Seventhday Adventists Rebuilding the Walls Rebuilding People Restoring
Seventh-day Adventists Rebuilding the Walls: Rebuilding People; Restoring Relationships; Inspiring Excellence. (Ephesians 4: 1 -13)
Previous assignments n Review… n n Last week’s presentation n Notes n Course Notes n Quotations n Questions? n n Your writing Your reading n n Did you do? n Breathing Exercises Course Notes Sunukjian, five quotes per chapter 2
Sunday 27 Oct 2013 Introduction Lecture 3: How to Select a Theme Lecture 4: How to Choose & Interpret a text
One of your definitions of a sermon “. . prepared to meet the needs of listeners. . gives understanding and encouragement. It informs. . gives hope to sinners and inspires action”
How to choose and interpret a text “A sermon ought to be based on a text of Scripture”
Deciding what to preach about n Choose your subject n What might inspire you? n Visitation n Bible study n Reading n And …
Seventh-day Adventists hold that… n n n n The Bible is the Inspired Word of God has revealed Himself to humanity de i l s is God has used various methods tothcommunicate h g u God has breathed into humans and inspired them o r h t p i God also selected and preserved that truth r t k c i u. Spirit of God is necessary to interpret The same q A There is safety in Scriptura sui ipsius interpres There is need for consistency and integrity
5 suggested rules for selecting a text 1. Do not choose texts simply because they are odd or funny 2. Work with a whole text 3. Select the great doctrinal texts of the Bible 4. Avoid texts which are known to be interpolations 5. Avoid the sayings of uninspired men
5 suggested rules for selecting a text Do not choose texts simply because they are odd or funny
5 suggested rules for selecting a text Work with a whole text “A whole text is one in which a complete statement is made – it includes the complete sense of the author” Workbook paraphrased, p. 26
5 suggested rules for selecting a text Work with a whole text Examine the following texts in pairs - “Let us do evil, that good may come” - Romans 3: 7 -8 - Romans 3: 1 -8 Which is a whole text?
5 suggested rules for selecting a text Work with a whole text “A whole text is one where the c _ o_ n_ t _ e_ x t_ is preserved”
5 suggested rules for selecting a text Select the great doctrinal texts of the Bible “The great preachers of every age have used these great texts” Workbook p. 26
5 suggested rules for selecting a text Avoid texts which are known to be interpolations Is there anything wrong with the teaching? Who might object? Why not let people object? How would you find an interpolated text?
5 suggested rules for selecting a text Avoid the sayings of uninspired men So why wouldn’t you quote one of Job’s comforters? Why wouldn’t you use this text to preach from? The Apostle Paul did … “ … One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons. ” Titus 1: 12
Can there be more? e h t ith o t e av w o N h u yo w k r wo t x te
8 rules of interpretation (1 -4) 1. Interpret the text in the light of the context 2. Interpret a text in harmony with the teachings of the whole Bible 3. The text must be interpreted in harmony with sound, systematic doctrine 4. A text should be taken literally unless…
8 rules of interpretation (1 -4) Interpret the text in the light of the context. How would you determine the context of 1 Corinthians 2: 9? 18
8 rules of interpretation Interpret a text in harmony with the teachings of the whole Bible 19
8 rules of interpretation The text must be interpreted in harmony with sound, systematic doctrine. How would you ensure this? 20
8 rules of interpretation A text should be taken literally unless… “If you do not know, most beautiful of women, follow the tracks of the sheep and graze your young goats by the tents of the shepherds” Song of Solomon 1: 8 One commentary – ‘Graze your young goats’ - symbolic of training up the young 21
8 rules of interpretation (5 -8) 5. If possible, consult the original languages as a help to interpretation 6. Make use of the scholarship of other translators 7. Furthermore, consult parallel passages 8. Finally, consult one of some good commentaries of the critical, exegetical type 22
8 rules of interpretation (5 -8) If possible, consult the original languages as a help to interpretation Eg. Exodus 13: 18 … harnessed o n k I o w he t t ha w w k o o rkb ! s y sa 23
8 rules of interpretation (5 -8) Make use of the scholarship of other translators. Use different translations Know why different translations exist Use them carefully Different Bible translations webpage 24
8 rules of interpretation (5 -8) Furthermore, consult parallel passages. How could you find parallel passages? Where do you find parallel passages? In the Old Testament? In the New Testament? What would you do with a parallel passage? 25
8 rules of interpretation (5 -8) Finally, consult good commentaries of the critical, exegetical type 26
How to choose and interpret a text n Hermeneutics… n n Is the science and art of biblical interpretation Should answer the question: “How do I understand what this particular passage means? ” 27
How to interpret your text n (b) Five basic principles at the heart of a sound method of Biblical interpretation: 1. Prayer is an absolute necessity 2. Read the passage through in different translations 3. Ask questions about what you don’t know 4. Context, the primary rule of Biblical interpretation 28
How to choose and interpret a text n (b) Five basic principles… 5. Four key words: 1. 2. 3. 4. Observation – Do I understand the basic facts of the passage such as the meaning of all the words? Interpretation – What did the author mean in his own historical setting? Evaluation – What does this passage mean in today’s culture? Application – How can I apply what I have learned to how I live my life? 29
How to choose and interpret a text n Special issues – Figures of speech & different literary genre (See Appendix C) n n n n Hyperbole Metaphor Anthropomorphism Parable Poetry Prophecy Etc… 30
Guidelines for interpreting symbols n The Bible uses many symbols, some of them natural and others miraculous. They may be: v Objects (like salt, lamp-stands) v Actions (like Ezekiel eating a scroll, or building a model city) v Ordinances (such as Baptism, Passover) v Materials (like white linen; a stick) 31
Guidelines for interpreting symbols v Numbers, colours. (7, 666; purple; red) v Names (such as ‘Babylon’, ‘Egypt’, ‘Mahershalalhashbaz’ used symbolically) v Metals (such as gold, silver, bronze) v Jewels (like a pearl) v Creatures (like a lion, a lamb, a bear, a beast) 32
Guidelines for interpreting symbols v Study the way the Bible itself interprets symbols v When studying natural objects, note their natural qualities v Study the context v Avoid speculation or arbitrary meanings that come from your own head and not from Scripture 33
Interpreting parables v Think first of the story’s natural meaning v Note the occasion of the parable. . compare parallels v Find the main teaching, the central point v v Check the meaning with the direct teaching of Scripture If there any problems in understanding the story, get what light you can from the cultural and historical background 34
Analysing allegories v Note the details, or features, of the allegory v Note the interpretation given for any of the features v Consider other features, seeing if a likely meaning can be derived from other passages v Do not try to identify all the features 35
Assignment n n Review… n Write n Today’s Presentation n Notes n Course Notes n Quotations Read n Do n Course Notes n Breathing Exercises n Sunukjian n Speech Exercises 36
And finally… 37
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