What rules of interpretation should theology students use when studying from the bible?
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Hermeneutics is the study of methods of interpretation. As for "Best" that is a judgement call in many aspects however the most biblical would be the Christocntric appraoch if you believe scripture. "biblical theology is a hermeneutic of the Emmaus road: "And starting with Moses and all the prophets he [Christ] interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures" (Lk. 24:27; emphasis added). Biblical theology is Christocentric: "MosesS¹wrote about me" (Jn. 5:46)." read more about it here: http://www.modernreformation.org/smb93hermeneutics.htm
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These aren't errors, exactly, unless you're so fundamentalist that you take every single word literally. \n\nPeople today have expressions that aren't meant to be taken literally - including "to the four corners of the earth." (For example, "You're driving me crazy." Literally, this implies that I'm being driven, that I'm not already crazy, and that I'm a qualified mental health professional who can diagnose 'crazy' when I see it.)\n\nWhen certain verses appear to be incorrect, read them in context and then find other verses about the same topic to be sure how they should be interpreted. Anyone can pick a verse and question it's accuracy. For example, you could combine "Judas went and hanged himself" with "Go and do thou likewise" and come up with a pretty twisted doctrine! But is that how these verses were meant to be understood? I don't think so.
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A Rabbi once said something like:\nIt is possible to use the law to interpret the law.\n\nParaphrased from memory:\n • Thou shalt not kill.\n • Whosoever lays with another man's wife... they shall both be stoned to death.\n\nDepending on your interpretation, is it even possible to follow both laws?\nWhich one has primacy?\nIs it possible that the latter rule made more sense when mankind was on the edge of survival?\n\nAgain paraphrased (and probably poorly):\nIf a law in the Torah offends you morally, it is your duty to judge it with the law.\nIf you do not agree with the law but it does not offend you morally, then preference should be to obey.
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We would be well to let the Bible interpret itself, and gather all verses on a subject. I would like to encourage everyone to do this.\n\nHere are a few to take a look at:\n\nDaniel 1:8- Daniel refuses wine because he has purposed not to defile himself. I doubt this was new wine, as the fresh juice of the grape does not defile.\n\nIsa. 5:11- Woe to those who drink intoxicating drinks.\nProverbs 23:29-30-More woe...\n\nAlcohol has lead to alot of shame in the Bible. Noah naked (Gen. 9:21), Lot sexually active with his own daughters (Gen. 19:33), The Golden Calf (Ex. 32:6, 25), Amnon rapes his half-sister (2 Sam. 13:28)\n\nWhen you take an honest look at the Biblical record of fermented drink, it is apaulling to think how Christians would try to endorce alcohol as righteous even in moderation!\n\nThe win, grape juice, represented Christ's Blood, and the bread his Body. Just as the bread was "unleavened", leaven representing sin, his blood ought to be considered pure, free from fermentation.\n\nThe Bible is clear on this point, for more info please read:
151341
One thing to keep in mind, when reading the O.T. is that even though you read it literally, you must keep in mind the literary context of the passage, and the culture and time it was written in. \nFirst, this was written to a young nation, just coming out of slavery, and facing some formidable enemies.\nSecond, They had seen miracles unike anything any nation before or since, has seen, so they had a higher level of accountability for their actions - For an Israelite of this time to entice another to turn from God would be a great offence, because they were responsible for a huge amount of revelation from God.\n\nI think the modern-day equivalent would be executing a Traitor or a spy - not at all unheard of even in the last century. Because Israel at this time was a Theocracy, idolotry would be the same as becoming an "enemy of the state".\n\nwrathpuppet, I know you don't believe the Bible is God's Word, but you still might consider taking an introductory course on Biblical exegesis - I think you would find it quite interesting (and maybe even profitable).\n\nBackground studies may be divided into two areas — semantics and pragmatics. Semantics is the study of the language of a text, while pragmatics is the study of the circumstances surrounding the individual linguistic expressions. Exegesis must give equal weight to both areas.\n\n(The particular passage in question was a national law for the fledgling nation of Israel, which was a Theocracy remember.)\n\nFinally (and I think this is your main concern in posting this question), there is application - i.e. what does this text tell me to do today? When you have a problem with the application of a verse, passage, etc, remember this: no Scripture is of any private interpretation - Scripture always interprets Scripture, so just keep reading and the application will present itself. In Romans 12:21-13:10 it says \n12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. \n13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.\n2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.\n3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.\n4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.\n5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.\n6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.\n7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.\n8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. \n9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”\n10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.\n\nSo, there you have the answer, in modern application of the Deuteronomy 13:6-10 \n1. Evil is to be overcome with good, 2. we know that we must obey the governing authority, and the laws they impose, and 3. that we must love our neighbor, it is not good to kill my neighbor, it is unloving to kill my neighbor, and it is unlawful to kill my neighbor.\n\nConclusion: As a Biblical Christian, I must not kill my friend when he invites me to participate in a pagan ritual or attend a yoga session.\n\nP.S. Schneb's study on the Law  bel
