A thorough preparation for the exegesis and exposition of the English Bible. After a survey of the historical schools of hermeneutics, the principles of the Historical-Grammatical method of interpretation will be studied.
You are assigned to prepare a comprehensive written report, reflecting your understanding of the historical schools of hermeneutics and the principles of Historical-Grammatical method of interpretation.
Your report should be a minimum of ten pages long. Incorporate scriptural references to reflect your spiritual perspective.
Biblical interpretation is an integral part of understanding the meaning of the doctrines of the Bible. Hermeneutics is the study of the methodologies and approaches used in biblical interpretations. Throughout history, hermeneutics has been part and parcel of understanding how the different approaches for biblical interpretation came into existence. To discover the values and truths in the Bible, both the interpretive and hermeneutic approaches provide an objective interpretation of the Bible with the dangers of having an interpreter getting into their own bias and prejudice to understanding the Bible. Ideally, without a proper understanding of hermeneutics, people can provide bias and misleading Interpretation of the Bible that makes it lose its meaning.
Additionally, the hermeneutics approaches constitute a set of philosophical interpretations. Since the Bible is a sacred book in Christianity, it rests upon conviction, providing a divine revelation (Archer, 2021). It is imperative to note numerous interpretations of the Bible from the belief that one has towards the Bible. As a result, those who understand the Bible from the literal perspective argue that God is complete and explicit in his argument. On the other hand, others say that the word of God has a deeper meaning that should be invested aptly to reveal the message communicated by God.
Others have argued that some parts of the Bible should be treated figuratively because it needs profound interpretations based on the holy spirit interventions. It is essential to consider how the four approaches used in the interpretations of the Bible have distinctive aspects that define each. The major four hermeneutics approaches include; allegorical, anagogical, moral, and literal.
Moral interpretation of the Bible is a hermeneutic approach that establishes the exegetical principles. Ideally, the Bible is informed by the moral principle, which dictates the obey God and acting according to his will is morally acceptable. As such, sin is coming into play when the moral standards set by the ten commandments are violated. The moral interpretation of the Bible is also necessitated by the belief that the Bible constitutes a set of conduct that is expected from Christians (Muller & Thompson, 2020). Ideally, Jewish teachers of the pre-Christian era guided the Jews to a whole body of Interpretation of the Bible, which made them aware of their duties (Bible Ref, 2021). They also practiced the teaching in their daily lives to live according to the doctrines presented in the Bible. It is imperative to note that the internalization of principles and how well one practiced them proved their loyalty to the religion.
A typical example from the Bible on how the moral interpretation was applicable is that “work” on sabbath day is forbidden. Both the moral and legal schools of biblical interpretation headed by the rabbi among the Jews would be responsible for presenting numerous activities that all fall under the ban. However, in the advent of Christianity, the Jewish moral Interpretation of the Bible was rejected by the Christians who now believe in the Ten Commandments (Bible Ref, 2021). As a basis for the ethically binding codes, the Ten Commandments also poses a challenge of interpretation since it is difficult to have a perfect Christian.
The Allegorical Interpretation of the Bible entails assessing the bible narrative as having a second meaning, unlike searching for the purpose at the surface level. Ideally, the Interpretation of the Bible using the allegory provide Christians with a further interpretation of each of the events and figures in the Bible. For this reason, the Bible becomes a divine oracle in which each meaning calls for prophetic intervention to understanding. The teachings of Jesus call for a new purpose to ensure that their apt goal is realized. As such, allegorizing the parables and prophecy of Jesus provided new meanings essential parts of understanding the Bible’s teachings (Bowie, 2018).
A typical book in the Bible that requires a proper understanding of the allegories used throughout is Songs of Solomon. Though the book is understood as a romantic expression at the surface level, it is imperative to assess the meaning of the Bible in this context using the symbolic approach. Moreover, the various interpretations of the book of Solomon’s Songs present the relationship between God and his love for the Israelites. The symbols used throughout the novel are essential because they the underlying relationship that God had with the Israelites. Ideally, poetry entails an array of symbols and metaphors that would require an in-depth interpretation and perspectives to make meaning of the texts. The songs of Solomon remain controversial in the sense that it addresses the physical relationship in a marriage.
The physical love in a marriage depicts the earthly interpretation that does not necessarily resonate with the Bible’s teachings based on the relationship between the church and Christ. In the New International Version, the Songs of Solomon asserts, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth – for your love is more delightful than wine” ( Song of Solomon 1;2). The interpretation of this verse from Songs of Solomon does not fit the interpretation done literarily since it addresses a psychical relationship between a man and woman. However, the allegorical interpretation of the verse reveals a deeper meaning in terms of the relationship between God and Christians or the Christ and the Church.
