Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation by Henry A. Virkler & Karelynne Ayayo

Author:Henry A. Virkler & Karelynne Ayayo [Virkler, Henry A.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Bible—Hermeneutics, REL006000, REL006080, REL006400
ISBN: 9781441200457
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2007-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Summary

Theological analysis asks the question, How does this passage fit into the total pattern of God’s revelation? Before answering that question we must have some understanding of the pattern of revelation history.

Various views have been offered—from those that emphasize discontinuity within biblical history to those that emphasize continuity. Five such theories were identified and discussed in relation to the continuitydiscontinuity continuum.

The history of the two best-known theories within conservative evangelical circles—covenantal theology and dispensational theology—were discussed, including the primary arguments that each group has used to support their positions, as well as the changes that have occurred in these positions, especially in the last fifty years.

Many exegetical arguments on both sides of the issue are too detailed to include in this chapter. We encourage readers to carefully examine the book Continuity and Discontinuity: Perspectives on the Relationship between the Old and New Testaments, edited by John Feinberg. This book discusses many of the important aspects of this issue in a more nuanced way than is impossible in a brief introduction, with companion chapters written by leading dispensational and covenantal theologians.

The steps in theological analysis are

1. Determine your own view of the nature of God’s relationship to human beings. The collecting of evidence, the framing of questions, and the understanding of certain texts presented in this chapter are undoubtedly biased by the author’s conceptions of a biblical view of salvation history. The conclusion of this step is too important to assume from someone else without carefully and prayerfully considering the evidence yourself.

2. Identify the implications of this view for the passage you are studying. For example, a position on the nature of God’s relationship to humanity that is primarily discontinuous will view the Old Testament as less relevant for contemporary believers than the New Testament.

3. Assess the extent of theological knowledge available to the people of that time. What previous knowledge had been given? (This previous knowledge is sometimes referred to in hermeneutics textbooks as the “analogy of Scripture.”) The biblical references to earlier texts that appear in the margins of Bibles such as the Thompson Chain Reference Bible can provide assistance, as can good biblical theology texts.

4. Determine the meaning the passage possessed for its original recipients in light of their knowledge.

5. Identify the additional knowledge about this topic that is available to us now because of later revelation. (This knowledge is sometimes referred to in hermeneutics textbooks as the “analogy of faith.”) What other, perhaps clearer, passages and teachings do you need to consider in your interpretation of this passage? Topical Bibles and systematic theology texts that provide comprehensive scholarship on major topics such as theology, anthropology, Christology, soteriology, pneumatology, ecclesiology, and eschatology can be helpful in acquiring this type of information.

Summary of General Hermeneutics

Historical-Cultural and Contextual Analysis Lexical-Syntactical Analysis Theological Analysis

1. Determine the general historical and cultural milieu of the writer and his audience.

a. Determine the general historical circumstances.

b. Be aware of cultural circumstances and norms that add meaning to given actions.

c. Discern the level of spiritual commitment of the audience.

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