Hermeneutic
Lesson 1 & 2
Bible Study Guidelines –
Hermeneutic
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 Exegesis - reading the Bible contextually
 Interpretation – from then & there to now & here
The Need for
Hermeneutic

Romans 13:14 (NKJV)
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
2 Corinthians 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according
to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ
according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no
longer.
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Romans 13:14 (NIV1984)
14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and
do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful
nature.
2 Corinthians 5:16 (NIV)
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of
view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so
no longer.

Romans 13:14 (NKJV)
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its
lusts.
Romans 13:14 (NIV1984)
14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to
gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
2 Corinthians 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we
have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
2 Corinthians 5:16 (NIV)
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once
regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

 Aim: To understand and obey the Word of God
 Limitation:
 The reader as an interpreter: we bring to the text all that we
are, with all our experiences, culture, and prior understandings
of words and ideas.
 The nature of the Scripture: “The Bible is the Word of God
given in the words of people in history.” – Prof. George Ladd.
 God’s Word has eternal relevance; it speaks to all humankind, in
every age and in every culture.
 Because God chose to speak his Word through human words in
history, every book in the Bible also has historical particularity.
 Interpretation of the Bible is demanded by the “tension” that exists
between its eternal relevance and its historical particularity.
First Task: Exegesis

Exegesis is the careful, systematic study of the Scripture
to discover the original intended meaning.
The key to good exegesis is to learn to read the text
carefully and to ask the right questions of the text.
The two basic kinds of questions: Those that relate to
historical context and those that relate to literacy.
•
The Historical Context: occasion and purpose
•
The Literary Context: Reading contextually
Second task:
Interpretation

Interpretation – to ask the contemporary relevance of
ancient texts.
Why can’t we start with the now and here?
The only proper control for interpretation
(hermeneutics) is to be found in the original intent of
the biblical text.
Second task:
Interpretation

Examples
29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do
who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not
raised at all, why are people baptized for them? (1 Cor.
15:29)
they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when
they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all;
they will place their hands on sick people, and they will
get well.” Mark 16:18
18
Function of the Prophets
PERIOD
FUNCTION
AUDIENCE
PREMONARCHY
Mouthpieceleader
People
PRECLASSICAL
Mouthpieceleader
King and
court
CLASSICAL
Mouthpiecesocial/spiritual
commentator
People
MESSAGE
EXAMPLES
National guidance Moses
Maintenance of
Deborah
justice
Spiritual overseer
TRANSITION: Samuel

Military advice
Nathan
Pronouncement of Elijah
rebuke or blessing Elisha
Micah
Rebuke
concerning
current condition
of society; leads to
warning of
captivity,
destruction, exile,
and promise of
eventual
restoration.
Call for justice and
repentance
TRANSITION:
North – Jonah
South – Isaiah
Writing prophets
Best example Jeremiah
“Behold, I send My
messenger,
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Returns from Exile
RETURN
FIRST
SECOND
THIRD
Reference
Date
Ezra 1-6
538 B.C.
Ezra 7-10
458 B.C.
Nehemiah 1-13
444 B.C.
Leaders
Sheshbazzar
Zerubbabel
Jeshua
Ezra
Nehemiah
Persian King
Cyrus
Artaxerxes
Longimanus
Artaxerxes
Longimanus
Elements of Decree
As many as wished
to could return.
Temple could be
rebuilt, partially
financed by royal
treasury. Vessels
returned.
As many as wished
to could return.
Finances provided
by royal treasury.
Allowed to have
own civil
magistrates.
Allowed to rebuild
the wall
Number Returning
42,360
7,337 (servants)
49,697
Events,
Accomplishments,
and Problems
Temple begun;
sacrifices made and
Feast of Tabernacles
celebrated.
Samaritans made
trouble, and work
ceased until 520.
Temple completed in
516.

1,500 men
38 Levites
220 helpers
1,758
Problems with
intermarriage
Unknown
Wall rebuilt in 52
days despite
opposition from
Sanballat, Tobiah,
and Geshem.
Wall dedicated and
Law read.
Chronology of the Prophets
TO ISRAEL
ASSYRIAN AGE Amos 760
Hosea 760-730
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TO JUDAH
Isaiah 740-700
Micah 737-690
TO FOREIGN
NATION
Jonah 770
BABYLONIAN
AGE
Habakkuk 630
Zephaniah 627
Jeremiah 627-580
Daniel 605-530
Ezekiel 593-570
Nahum 650
PERSIAN AGE
Haggai 520
Zachariah 520518
Joel 500
Malachi 433
Obadiah 500
About Edom
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