The phrase “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth” is informed by the relation between God and his people, which is established in terms of human affection and the existence of the more profound sense of love that God has for the people. Ideally, using figurative language is appealing to the readers since it provides them with more experiences that they do resonate with. As such, the abstract concept of the relationship between God and his people is more practical and relatable when expressed in terms of the physical love between a man and woman. For these reasons, the allegorical interpretation of the Bible provides an in-depth understanding of the Bible. It is imperative to note that all the language used throughout the Bible calls for a proper interrogation to identify the actual meaning.
The anagogical interpretation is also known as the mystical approach in which an explanation of the biblical events is assessed in determining how they relate to the forthcoming events. For example, River Jordan is often referred to as the River of death. However, crossing this River symbolizes overcoming death and entering into the promised land, Canaan. As such, this interpretation can be applied with contemporary Christians to indicate that the problems they are facing can be ended when they seek help from God (Husni & Setiawan, 2018). Ideally, the fact that Christianity is a religion based on faith, the symbols used throughout the Bible are highly attached to the events in the Bible.
Canaan in the Bible is promised that all the Christians believe there is a land of deliverance to all the problems facing humanity. As such, when crossing over the promised land, it is possible to mark it then using historical events in the Bible. Ideally, the journey of Israelites from Egypt where they were captive through their journey in the wilderness (Exodus) is the subject of mystical interpretation since it reveals how the events and objects are assigned meaning throughout the Bible. It is the role of the Christians to seek the knowledge of the historical context of each of the events in the Bible for them to fathom the meaning. The anagogical approach calls for proper research on the historical background of each event. It connects that with the underlying meaning attached to the objects identified in the Bible (Husni & Setiawan, 2018). The Garden of Eden is an earthly paradise, which God uses to serves as an equal heavenly paradise. This understanding is only achievable when assessing God’s relationship to humans right before they sinned in the Garden.
As such, the meaning of Garden of Eden has undergone numerous transformations from being the earthly heaven to being related to a place where the first sin was committed. Notably, the heavenly paradise is now the ultimate place for the redemption of Christians. Moreover, it serves as the ultimate promise for those who keep their faith and trust in God. When referring to the heavenly paradise, the Bible refers to the ultimate promise that all Christians who obeyed God’s commandment will be rewarded with eternal life. In the New International Version of the Bible, Revelations 2;7, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victorious one, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. To everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” ( NIV Revelation, 2;7). The meaning of this verse is traceable to the letters Jesus wrote John in which he intended to communicate to the church in Ephesus. It is important to note that Jesus praises the congregation for their endurance and to adhere to God’s word.
Most importantly, the church of Ephesus had abandoned its first love, which is the church and its respect for God. As a result, they started drifting into unwanted and unholy religious practices. For these reasons, Jesus in Revelation reminds the church of Ephesus to remember their early days when they obeyed the word of God and kept the truth of the promise. He encourages them to repent and return to the initial relationship with God. This is an essential part of anagogical interpretation since it provides an in-depth understanding of the long history of the relations between the church and God. In a broader perspective, Revelation 2;7 reveals God’s promises to the church that is only achievable by maintaining a rapport with God. The promise is also symbolically represented by the promise to eat from the tree of life, which resonates with the Garden of Eden and the Heavenly paradise.
The literal approach of interpreting the biblical text includes assessing the “plain meaning” of the events and words used throughout the Bible. Ideally, it is achievable utilizing grammatical construction and a broader understanding of the historical context. As such, the reading is meant to relate to the author’s intentions, which is a challenging approach to determine the exact meaning. It is imperative to note that most of the teaching of Christians is spiritual. This provides a strong foundation in which the interpretation of the Bible is made based on the spiritual interpretation. The Christians identify with the deeper meaning of the Bible, and the literal interpretation has always been a problematic means of explaining the meaning in the Bible text. Those who firmly believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible believe that the words used throughout the Bible were purposefully used and inspired by God. As such, every word used has a spiritual connection to God’s will.
Most importantly, the Bible authors are believed to have been inspired by God; hence their writing is ordained and represents the words of God., intentions and purpose. The literal interpretation of the Bible has been supported by opponents whose allegorical interpretation of the Bible has opposed the excess use of the symbol and allegorism to understand the Bible. God inspired the Bible and the writing throughout, then it is not necessary to delve into the allegorical interpretations. In Isaiah 43;10, the New International Version asserts, “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before Me, no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”( NIV, Isaiah 43;10). This verse from the book of Isaiah is aptly understood because it resonates with the historical context in which Isaiah provides a warning to the nation of Israel. For centuries, Isaiah had warned the king of Israel and that of Judah that they would be punished for their sins. It through the book of Isaiah that God proves his goodness and kindness to the nation of Israel. It is important to note that God also communicates his superiority through Isaiah. As such, the message in this bible verse does not necessarily require an allegorical or moral interpretation. Instead, the literal meaning of the words used only requires a knowledge of the historical context of the relationship between the Israelites and God.
