The Need for Interpretation

1. The Reader as Interpreter
--all of us interpret as we read whether we want to or not
a. The cross
b. “the flesh” (translations)
c. women silent/prophecy and tongues, too (1 Cor 14:34-35)
d. Women to prophecy but not w/head covered (1 Cor. 11:2-16)
e. Adult baptism or infant baptism
f. Cults: Jehovah’s witnesses Jesus a god & Mormon baptizing for the dead
g. Prosperity & health: 3 John 2

Not NO interpretation, but GOOD interpretation.

2. The Nature of Scripture
--“The Bible is the Word of God given in the words of [people] in history.” Prof. George Ladd

a. God’s Word---eternally relevant

b. Historical Context---each document is conditioned by the language, time, and culture. There is a tension between the two.
- You can look at either extreme…
- The Bible is just a history book, and you can learn about the Hebrews, and their history.
- It is only eternally relevant: If God says something then we ought to do it (regardless of the historical circumstances). But there is picking and choosing.

1. The historical circumstances must be taken into consideration.
Different people, 1500 years, different circumstances, a different language, thought patterns and culture. The people at that time were the ones that it was written to first of all.

a. One has to understand what was said to them back then
b. We have to hear that word in today’s language.

2. In communicating with us, God chose
- narrative history
- genealogies
- chronicles
- laws of all sorts
- poetry of all sorts
- proverbs
- prophetical oracles
- riddles
- drama
- biographical sketches
- parables
- letters
- sermons
- apocalypses

We need to know
- the general rules, and
- the rules for each of these types of literary forms or genres.

*Summary of How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth