GRASPING GOD’S WORD
The Interpretive Journey – What Do We Bring to the Text?
Unit 4
THE INTERPRETIVE JOURNEY
WHAT DO WE BRING TO THE TEXT?
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Pre-Text Influences:
We fill in the silent gaps in the text with an Americanized point of
view.
1983-2001 Generation Y – All digital age; 9/11 terrorism
1965-1982 - Generation X – Reagan years; Fall of the USSR
1946-1964 Baby Boomers – Cold War; Vietnam; Civil Rights
1929-1945 Lucky Few - Dad in WWII, Rationing Books, Insecurity
1909-1928 Builders – WWI, Roaring 20’s, Great Depression, WWII
1. POP QUIZ
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Who wrote this passage, "God helps those who help
themselves”?
 Luke
 Paul
 John
 Peter
 None of the above
1. PREUNDERSTANDING (1 OF 6)
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Preunderstanding refers to all of our preconceived
notions and understandings that we bring to the text,
which is formulated, both consciously and
subconsciously, before we actually study the text in
detail.
Accurate & Inaccurate Influences: Previous encounters
and specific experiences with the text:
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Sunday School, Bible studies , Private Study, Hymns, Christian
Music, Art & Nonbiblical literature
Alert! Culture constantly creeps in!
1. PREUNDERSTANDING (2 OF 6)
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Can our preunderstanding of text be correct?
However, there is a danger that we always assume our
preunderstanding is correct – pride.
Pride does not listen…it knows.
We must make the effort to recover the correct meaning.
1. PREUNDERSTANDING (3 OF 6)
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Do we come to the text with an agenda?
Is our theological agenda already formulated before we
come to the text…looking for detail to fit our agenda?
Overstanding or Understanding
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Stand over the Word of God to determine what it means or
Place ourselves under the Word seeking to determine what God
means in the text
What does your theology tell you to ask?
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What would Jesus do? Or
What would Jason Bourne/Rambo do?
1. PREUNDERSTANDING (4 OF 6)
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Cultural Markers:
Internet
 T.V.
 Stories
 Movies
 Music
 Printed material…
 Family – central element in our cultural background
 National Heritage and History
 Socioeconomic setting and its outlook
The challenge is to critique our culture with the Bible and not vice
versa.
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1. PREUNDERSTANDING (5 OF 6)
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Example: Romans 13:1-7
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With this passage in mind. Would it have been wrong to
participate in the Boston Tea Party of 1773?
American “patriots” dumped tons of someone else’s tea into
the Boston Harbor.
Bigger Question: Was the American Revolution undertaken in
disobedience to Romans 13:1-7?
Just a thought???
Jonah and Pinocchio
1. PREUNDERSTANDING (6 OF 6)
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Take Home:
 We want to submit our preunderstanding to the text,
placing it under the text rather than over the text.
 We must be able to identify our preunderstanding and
then be open to changing it in accordance with a true
serious study of the text.
2. PRESUPPOSITIONS
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Presuppositions never change.
 The Bible is the Word of God.
 The Bible is trustworthy and true.
 God has entered into human history – Jesus.
 The Bible does not contradict itself.
1. POP QUIZ - ANSWER
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Who wrote this passage, "God helps those who help
themselves”?
 Luke
 Paul
 John
 Peter
 None of the above