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation of the Bible strives to discover the biblical ideologies that relate to the authors and their intended meaning as captured in their writing. Ideally, the method is based on assessing the grammatical style used in the biblical passages with a keen observation of the literal, cultural, and historical context. The author provides an account of events that are informed by their cultural influences. For this reason, a proper interpretation of the Bible would include an analysis of the cultural context, which informs the author’s perspective. Both the grammatical and syntax method is used to include practical knowledge in assessing the meaning of the words or the phrases used for a reader to understand the intended meaning. Arguably, the historical-grammatical objective is to have one particular interpretation for every bible verse. This approach has been applauded for providing an accurate interpretation of the Bible, unlike the symbolic approach in which language used by the author leads to multiple interpretations and meaning, and the grammatical-historical approach is focused only on producing one meaning.
In the New International Version, Mathew 12;32, “Matthew 12:32, NIV: “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” ( Mathew 12;32). Jesus asserts that any blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not forgiven. This verse of the Bible refers to the nature of sin treated with much more resonating with the denial of the existence of the Holy Spirit. It is imperative to note blasphemy amount to calling God a liar and rejecting him. Such a sin has no chance of forgiveness since it contradicts the very belief that it exists. It is essential to assess this verse with the historical-grammatical method of interpretation since it resonates with the bible verse in John 3:36, in which Jesus also speaks against those who condemn, criticize and reject him.
In the historical context, it is possible to make a follow-up of the events in the life of Jesus and how he has been denied by the people right from the time he started his ministry. Many people spoke against his ministry, which is a factor that reflects on the skepticism and blasphemy that people had for his ministry. However, Jesus emphasizes that being blasphemous against the Holy Spirit is a sin that is unforgiven since it amounts to denying God. Throughout the Bible, those who denied Jesus are forgiven but not those who condemned and denied God (Muck, 2017). Apostle Paul is a typical example of a person who denied Jesus and the entire Christian Church. However, he was later forgiven and became an apostle who helped to spread the word of God. This is important because it provides hope for those who denied Jesus. As such, the historical-grammatical approach of interpretation is an essential part of understanding the meaning throughout the Bible by critically assessing the meaning of the words and relating them to the larger historical context.
Conclusively, biblical interpretation is based on various approaches that all have unique interpretations and related meanings. The historical-grammatical approach is different from the rest of the hermeneutic approaches used to fathom meaning since it only bases its research on the words used and the historical context. Unlike the moral interpretation, which leads to different meanings, the historical-grammatical technique strives to assess the words used by the authors and their intention of writing to communicate the ideas. Nevertheless, it is imperative to note that the vast approaches used for bible interpretation are essential since they provide different perspectives applicable in revealing meaning in the Bible.
The fact majority of the events that do take place in the Bible are symbolic and can be interpreted as so provides the readers with the knowledge that it is possible to have varied meanings depending on the context of the words used. Additionally, the biblical interpretation used in the Bible, such as the literal approach, strives to produce accurate meaning that makes the Bible even more straightforward in terms of the message. Thus, the hermeneutic approaches used in the interpretation of the Bible are essential to make Christians more aware of the varied approaches they can use to study the Bible and have revelations on the meaning.
Archer, K. J. (2021). Hermeneutics. In Handbook of Pentecostal Christianity (pp. 108-116). Cornell University Press.
Bible Ref. ( 2021). Matthew 12:32 Parallel Verses. Retrieved from https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/12/Matthew-12-32.html#commentary
Bowie, R. A. (2018). Interpreting texts more wisely: A review of research and the case for change in English Religious Education. Christian faith, formation, and education, 211-228.
Husni, H., & Setiawan, I. (2018). Hermeneutics paradigm in religious research. Religious Studies: An International Journal, 6(2).
Muck, T. C. (2017). Intercultural Hermeneutics. Vol. 1 of Intercultural Theology. International Bulletin of Mission Research, 41(3), 194-202.
Muller, R. A., & Thompson, J. L. (Eds.). (2020). Biblical Interpretation in the Era of the Reformation: Essays Presented to David C. Steinmetz in Honor of His Sixtieth Birthday. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
New International Version Bible. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/
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