Page 13 - Homiletics Student Textbook

Study Section 3: Definitions and Basics of Bible Interpretation

3.1 Connect
Imagine a small Bible study group meeting in the living room of a nice home every
Thursday evening. The group has no designated leaders other than the host and hostess.
Each week they study a passage in the book of Romans…As they come to a difficult verse
or group of verses, they each give their opinion on what it means. Their views differ and
even conflict with each other. Having no way of determining which view is correct, they
move on to another passage in the chapter, and again voice differing ideas. The so-called
Bible study concludes with each having shared varied opinions but with no sense of whether the
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verses mean all those things shared, one of them, or none of them.

The scenario presented in the paragraph above is as much a tragedy as it is a reality. Whether it be a
home Bible study group, a casual discussion at work, or a message from a church pulpit, opinions on
what the Bible says, and means are just that – opinions! Opinions are one thing. Understanding what the
Bible says and means is another (cf.Ac.8:26-31). Such type of Bible study is nothing more than “shared
ignorance.” If we’re going to stand up to preach God’s Word, we had better be sure of what it says.

3.2 Objectives
1. The student should be able to define the word, “hermeneutics.”

2. The student should be able to explain some of the basic principles and methods of Bible
interpretation.

3. The student should be able to explain the process of Bible study.

3.3 Definitions and Basics of Bible Interpretation

The principles and methods used to interpret the Bible is referred to as Hermeneutics.

I. Definitions
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Biblical hermeneutics is best understood when compared with other disciplines.

Interpreting the Bible Communicating the Bible
Hermeneutics Exegesis Homiletics Pedagogy Exposition

The science The determination The science The science The
(principles) and art of the meaning of (principles) and (principles) and communication
(task) by which the the biblical text in art (task) by art (task) by of the meaning of
meaning of the its historical and which the which the the text along
biblical text is literary contexts. meaning and meaning and with its relevance
determined. relevance of the relevance of the

15 Roy B. Zuck, Rightly Divided,(Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1996), 5.
16 Zuck, 23.
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