Exploring approaches to interpreting the Bible: 3Exploring approaches to interpreting the Bible: 3

So far: • the Bible as a coherent, still-to-be-completed story or drama that invites our participation;• no ‘neutral’ engagement with the Bible – we all bring our worldview and experience to it;• how our mainly narrative Scriptures can be ‘authoritative’ – drawing forth a response as we ‘find ourselves’ here.

So far: • the Bible as a coherent, still-to-be-completed story or drama that invites our participation;• no ‘neutral’ engagement with the Bible – we all bring our worldview and experience to it;• how our mainly narrative Scriptures can be ‘authoritative’ – drawing forth a response as we ‘find ourselves’ here.

Hermeneutics = the science and art of interpretation, especially of

sacred texts

Hermeneutics = the science and art of interpretation, especially of

sacred texts Awareness of guidelines, principles and

scholarship

But also an intangible, intuitive, prayerful dimension that listens to what God may have to say to us today, in this place and situation

Awareness of guidelines, principles and scholarship

But also an intangible, intuitive, prayerful dimension that listens to what God may have to say to us today, in this place and situation

‘Good hermeneutics makes good neighbours’

(Kevin Vanhoozer)

Hermeneutics responds to the ‘so

what?’ question. What do we do with this

text?

‘Good hermeneutics makes good neighbours’

(Kevin Vanhoozer)

Hermeneutics responds to the ‘so

what?’ question. What do we do with this

text?

Underpinning any hermeneutical skills

we may develop must be… Underpinning any hermeneutical skills

we may develop must be…

Prayer

‘Every time we…turn our eyes to the text, Christ explains it to our hearts in proportion to our faith.’

(Enzo Bianchi)

Prayer

‘Every time we…turn our eyes to the text, Christ explains it to our hearts in proportion to our faith.’

(Enzo Bianchi)

Humility and expectancy

‘Given the ever-present temptation to make idols of our interpretations, humility appears as a prime interpretive virtue.’

(Kevin Vanhoozer)

Humility and expectancy

‘Given the ever-present temptation to make idols of our interpretations, humility appears as a prime interpretive virtue.’

(Kevin Vanhoozer)

3 lenses through which we can discover the Bible…

3 lenses through which we can discover the Bible…

1.Through the window of the Bible world.

Author-centred interpretation

1.Through the window of the Bible world.

Author-centred interpretation

2.

By learning to appreciate the Bible books as the products of skilled creative work.

Text-centred interpretation

2.

By learning to appreciate the Bible books as the products of skilled creative work.

Text-centred interpretation

3.

By discovering ourselves and our communities in the mirror of Scripture.

Reader / listener-centred interpretation

3.

By discovering ourselves and our communities in the mirror of Scripture.

Reader / listener-centred interpretation

These 3 lenses must work together like a prism to focus the light of Scripture…These 3 lenses must work together like a prism to focus the light of Scripture…

3 ‘horizons’ of interpretation3 ‘horizons’ of interpretation

God’s Big Story

The historical moment

The personal story line

God’s Big Story

The historical moment

The personal story line

What did the author/s intend to communicate?What did the author/s intend to communicate?

Who is the author? The audience? The historical moment

and circumstances? Language issues? Cultural background? Editorial process? This text or book within

the rest of Scripture?

Who is the author? The audience? The historical moment

and circumstances? Language issues? Cultural background? Editorial process? This text or book within

the rest of Scripture?

What kind of literature is this? How may the author arrange his material to reinforce his message?

What kind of literature is this? How may the author arrange his material to reinforce his message?

The ‘genres’ of the Bible

How do we read each appropriately?

What kind of literary / narrative skills are in play here?

The ‘genres’ of the Bible

How do we read each appropriately?

What kind of literary / narrative skills are in play here?