What is the Goal of Interpretation?

The goal of interpretation is to get the plain meaning of the text. What did the author mean when he wrote this?

However, getting the plain meaning isn't that simple. That is because of two reasons.

Why Should We Read and Interpret the Bible?

We should read and interpret the bible because it is God's word. It tells us of salvation through Jesus Christ.

It tells us of our human nature, and our need for God. It tells us of God's nature, who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. It gives us instruction for how to live a good life.

Guarding Truth

Misuse of Scripture is the root of cults and bad religion. Prosperity Gospel often misuses scripture, taking it out of context.

So it is important for us to know how to tell apart good vs bad interpretation, how to do good interpretation.

Learn to Read the Bible For Yourself

  • Acts 17:11

Problem with our Interpretation

  • The reader as interpreter
    • Bringing in our own bias into the text
  • The nature of Scripture
    • Divine
    • Human

How do we Interpret the Bible?

Exegesis

  • Historical Context
  • Literary Context
  • Rules of Reading Epistles

Goals

  • Tell between bad vs good interpretation
  • Encourage people to read the bible for themselves

Literary Context

  • Tracing the argument
  • Create an outline of the letter
    • Breaking the letter into smaller chunks
      • For each paragraph
        • What is the author trying to say?
        • Why is the author saying it here?

Historical Context

  • Cultural, Geographical (mountains etc..) Language
  • Epistles, you want to get the occasion/purpose of the letter
  • Audience

Using Outside Help

  • Try to use this last, many things you can get from the book it self
  • Commentaries, bible handbooks, bible dictionary, concordances
  • Keep in mind that there is bad sources as well (Gate Myth)
  • Simplify
  • Put application right after context to show
  • Use less technical words

Use a smaller book and then go through the process. Split people in groups.

  • Historical Context (background/context)
    • Find the purpose of the book, why was the letter written?
    • Anything you find about the author? Audience?
    • Tone the author is using?
  • Literary Context
    • Trace the argument

Mini Book Study [[Philemon.canvas|Philemon]] [[Jude.canvas|Jude]] maybe 1 Corinthian 8? 3 John

Philippians Colossians 2 Thess Titus

  • Jude has more paragraphs
  • Jude also have more reference to OT, which might be good for Hebrews?
  1. Jude
  2. Parts of Ephesians
  3. 3 John
  4. Philemon
  5. Parable
    • Prodigal Son
    • Mark 12:1-12