Biblical Hermeneutics
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PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN<br />
PRINCIPLE #5:<br />
THE CONTEXTUAL PRINCIPLE<br />
CONTEXT<br />
The above diagram represents what happens in the <strong>Biblical</strong> transmission of a message. The<br />
writer's message is given to him by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the theological, cultural<br />
and immediate context. This is encoded in the language of the culture and period within the<br />
symbolism and words of the time which is written down. Most of the Old Testament<br />
messages are in Hebrew (and some in Aramaic) while Most of the New Testament were in<br />
Greek. It is these text that are decoded into our present day language. Since the cultural,<br />
theological and immediage contexts are different they need to be interpreted into our current<br />
terms for us to be understood. We have most of them translated into English or in our own<br />
native languages. This translation itself is an interpretation by the translators. But each<br />
reader may have a personal interpretation based on their own socio-cultural context. This is<br />
the hermeneutical principle.<br />
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