Sunday, August 9, 2009

Hermeneutics - steps in the process

1)Literary Analysis – Begin any study with a literary analysis. The Bible contains seven distinct genres or types of literature: narrative, prophecy, wisdom, psalm, gospel, epistle and apocalyptic.
2) Grammatical Analysis – At this point, an interpreter will need to be very familiar with basic grammar. Relationships like purpose, result, time, concession, means, manner, condition, comparison, and contrast are indicated by adverbs and adjectives.
3) Historical Analysis – the time period and the impact of the events of the day in which they text was written. Take note of beliefs, social norms, and material traits of the biblical world that may have influenced the writers of the biblical text. Ask yourself: (1)Where is the author and his audience? (2) What political, economic and social situations are confronting them? (3) What cultural references(s) need to be defined? (4) What is the purpose of the writer for the whole book? The author didn’t write in a vacuum.
4) Contextual Analysis – context will usually limit the range of interpretive possibilities … Each word must be considered within the sentence. Each sentence must be considered within the paragraph. Each paragraph must be considered within the chapter. Each chapter must be considered within the book. Each book must be considered within the whole Bible.
5) Theological Analysis – left last because the whole of Scripture is the focus. Theological analysis concerns itself with God and the continual revelation of the will for the world.
Quoted from “Hermeneutic: The Keys of a Wholistic Biblical Method of Interpretation”
By Rev. Charles Cooper

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