Ministries, “He Gave Us Stories: Foundations for Interpretation: Investigating
Scripture,” accessed April 6, 2022, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/154
Third Millenium Ministries, “He Gave Us Stories: Foundations for Interpretation: Preparation for
Interpretation,” accessed April 6, 2022, https://thirdmill.org/seminary/lesson.asp/vid/153
