Transcription
7 ideas forenriching BibleunderstandingThe Bible is a rich libraryto be savoredover a lifetime.Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University
Place yourself in the shoes of those whoread those documents for the first time“The aim of good Biblical interpretationis simple: to get at the plainmeaning of the text.”-- Gordon FeeTIPHowA Bible passage willnot mean what itnever meant.do we do that?
As we approach the Bible we must dealwith . . .1. The historical gap betweenBible times and today.We do not live in 800 B.C.We don’t even live in 33 A.D.
As we approach the Bible we must realize deal with . . .1. The historical gap2. Social and cultural gapsWe are not Jews,nor do we live inagrarian Mediterranean society
As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . . .1. The historical gap2. Social and cultural gaps3. Language differencesWe aren’t reading the Bible in the originallanguages in which Moses or Paul or otherswrote.
As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . . .1. A historical gap2. Social and cultural gaps3. Language differences4. Hand copiedmanuscriptsNone of the original manuscriptswritten by Paul or Moses orIsaiah have been found.
Qumran Wadi withseries of cavesBelow: Cave 4 contained15,000 fragments from 580documents
As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . . .1.2.3.4.A historical gapSocial and cultural gapsLanguage differencesCopied manuscripts5. Incremental (or unfolding) divinerevelationWe have the entire Bible; Joshua, for example, onlyhad the material in the first five books.
As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . .1.2.3.4.5.The historical gapSocial and cultural gapsLanguage differencesCopied manuscriptsIncremental revelation and growth of human understanding6. A variety of literary genre (types)
Bible literary types (genre)4 History4 Letters4 Laws4 Parables4 Biography4 Wisdom4 Riddles4 Apocalypses4 Drama4 Sermons4 Poetry
As we approach the Bible text, we must deal with . .1.2.3.4.5.6.The historical gapSocial and cultural gapsLanguage differencesCopied manuscriptsIncremental revelation and growth of human understandingA variety of literary genre or types7. Its divine inspirationThe Bible is at the same time both human and divine.
Interpretation of the Bible is shaped bythe tension between:4 1. Eternal relevance(“God’s Word never changes!”)4 2. Historical particularity(anchored in time)
7 ideas forenriching Bibleunderstanding(End)The Bible is a rich libraryto be savoredover a lifetime.
This PowerPoint presentation is available along with related materials and other PowerPointpresentations at http://home.snu.edu/ hculbert/ppt.htm
enriching Bible understanding The Bible is a rich library . Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University. Place yourself in the shoes of those who read those documents for the first time “The aim of good Biblical interpretation. is simple: to get at the plain . meaning of the text.” -- Gordon Fee.
