Deep Dive into Introduction to Biblical Interpretation by William W. Klein, Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr. - The Need for Interpretation

Hermeneutics is defined as both an art and a science of interpretation, providing the principles and methods used to explain the meaning of Scripture. As a science, it employs rules and systematic procedures to decode messages, guaranteeing accuracy and ensuring that understanding does not occur randomly. As an art, it accounts for the nuances, subjective factors, and cultural codes that defy precise rules, necessitating skill and insight to bridge gaps between the ancient and modern worlds.

Hermeneutics is necessary for biblical interpretation because the divine message was conveyed through human means across vast distances that complicate accurate reading. These complicating barriers include the Distance of Time (over 1,900 years since the last words were written), Cultural Distance (encountering agrarian societies, oral cultures, and unfamiliar customs), Distance of Language (texts written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Hellenistic Greek, where translations are interpretive), and Geographical Distance (lacking a mental map of elevations and locations).

To arrive at the correct meaning, interpreters focus on authorial intent. This process is analyzed using speech act theory, which consists of three elements:

1. Locution: What is actually spoken or written (the text itself).
2. Illocution: The intention or purpose the author had in using those words (e.g., encouraging disciples to do good deeds).
3. Perlocution: The envisioned outcome or result for the audience (e.g., the disciples engaging in good works).

Interpreters use the locution (the written text) to reconstruct the illocution and perlocution. When studying the meaning of specific words within the locution, four dimensions are analyzed: Referential Meaning (what the word points to), Denotative Meaning (the precise, direct definition), Connotative Meaning (the special suggestive sense, such as "tree" meaning "cross"), and Contextual Meaning (the specific sense determined by the surrounding text).

The goal of hermeneutics is dual: to discover the original meaning (what it meant then) and to assess its modern significance (what it means today) for responsible application. This systematic approach is essential for controlling interpreter bias and ensuring that readers hear God’s message rather than their own cultural voice or erroneous presuppositions.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730