אבנימ

SYS 501 – Hermeneutics – Lecture 9 – Grammatical Interpretation

I. The Definition of Biblical Hermeneutics: the science and the art of interpreting Scripture

A. Science is the set of rules and principles

B. Art is the skillful application of the rules and principles

II. The Purpose of Biblical Hermeneutics

A. To understand God’s communication to mankind

B. To bridge the gap between the writers’ minds and our own

C. To learn how words are employed through exegesis

D. To understand the culture and time of writers

E. To understand the geography of writers’ world

F. To comprehend the historical setting and situation of the writers

G. To develop sound biblical theology

H. To establish the right foundation for exegesis

III. Qualifications for an Interpreter of Scripture

A. Must be born again and have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2.10 ff.)

B. Must have a passion for God’s Word (Ps.1)

C. Must depend upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14.26)

D. Must approach study of Scripture with prayer and reverence

IV. Three Ways to Study the Meaning of Words

A. Etymological – origin of word, evolution of meaning, and current usage

B. Syntactical – the relations of words in connection with other words

C. Contextual – general themes in which words appear