The Interpretation of the Gospel
-
Theology (understand God’s word)
We preach the word of God, uninterrupted by human minds. (Sign in front of an An Arbor Church)
- 50k thoughts per day 90% repeated next day
- Always do interpretations
- Traditions / non-tradition
We don’t examine our beliefs, we don’t admit to error, and we don’t care what you think. (Sponsored by your local church, synagogue or mosque)
- We are not flawless
- Luke 2:10
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος Μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην, ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ,
- Someone interpreted into English
- Don’t be arrogant
- Key: How we approach
- Be aware of our preconception
- Interpret in context
- Form of speech (hyperbole)
- “Lord is my Shepherd” (the Lord is crazy)
The Lord is my pig herder
- Bible comes in historical and cultural contexts
- “Keep oil in your lamp” or “Keep your lightbulb on”
- Important to read books in their entirety
- Prepackaged gospel
Take it but don’t unwrap it
- John Baptist had doubts and asked again if Jesus was the Messiah
-
Then & Now interaction
Nicodemus - go back and read the OT
- Experience / Tradition / Reason / Scripture
- We are often unaware of our presuppositions as a fish is unaware of the water it is immersed in
- It is difficult to change our assumptions which give order and meaning to our live, which form and shape our very beings
- Behold
- When we behold a work of art, the art consumes us, and we leave our world for a moment and enter another realm
The biblical interpreter seeks to enter the mind and world of the original author before the interpreter relates the text to his/her own world.
Richard E. Palmer, Hermeneutics, 168. -
A magic glass
The two worlds come together so that the Scriptures are like a magic glass through which we look to see ourselves, each other, and our wold as they really are.
James D. Smart, The Strange Silence of the Bible, 34.