Hermeneutic: The Keys of a Wholistic
Biblical Method of Interpretation
By Rev. Charles Cooper
The components of a wholistic biblical method of
interpretation include literature, grammar, history, context, and
theology. These five components are critical in
discovering the Author/author's intended meaning. Each component
has very specific defining traits. Defining traits are the
characteristics of something that are most necessary to its
existence. For example an apple has defining traits: a stem, a core
with seeds, outer skin, flesh and juices. These elements are
necessary for an apple to be an apple. One must have the whole
apple before he or she can eat it or make apple sauce or
juice.
KEY 1
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.
Each type of literature has specific defining traits. Any attempt
to interpret a verse or paragraph from one of these genres must be
sifted through its defining traits. Narrative literature allows one
to convey history in the form of facts, stories, accounts, and
biographies from a theological perspective. Narrative literature
usually gives a straight forward account of what happen without any
commentary. The interpreter is not told to do or think anything.
Prophetic literature utilizes "thus says the Lord" to make His
people aware of His will concerning a particular issue. Their
response will result in God's present and future actions. Poetic
literature allows the author to express his emotional state without
reservation. Gospel literature conveys the earthly life of Jesus
Christ, documents His teachings, and outlines the basic chronology
of His life. Epistolary literature presents ideas, concepts,
doctrines, etc. often in the form of an argument. Wisdom literature
teaches basic truth concerning how one lives wisely. Apocalyptic
literature communicates a message of hope to God's people in a time
of tribulation. It employs various figures of speech, narrative,
poetry, and prophetic utterances. Apocalyptic literature has nine
specific defining traits. An interpreter attempting to discover the
meaning of a verse without a full understanding of these traits
will make errors in interpretation. Few Bible students pay close
attention to literary analysis; this often leads to errors in
interpretation and application. That is a very broad statement, but
it is altogether true.
KEY 2
After refreshing your memory concerning the nature of the specific
genre under consideration, a grammatical analysis is the next step.
It is logical to examine grammar next since it is inherently more
consistent than the remaining elements of the interpretive process.
Sentence structure does not change. Subjects, verbs, objects, and
modifiers are the tools of communication. But be warned! Knowing
how a word functions in a given sentence seldom is the determinant
in discovering a particular passage's meaning. Often the grammar
will only serve to help the interpreter formulate the right
questions which, when answered, provide insight into the meaning of
the text.
Grammatical analysis includes the area of individual
words. Words tend to evolve over time. Word studies help
the interpreter to trace the development of a word from its
beginnings to the time period of the particular writing under
consideration. Few words start and maintain the same exact meaning
from beginning to end. Usually a word will pass through several
stages before a fixed nuance is settled upon. Different authors
will use words differently. An interpreter makes a great mistake in
assuming a word always means the same thing regardless of who used
it and when. This type of error most often leads to faulty
interpretations. An example of this type of error occurs with the
word "saved." To mistakenly conclude that it only refers to
spiritual salvation from hell and eternal separation from God will
lead to faulty interpretations in many passages in both the Old and
New Testament. The term can also refer to physical deliverance from
sickness or a dangerous situation.
Grammatical analysis also covers grammatical
structure. Grammatical structure deals with the
relationship between or arrangement of terms within a given passage
of Scripture. 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. Phrases and
clauses will also indicate these relationships. After grammar
school, English speakers normally do not think much about grammar.
Though grammar is used everyday, grammatical analysis is not.
Adverb clauses are the work-horses of the English language, but few
can describe, define, or state their importance. However,
grammatical analysis is crucial to the hermeneutical process. No
part of a grammatical diagram should be taken for granted; the
importance of each word, phrase, or clause may be relative, but
understanding the Author/author's intended meaning is impossible
without each piece of the puzzle. Grammar will not provide the
answer to the problem, but it will certainly limit the
possibilities. When Paul writes "the love of God constrains us,"
several options are available to the interpreter. The New Testament
uses two different words for "love." Is it emotional love or
intellectual love? That little word "of" could mean "God's love for
me" or "my love for God." Which does Paul mean here? A word study
would answer the first question and further study would answer the
second.
KEY 3
The third component of a wholistic biblical method of
interpretation is historical analysis. Concern yourself with the
time period and the impact of the events of the day in which the
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 reference(s)
need to be defined? (4) What is the purpose of the writer for the
whole book? The Bible was not written in a vacuum. The
writers and the audience of the biblical text were confronted daily
with situations and circumstances which influenced their thoughts
and conduct.
