Biblical Hermeneutics

PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." However word meanings change down
through the years. It is evident that we cannot understand what the writer wrote unless we
know his language, the language in which it is written. Hence its gramatical and other verbal
structures.
So also the other factors change.
The text gets its full meaning only in the context of the culture since the words themselves
get its meaning in this way. The Bible was written over a period of about 1400 years.
During that time many historical and cultural changes have taken place. To arrive at the
correct meaning of a passage you must consider when the statement was made and the
historical and cultural situation in which the passage was written and related to.
Cultures change. In various parts of the world and at different times, cultures were/are
radically different from one another. If we are going to understand what God is saying in any
given point of history, we must understand that history and the culture of the time of the
writing of that book of the Bible.
This context of culture, history and politics ends up the immediate context of the passage
itself. A text gets is meaning from the context. Taken out of the context it can be
interpreted even to mean just the opposite of what it was supposed to mean.
Apart from these there are theological historical contexts which are itemized usually as
follows:
THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF CONTEXTUALIZATION
Biblical Scholars often use their own theological doctrinal analysis as a basis for interpreting
Bible. However these are not absolute principles because these doctrinal treatments and
doctrines are not accepted universally. As such the interpretations based on these are to be
taken with caution as it can lead to basic contradictions with the interpretation that other
scholars may hold. However they are attempts at systematization of contextualizing and are
effective. The following are some such principles often quoted.
A. The Covenantal Principle:
"We differentiate between the various contracts that God has made with his people;
specifically their provisions, their parties and their purposes."
One of the essential component of historical significance of the writing is based on various
covenants. Others divide history into the dispensational eras where history is divided
into various periods with each period with its own principles. We cannot judge the historical
events without an understanding of these basic historic realities.
The standard description of covenant theology views the history of God's dealings with
mankind, from Creation to Fall to Redemption to Consummation, under the framework of the
three overarching theological covenants of redemption, works, and grace.
71