Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics Week 3 Bridging the

Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics Week 3: Bridging the Culture Gap

Goals of Hermeneutics Exegesis Contextualization

Goals of Hermeneutics Gaps to be Bridged Language Cultural Grammatical Literary

Bridging the Cultural Gap 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Political Religious Economic Legal Architectural Clothing Geographical Military Social

Bridging the Cultural Gap Political � Why did Jonah not want to go to Ninevah? � Why did Boaz go to the city gate to talk to the elders? Religious � What was the purpose of the ten specific plagues upon Egypt? � Why did Elijah have his contest with the 450 Baal prophets on Mt. Carmel?

Bridging the Cultural Gap Economic � Why did Boaz’s closest relative give his sandal to Boaz? Legal � Why did Elisha request a “double portion of your spirit” to Elijah? Architectural � How could Rahab have her house on a wall?

Bridging the Cultural Gap Clothing � What does it mean to “Gird up your loins”? (Job, I Pet) Geographical � What was significance of Jesus going through Samaria? (John 4) � Why did Jesus speak of a man going “down” from Jerusalem to Jericho when Jericho is NE of Jerusalem? (Luke 10: 30)

Bridging the Cultural Gap Military � Why did Paul say that “God always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ”? (2 Cor. 2: 14) Social � Why did Jesus tell the disciples not to greet anyone on the road? (Luke 10: 4)

Bridging the Cultural Gap Cultural Relevance � “To what extent is the Bible’s relevance and authority limited by changing human structures and perspectives in the Biblical text? ” �Knowing Scripture (p. 108). Inter. Varsity Press. RC Sproul

Bridging the Cultural Gap Old Testament Laws 1. Moral �Ex. 10 commandments 2. Civil �Related to Israel’s community life. �Ex. dietary, agriculture, diseases…etc. 3. Ceremonial �Related to Israel’s religious life. �Ex. ceremonies, temple worship, sacrifices…etc.

Bridging the Cultural Gap Old Testament Laws transferable to NT 1. Ten Commandments (except Sabbath) �Mt 5: 21 -37, John 7. 23 2. Love the Lord with all your heart. �Mt. 22, Mark 12, Luke 10, in ref. to Dt. 6: 5 3. Love your neighbor as yourself �Lev. 19: 18

Bridging the Cultural Gap Principles in Determining Cultural Relevance: 1. Situations, commands, or principles are repeatable, continuous, or not revoked, or pertain to moral and theological subjects, or are repeated elsewhere in Scripture, and therefore are transferable to us. � Examples: �The sin of homosexuality. (Lev 20. 13, I Cor. 6: 9 -11, Romans 1, I Tim 1: 8 -10) �Against love of money. (I Tim 6: 10, Titus 3: 3, I Cor. 5: 10) �Show no favoritism to the rich. (James 2: 1 -7) �Wives submit to their husbands. (Col. 3: 18, I Cor. 11) �Observe the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11: 24)

Bridging the Cultural Gap Principles in Determining Cultural Relevance: 2. Situations, commands, or principles pertain to an individual's specific nonrepeatable circumstances, or nonmoral or nontheological subjects, or have been revoked, and are therefore not transferable. �Examples: �Abraham told to sacrifice his son. (Gen 22) �Meet in homes for church, support no widow under 60, have 7 deacons in church…etc.

Bridging the Cultural Gap Principles in Determining Cultural Relevance: 3. Situations or commands pertain to cultural settings that are only partially similar to ours and in which only the principles are transferable. �Examples: �Greet one another with a holy kiss. (Rom. 16: 16)

Bridging the Cultural Gap Principles in Determining Cultural Relevance: 4. Some situations or commands pertain to cultural settings with no similarities to ours but in which the principles are transferable. � Examples: �Mary pouring ointment on Jesus. (Mt. 26: 7) �Foot washing? (John 13: 14) �Head covering? (I Cor. 11)

Bridging the Cultural Gap Principles in Determining Cultural Relevance: 1. Situations, commands, or principles are repeatable, continuous, or not revoked, or pertain to moral and theological subjects, or are repeated elsewhere in Scripture, and therefore are transferable to us. �Situation and principle repeatable: �Woman should wear veils in church as sign of their submissiveness to their husbands.

Bridging the Cultural Gap Principles in Determining Cultural Relevance: 2. Situations, commands, or principles pertain to an individual's specific nonrepeatable circumstances, or nonmoral or nontheological subjects, or have been revoked, and are therefore not transferable. • The situation and the principle not repeatable: • The passage has no relevance at all for today.

Bridging the Cultural Gap Principles in Determining Cultural Relevance: 3. Situations or commands pertain to cultural settings that are only partially similar to ours and in which only the principles are transferable. �Women should wear hat (or something that means submission) in church as a sign of submission to their husbands.

Bridging the Cultural Gap Principles in Determining Cultural Relevance: 4. Some situations or commands pertain to cultural settings with no similarities to ours but in which the principles are transferable. �Women need to be submissive to their husbands.