Biblical Hermeneutics

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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 <strong>Biblical</strong> 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
PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN These three covenants are called theological because they are not explicitly presented as such in the Bible but are thought to be theologically implicit, describing and summarizing the wealth of Scriptural data. Within historical Reformed systems of thought covenant theology is not merely treated as a point of doctrine or a central dogma, but the structure by which the biblical text organizes itself. It is study aid and the regulations of each period is unique and distinct. The simplest division is the eras before and after the cross (Christocentric) giving Old Covenant based on Mosaic Laws and the New Covenant based on Grace. There are other shorter periods of Covenants between the Patriarchs and God. The Laws and regulations and rituals are different in each period. While the nature of God remains same, his commandments and dealings to men depends on the period. The purpose is to make man whole in the likeness of God. After all Man was created in the image of God. The Covenant Theology is strongly held by the Calvinists. B THE DISPENSATION PRINCIPLE OR THE CHRONOMETRICAL PRINCIPLE: "During different periods of time, God has chosen to deal in a particular way with man in respect to sin and man's responsibility." Dispensationalism is a theological system that teaches that biblical history is best understood in light of a number of successive administrations of God's dealings with mankind, which it calls "dispensations." It maintains fundamental distinctions between God's plans for national Israel and for the New Testament Church. Dispensationalism is the stand of Arminians and non 5-point Calvinists. 72
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INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL HERMENEUTI
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PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS
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1. Kal Vahomer (Light and heavy) PR
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Prof. Madathilparampil Mammen Ninan
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Life, Legacy and the Theology of Dr
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Biblical Hermeneutics

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