Fall 2008 Online Certificate Students:
View all sessions below. Then log all your comments, questions, discussion question answers, criticisms, or thoughts below.
NOTE:
This is not the place for general discussion and questions. Go to the foyer for general discussion and refer to the FAQ on the right for question. Time spent in the comments section will apply toward your one hour of community time per week. To download audio sessions, visit the course homepage on the TTP site. The next session will be posted each Wed.
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How should we interpret Scripture? What is the correct method? Are there common mistakes that we should avoid? During this session we will complete the history of interpretation, bringing the student to a better understanding of the evangelical method of hermeneutics. The student should leave with a firm conviction that the best way to interpret Scripture is by allowing the text to speak for itself, not reading into the text what we want it to say or think it ought to say. The student will learn nine basic principles for interpretation, and six common interpretive fallacies that people often commit. By the end of the lesson, the student should appreciate the foundation that the Reformers laid with regard to how the Bible is to be read and understood.
How did people interpret Scripture during the medieval period? [24:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download How did the Reformers interpret Scripture? [11:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download What is the modern way of interpreting Scripture? [16:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download What are the basic principles of biblical interpretation? [19:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download What are some common interpretative fallacies? [11:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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November 5th, 2008 at 10:35 am
B&H –Fall 2008
Discussion Questions Session 10
1. A danger is the church authority becoming strong in that they interpret the Scripture and declare It says this or that. A merit is the strength in the Scripture and God’s commands.
2. The Word was becoming so lost in the control the priests had over It’s interpretation. There was hardly any personal growth or conviction or knowledge. The Bible was being taken out of context, misused, and abused. It was not the Word that changes lives. It was binding people.
3. We can study the authors and their culture and Christ’s/God’s purpose in including the text. We must stop making it about only ourselves and look at the big picture—the Church as a Body and the Bride of Christ.
4. My parents’ theology. Things they said were Scriptural or doctrine. My past experiences with Christ working in my life. These have a great effect on my pre-understandings. I know that I’ve understood a verse totally different than a friend of mine just because our different experiences.
5. Probably exegetical or maverick. Basically, as long as they get to interpret how they want and the interpretation is comfortable for them, then it is enough; it is good. Word study fallacies would be the other, but I think the average person doesn’t study words.
6. I must be careful about how I read the Bible. I don’t think about the pre-understandings I bring in. I’m thankful that I have a copy of the Bible. I have commentaries. I have the Internet. I am so blessed to have so many resources to reason and study the Bible.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Marsha Johnson
B & H, Fall 2008
Session #10
Group Questions
1)Merits and Dangers of Authoritative approach to Scripture.
The merits of the Authoritative approach to Scripture is that false doctrine and heretics even cults would be stopped by the “authority.” There were and still are many people who use scripture for their own gain or glory. They have taken freedom to mean license to do as they please. This is the danger of an absolute authority. I do believe that we need a group of trusted theologians to whom we must answer to. If this was an ideal world, that authority could be the Trinity. However, history has taught us that man can not be trusted for example Jim Jones, the political interference of the English throne in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s.
2)The Importance of the reformers return to the Historical-Grammatical method.
The disorder, ignorance and tangent doctrines of the Church caused erroneous practices. As Christians we are ashamed of the atrocities committed in the name of God. Man was making the Scriptures say anything they liked. The Reformation was a heroic effort made by many believers to return to literal, historical-critical interpretation of God’s Word. We must be vigilant as we pass on the precious Word of God as interpreted in Scriptures.
3)How can we avoid becoming too liberal in our interpretation of Scriptures.
I am not sure what you mean by liberal. My dictionary has many meanings, so I am going to assume you mean “a person who is not strict in the observance of orthodox ways, especially not bound by by authoritarianism, orthodoxy or tradition.” I think the religious authorities of Jesus day thought he was too liberal. I also think being liberal or not liberal comes from your nature and nurture. Having said this, I believe the church has not preached the “cost of discipleship” nor been clear in teaching the sovereignty of God or the application of God’s Law. We can avoid these problems and the concern of being too liberal by listening to the WHOLE counsel of God, by not excluding other believers who practice their faith in different ways than we do, by participating in ecumenical discussions and by keeping the main thing the main thing. I mean our circle of Truth.
4)My preunderstandings.
I have come from a white, Scandinavian middle-class Lutheran and Presbyterian, American background. I had much to learn about life and reality. I also have lots of beautiful traditions both religious and familial, of which some were unnecessary baggage. In 1963 I was shocked when JFK and MLK were shot, and mortified at the treatment of the Black people in the south. I thought everyone was nice to each other, at least in the US.I thought everything my mother told me was Truth and that the TV news was unbiased. I knew the Bible well because I went to church and Sunday school every Sunday. I had no worries because my mother made all my decisions for me. I developed a very emotional and overly (so I am told) sensitive Needless to say, my view of life was warped.
5)The hermeneutical fallacy I believe is committed most by the average Christian today.
CMP said at the beginning of Session #10’s video that “many people have a methodology of studying and reading Scriptures, but don’t know their theology of Bible Study.” I agree! Not only does the average Christian take a cavalier approach to their faith but they also think their opinion about a text is more valid than historical-grammatical-literal interpretation ascribed to by most knowledgeable believers. I call this hermeneutic the Me-ism approach, it was not covered in class.
6)Most challenged me. I cannot express my gratitude enough to TTP for teaching me how to do theology! The Holy Spirit has been urging me to seek to go deeper in my faith and to know more of God. TTP is giving me the tools to do this. I had not pinned down my theology, I was just a listener. I chose what I wanted to believe and what I did not want. I have a clearer concept of Scriptures, my faith and my God.