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Perhaps not.  But is it okay to ram your personal interpretation (of that which you have learned as dogma) down the throats of others if you never listen to informed critism?\nIf you have never read the old testiment in Hebrew, how do you really know what is says?  If you do not know Aramaic or Greek, do you really have an informed opinion yourself?\nDo you know the exact reasoning made by the men who decided what should be included in the Holy Bible and what should be left out?  Do you know that all of them did not agree with all of the books included?\nA good computer program can be written to look up an answer (or several rated answers) in the text of the King James Version of the Bible for just about any question, but that does not make the program holy.\nJudgment of others based upon whether or not they interpret scriptures in the same manner as you do may be a sin and certainly has lead to the disruption of the Christian religion into smaller factions.\nNo, it is never okay to critize anything that has not been studied.  Sure people do it, but that does not make it okay.
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The thing about Bible Studies is that they all come from a specific human slant. I would just do this: choose a chapter for you all to read and then get together to discuss it. Even better, read the chapter out loud and then discuss it. You don't need any bible "expert" to guide you.\n\nYou often get a different perspective from hearing it than from reading it. And after all, before the printing press, hearing it is the way most people got it.
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The answer to your question *must* be prefaced by a question:  Do you want to follow the Bible, to obey what is written in the Bible for our admonition?\n\nIf so, then you must seriously consider, as was pointed out above, 2 Corinthians 6:14\n\n(2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?\n\nJust yesterday, I think, I was speaking with my unmarried, almost 26-year-old son.  He is considering taking master's work at a college/university.  He suggested some private, Christian colleges, and he also suggested a public college.\n\nI cautioned him that even though right now he has decided to remain unmarried, that attending a public college may bring him into a situation where he is attracted to a woman who does not have the same belief system, is not a Christian.\n\nThis I also, since you asked for advice, or an "answer," ask you consider.  Linking up with a person who does not have the same belief system as you, especially of that belief system is important to you, can be very problematic.\n\nCase in point:  My mother was a Christian, my father was not.  Whereas he was tolerant, there were situations where she did not feel she could fellowship with other believers.  It was a very unhappy situation at times.\n\nSo, marriage is tough enough without this added burden of being unequally yoked....and I think that with nearly 30 years of marriage to the same woman, I *may* be in the place to make that determination.  :)\n\nLawrence\nhttp://www.truebiblesermons.com
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Well first you should be sure that it is a false doctrine.  Anybody can quote scripture to mean whatever they want it to mean.  This is the first tool of the devil, to quote scripture and appear as an angel of light.\n\nHere is how you check doctrine when people sling verses at each other:\n\n1.  Go to the Father's of the Christian Faith.  All the way back and preferably pre-300 being sure to check a Father that was taught by the Apostles or one in the 2nd generation.  Check to see if the Father's address this issue directly or a seed of this doctrine is present.  \n\n2.  Now check the Father's 300-800 AD and see how they developed the issue.\n\n3.  Now check the Fathers 800-1200 AD and see how they developed the issue.\n\n4.  Now check the Fathers and medieval scholastics 1200 AD -1500 AD and see how they develop the issue\n\n5.  STOP DO NOT CHECK POST 1500 YET!!!\n\n6.  Started back from the beginning check to see how Official Christian Teaching has dealt with the issue.  Check the councils that come out of the Churches of the East and West paying attention to the great councils.  Also be sure to check each Churches catechism, including the early Didache.\n\n7.  You now have a core understanding of how the Christian Faith has dealt with the doctrine throughout history.  Use this to determine where to look post 1500.  Ignore any Christian group that DIRECTLY contradicts this 1500 years of teaching and explanation of scripture.\n\n8.  Now check those group(s) that you have determined in step \n7 according to the writings of acclaimed Christians and official positions within that group in the following periods.  1500-1800AD, 1800-1945 AD, 1945-present AD. \n\n9.  You now have a complex and well developed understanding of what the TRUE Christian doctrine is.\n\n10.  Take this and discuss this with your friend.\n\n11.  Pray that the individual who is not in line with 2000 years of Christian Faith change their ways and accept the Faith.\n\nHope that helps.  If you need sources of where to look (great big book and net sites) message me.  Also include the specific doctrine and I will help you more.\n\nBlessing of Christ to you!
