Tackling Difficult Texts

Inevitably in reading Scriptures we will come across passages that are difficult to understand/interpret.

-How do we handle these passages?

This is pertinent as we begin to discuss Gender Roles and the Bible in the KVC

-Some of the gender passages are difficult to understand

-We want to ensure that before we discuss the passages we have a healthy hermeneutical lens

Hermeneutics

-Hermeneutics is theory and methodology of interpretation, especially the interpretation of biblical texts, wisdom literature, as well as philosophical texts

Branch of Philosophy

-Greek & Latin - 

Exegesis - Taking meaning out of passage (ex = out) 

Eisigesis - Reading meaning into passage (eis = into)

Hermeneutical Differences have ALWAYS existed!

Matthew 22:23ff

-The Saducees only believed in the books of the Torah

-Pharisees believed in TaNaK + the oral tradition of the elders

-Greek word “eido” = to know by perception

Contrast “gnosis” = know

-They knew the Scripture but the way they perceived it was off!

Early Christian Church

-Circumcision - hermeneutical question

-Meat sacrificed to idols - hermeneutical question 

Three Levels of Doctrine:

-Core

-Important

-Peripheral

Some are about core issues

-Circumcision

Some are about important issues

-

Some are about peripheral issues

We want good hermeneutics!

-But we all have biases! - Tradition, upbringing, opinion, culture, etc.

When it comes to difficult texts…

-How do we avoid “eisigesis-ing”???

-How do employ good hermeneutics?

1. Humility

Philippians 3:15-16

All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Two Ways Humility Comes Out…

1. Admit Limitations

-Honesty…If this has been a question for 2000 years why do we really think we will 100% nail it?

2. Admit Biases

-We must have the humility to admit biases!

2. Context

-Spiritualizing of Bible study - “Just pray and God will make it clear”

Historical Contextual Hermeneutic

What would this have meant to the author?

What would this have meant to the original audience?

“Now as it was then”

-Scripture can’t mean to us what it didn’t mean then

Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:1 - Original audience

Jeremiah 29:10 - Original purpose

Genres of Literature

Bible Project Video

7 Genres of Biblical Literature

-Narrative

-Law

-Poetry

-Wisdom Literature

-Prophecy

-Apocolyptic

-Epistles/Letters

This is happening before our very eyes!

Example: 

Text Message

Contrast the reader-response method

-Mistakes are made when poetry is treated like prose

Psalm 51:4-5

Against you, you only, have I sinned (not true)
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Clear Teaching…

Deuteronomy 24:16 - Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.

Ezekiel 18:20 - The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.

3. Harmonizing

We have to look at verses in the context of the greater Bible story

-Harmonize the passages addressing similar topics

Salvation Passages…

You have to take a broad look at the passages, their context and then harmonize them

-There are tensions and hard to understand things

-They can’t be held in opposition to each other

4. Humility

-You don’t know 100% that your view is correct!

-Otherwise there wouldn’t be differing opinions among orthodox believers

The needs of other people over our own

Romans 14:1-4, 13-15, 19-22

Good Hermeneutics

-Strive for exegesis

-In Core Teachings…Unity, in All Else…Charity