The Interpretive Journey Hour Four Crossing the Divide And Making Application Here & Now
Bible Translations The Bible version (or translation) is different from the marketing format used by the publishers. Translation g transferring a message in one language into another language. Translation is unavoidable unless everyone wants to learn Hebrew and Greek. It allows us to hear what God has said.
How did we get our English Bible? God worked through the various human authors, including their background, personality, cultural context, writing style, faith commitments, research, and so on, so that what they wrote was the inspired Word of God.
English translations may be divided as to those Prior to 1611 Authorized Version of 1611 (KJV) Since 1611
There are many approaches to translating God s Word Languages differ Translation involves interpretation
There are two main approaches to translation: Formal tries to follow the wording and structure ( forms ) of the original language. Functional tries to express meaning of original text in today s language.
More Formal More Functional KJV NASB RSV NRSV NAB NIV NJB NCV GNB The Message ASV NKJV HCSB NET TNIV REB NLT CEV ESV A paraphrase is not a translation from the original languages, but a restatement or explanation of an English translation.
Step 1 What was meant Then & There What did the text mean to the biblical audience? Observation Literary Context & Elements Step 2 Then & There vs. Here & Now What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? Historical / Cultural Context & Elements
Example Joshua 1:1-9 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates all the Hittite country to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Step 1: What was meant Then & There What did the text mean to the biblical audience? The Lord commanded Joshua, the new leader of Israel, to draw strength and courage from God s empowering presence, to be obedient to the law of Moses, and to meditate on the law so that he would be successful in the conquest of the Promised Land.
Step 2: Then & There vs. Here & Now What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? We are not leaders of the nation Israel (although some of us may be leaders in the Church). We are not embarking on the conquest of the Promised Land. We are not under the old covenant of law.
Step 3 Crossing the Divide What is the theological principle in this text? Step 4 Application Here & Now How should individual Christians today apply the theological principle in their lives?
Does the reader or the author control meaning?
The Wizard of Oz: Simple children s story of good vs. evil? or Political satire?
The Wizard of Oz: Simple children s story of good vs. evil? or Political satire? What did the author say?
The Central issue is Communication
Central question is the Bible merely inspiring literature or is it inspired communication from God?
For proper interpretation (communication) to take place, we must determine what the Author meant. How?
Does the Bible have multiple levels of meaning? Are there deep spiritual meanings hidden in the text of the Bible that are unrelated to the historical-cultural and literary contexts?
The Quadriga (Four-fold) method of interpreting Scripture. 1. Literal - take text at face value; the plain sense meaning. Ex) Jerusalem is a city in Judea. 2. Moral (tropologic) - a moral or ethical lesson the passage teaches; it relates to human behavior. Ex) Jerusalem stands for human soul.
3. Mystical (Allegorical) - a deeper, hidden meaning, usually figurative or symbolic; often this meaning is about faith, belief or theological truth. Ex) Jerusalem stands for the church. 4. Prophetic (anagogic) - hope for the Believer, foreshadowing the future; Ex)Jerusalem is the heavenly city.
Spiritualizing Looking for deep, secret, spiritual meanings apart from what the author communicated in the text. Poses a dichotomy between spiritual and literary. Since God used literary conventions to communicate to us, the real spiritual meaning of the Bible will be the same as the literary meaning!
Allegorizing Allegory a story that uses an extensive amount of symbolism (e.g., Bunyan s Pilgrim s Progress) Allegorizing (or allegorical interpretation) Looks for deeper, spiritual meaning below the surface of the text The details of the biblical text stand for many different things (e.g., tent pegs representing Jesus) Goes far beyond comparison or symbolism Limited only by the fanciful imagination of the reader (Jericho formula for a marriage proposal?)
Bible codes Gematria letters of the Hebrew alphabet represent numbers and words are analyzed for their numerical value. Equidistant Letter Sequencing (ELS) uses computers to string together the text of the Bible without spaces and search the string for hidden messages.
Conclusion re: Meaning Avoid the temptation to spiritualize or allegorize. Don t be gullible or naïve and fall for ELS. Use the Interpretive Journey to help you discover the meaning communicated by the divine/ human author through the text. By God s design the intended meaning is very spiritual.
4 Application Here & Now How should individual Christians today apply the theological principle in their lives?
Grasping God s Word = understanding plus obedience We cannot apply the Bible without understanding it, but we can know the Bible without applying it.
Meaning what the Author intended to communicate when he wrote the text. Meaning will be same for all Christians. Application the response of the reader to the Author s meaning communicated in the text. Application may vary from Christian to Christian.
The Key Question! What does this passage mean and how do I apply THAT meaning to my life?
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
The Interpretive Journey 1 Grasp the text Then & There by summarizing the original situation (historical-cultural context) and the meaning of the text for the biblical audience. Paul told the Philippians that he had learned to be content in a variety of difficult circumstances through Christ, Who gives him strength.
2 Measure the width of the river. What are the differences between the biblical situation and our situation? Paul is an imprisoned apostle. We are not. Neither are we members of the Philippian church. But we are members of Christ s Body, the Church, and we are under the same covenant. In addition, many of us experience difficult situations as we seek to live out our faith.
3 Cross the Divide. List the theological principle communicated by the text. Believers can learn to be content in a variety of circumstances through Christ, Who gives them strength. or Christ will give believers strength to be content in a variety of trying circumstances that come as a result of following Him faithfully.
Step 4 Apply the Text Here & Now. a. Observe how the principles address the situation. Note the key elements present in the intersection. Element 1 A Christian (Paul) Element 2 (He is) A Christian who is experiencing a variety of trying circumstances as a result of following Christ faithfully Element 3 Christ will give the Christian strength to endure whatever the circumstances b. Discover a parallel situation in contemporary life. A Parallel situation contains all the key elements
Element 1 I am a Christian. Element 2 I am experiencing difficulties as a result of my commitment to live my life for Christ. Element 3 Christ will give me strength to endure whatever the circumstances. I, too, can do everything through Him Who gives me strength.
Make your applications specific Your goal is to be Faithful to the meaning of the text and Relevant to the contemporary audience. Ask yourself are all the key elements present in my application?
To Conclude for Today God s Word remains relevant for every generation, but we must cut it straight. We are learning to study the Bible, not just to learn more about God, but to know and love God more. Grasping God s Word = understanding plus obedience.