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Yes!  Pick a sucker group, claim you've read every word of the Bible and believe it in its literal sense.  State that you read somewhere in there, like John 4:52, that if your followers don't support your ministry financially, they'll go to h*ll.
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Any priest, bishop, or Pope publicly reads the Gospel during any  Mass that he celebrates.\n\nHe also prepares his homily (sermon) based on all of the readings of the Mass, Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel.\n\nA thorough knowledge of scripture is also required of all seminary students.\n\nI think you need to do a little more scholarly research rather than depend on the cartoons at godisimaginary.com.\n\nWith love in Christ.
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I agree that it is out of date, but I don't think that you can just go and arbitrarily change the content.  And by whose standards would it change?\n\nI think that there are many misinterpretations of the bible over the centuries.\n\nI am going to be ordering one that is supposed to be a direct translation from the orginal Aramaic New Testament to see what the difference is.  It is called The Modern New Testament : Translated from the Original Aramaic Sources by G. Lamsa.\n\nHaving said that, I also think that much of the bible directly speaks to that generation's society and political culture and therefore, not a lot of it has to do with how things are in this day and age, although I feel that Jesus taught us timeless lessons of love and acceptance and faith.  \n\nBut I don't believe that Jesus was the only master and that timeless lessons were taught by Mohammed and Buddha and many other masters as well.
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The Bible will give you the the account of God's love for mankind. It's all about relationship. The relationship between God and man. It spells out what He want's FOR us, as well as, what He want's FROM us. You will find examples of God's tolerance, anger, mercy, grace, wisdom, and most importantly, His love. The stories of the Bible help to teach us about how to handle that love, and how to deal with each other. As you read it,. put yourself in the situations. Think about what you yourself would have felt or did to get through them. If you study with another person or in a group, then share your thoughts and ideas. When you read the gospels, consider Jesus in His role as a teacher. If you get stuck or lost, remember that he came for the lost. You will find that He is there for you. The more you study, the more insight and understanding you will gain. I pray that you find the bible to be a serious guide. Let it point you to the truth that is found in Christ.\nMatt.
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The thing to look for is what's called the "historical-critical method." This is the method of researching, translating, and interpreting the Holy Scriptures that the bishops at Vatican II approved. In short, it uses not only the texts themselves, but also our archeological discoveries, historical sciences, and human reason to come to the best understanding of the Bible.\n\nMany (but not all) Protestant denominations reject the historical method, and translate and interpret the Scriptures literally and directly. (The King James, New King James, and New American Standard are of this type.)\n\nOther translations try to use modern language to get the ideas across. These are "paraphrases," not "translations," and the Contemporary English and New Living Versions are the most notorious of them.\n\nThe Catholic Church favors the New American Bible or the Revised Standard Version (not the New American STANDARD of the NEW Revised Standard ... those too are paraphrases). The NAB and RSV were translated by committees of Catholic AND Protestant Scripture scholars, and are very sound.
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Read it yourself, often, and pray about it.  The truth will be revealed to you as you get to know God's word better.  You should take the Bible literally for the most part.  Use your common sense.  There are parts that are merely symbolic.  When Jesus uses parables to illustrate a point, he tells us that's what he's doing.  I think if you study it yourself you will find that God speaks to us through the Bible and that many of the controversial parts are not as complicated as they seem.
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I have many, many Bibles and often use them to compare scriptures which I'm studying.  But for reading and teaching I prefer a modern language text, and one that is TRANSLATED (from original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic) as opposed to one that is a VERSION.  My two favorites are The New World Translation and the American Standard Bible.  Also I prefer ones that have footnotes and cross references, which I use a great deal.
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I would warn anyone who says that it should be literal.\n\nWe don't sell our daughters into slavery (or at least we shouldn't - those on the Jerry Springer Show might)\n\nAlso, Jesus says "If your right eye offends you, and causes you to sin, pluck it out, for it is better to enter the Kingdom of Heaven blind than not at all".  Do you really think that he meant that literally?   If so, then Christians would be a bunch of blind people (he says a similar thing about your arms and tongue).\n\nThere are parts that are literal, and parts that are figurative.  Best judgement will generally tell you which is which.