אבנימ

Biblical Hermeneutics Part First Chapter 9

The author herein presents his considered views on what makes up the necessary qualifications, natural and acquired, of a capable and accurate interpreter of Holy Scripture. He groups these credentials broadly under three headings: Intellectual, Educational and Spiritual.

Intellectually, an interpreter must be naturally endowed with a sound mind and judgment. He must have the ability to perceive clearly, critically integrate thoughts and ideas within their context, and penetrate to the real import of a text. A competent interpreter needs also the imaginative power to transport himself into the time, place and situation of the author. [Aside: I believe that the distinction between natural and spiritual gifts is valid, but that the line between is fluid. All abilities are given by God, whether we classify them as natural or spiritual. Spiritual gifts seem often to be what we might otherwise call natural gifts, but which are supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit, and improved by our obedient labor, study and prayer.]

Natural endowments need to be improved through education. A good interpreter should endeavor to be well versed in the original tongues of Holy Writ, human history, the geography of Palestine, world literature, the sciences and philosophy. While a man may be a good interpreter without complete proficiency in all of these areas, the more knowledge he can acquire, the better equipped he will be to make pertinent and relevant connections between revealed truth and the many facets of human knowledge and experience.

Whatever natural talents with which a man be gifted, and however much knowledge he may have acquired through study, without certain spiritual qualifications it will be of little if any benefit in the service of Christ’s Church. An interpreter of God’s Word must have an earnest and sincere love of the Truth, and a passionate desire to grow both in his knowledge of, and his obedience to that Truth. He must himself partake of and be in accord with the Holy Spirit, the divine author of Scripture, if he is to truly and rightly comprehend and communicate its meaning.