Hermeneutics Seminar

HERMENEUTICS
Looking Closely at God’s Word

February 16 – March 30, 2003

What in the world is hermeneutics?

· Definition: The science and art of how to interpret the Bible. Special attention given to a literal, grammatical and historical method.
· Description: We will examine the nature of the Bible, principles for sound interpretation and the qualifications & tools of the Biblical interpreter.
· Demand: God gave His word to man a long time ago, in distant lands, in foreign cultures. This demands interpretation into theological concepts, modern language and common understanding.
· Direction: “Someone can fish and feed you for a day, or teach you to fish and feed you for a lifetime.”

Scripture References
Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Neh 8:8 They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.

Mat 22:37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

Act 17:11 Now these(Bereans) were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

2Ti 3:15 And that from a child you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

SYLLABUS*
1. February 16, 2003
What in the World is Hermeneutics, Anyway?
Definition of hermeneutics
Purpose / Importance / Objective
Scriptural support for…

2. February 23, 2003
Looking Beneath the Cover
Considerations about the Bible
Formation of the Bible
Major divisions and structure

3. March 2, 2003
The Bible Under a Microscope, part I
Grammar, Figures of Speech, History, Sentence Structure, Theology, Culture,
Word Meaning, Literary Style, Context

4. March 9, 2003
The Bible Under a Microscope, part II

5. March 16, 2003
Asking the Right Questions
Orientation process (Background: who, what, where, when, why…)
Observation process (What do I see here?)
Interpretation process (What does this mean?)
Correlation process (How does this relate to all of Biblical truth?)
Application process (How does this apply to me,family, church, world?)

6. March 23, 2003
Three Bible Basics
Proper Law – Gospel Distinction
Historic - Redemptive Principle
Christ-centered Approach

7. March 30, 2003
Common Misuses of Scripture / Qualifications & Tools of the Interpreter

*Syllabus adapted from Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Richard Goswiller. CCBC, 1988