Tools for Hermeneutics

Respond to one of the following questions. Consider these questions with the information in your textbooks in mind, but feel free to use other sources as needed to add to the conversation. In the subject line of each of your threads, acknowledge which question is being answered.
(e.g., “Discussion: Introduction to Hermeneutics, Question 1”), and restate the question within your thread.

1. Offer a list and description of the qualifications needed for an interpreter to offer a proper reading of Scripture. Give the importance of each qualification for understanding Scripture. Which of these qualifications are most important? Which do you think are not as necessary? Give reasons for your choices. What role does the Holy Spirit play in interpretation? How do we determine the impact of the Spirit on an individual’s interpretation?
2. Offer a definition of the terms “presuppositions/foundational beliefs” and “preunderstandings.” How can we test these things to see if they are adequate or appropriate? What can be done to change preunderstandings? List some of the presuppositions or preunderstandings from your own life that may inform your reading of Scripture. From what sources do these things originate? How does a person’s intellectual and spiritual history (i.e., education and religious instruction) influence the interpretation of texts? In what way then is objectivity possible in the interpretation of Scripture?
3. Using the 9 items to consider when reading sentences as listed in chapter 3 of Grasping God’s Word (i.e., repetition of words, contrasts, comparisons, lists, cause and effect, figures of speech, conjunctions, verbs, pronouns), list as many observations as you can find in Acts 1:8. You may list these by noting what category the item falls under (e.g., “contrasts”) and then offering an example of that item. For example, an observation would be to note that the sentence starts off with the conjunction “but,” which connects the sentence to the one above it in a contrasting matter. This item could be listed under both “conjunctions” and “contrasts.” We will follow the basic instructions for this assignment as given in the Assignment 3-1 of your text. Do not offer an interpretation or an application of the text. At this point I want you to list as many of the 9 items as you can find. How do you think this exercise helps you to understand the text better? What did you discover that you did not already notice about this passage?
4. Utilizing the 9 items a reader should observe in paragraphs (see chapter 4 of Grasping God’s Word), list as many of these items as you can observe in Philippians 2:1–4. Offer the items as a list (e.g., you could list the “emotional terms” of the passage including such words as “encouragement” or “comfort”). The goal here is to see how many of the 9 you can find in Philippians 2 (see Assignment 4-1 in the textbook). We are not interested here in interpretation or application, just observations concerning the details of the paragraph with regards to the 9 items a reader should observe. What details did you discover that you had not noticed before? How do you think this exercise can help you to interpret the text better?