Biblical Interpretation Final Exam: Questions and Answers, Exams of Advanced Education

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Biblical Interpretation Final Exam-

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Can a single text have more than one meaning? Why or why not? (Another way of asking the question is: Is there one "right" interpretation for a given passage of Scripture?) - correct answer-"Meaning is complex and determinate." (Brown) It can have several layers of meaningWhat it meant (original)What it meant over time (expanded, redemptive-historical)What it means now (application, re-contextualization) What are the benefits to an author-centered approach to biblical interpretation? - correct answer-Recognizes that God speaks at particular points in redemptive history The Bible is culturally situated. Recognizes that authors are purposeful, so we look for their theological aims. Provides guardrails for responsible interpretation Mirrors our day-to-day experience, because we want to be understood What are the costs to an author-centered approach to biblical interpretation? - correct answer-Passage not necessarily relevant for today. May not get to application if we only focus on what author meant then. Drives an artificial wedge between meaning and application. Leads to a detached, objective view of interpretation No necessary connection to Christ Fails to acknowledge the dual authorship of Scripture. Divine meaning is deep and broad, and the original author may not have known all that God intended the passage to mean. What are the benefits to a text-centered approach to biblical interpretation? - correct answer-Recognizes literary aspects of scripture (grammar, genre, etc.) Recognizes that language arises and is used in a specific social and historical context. Prompts understanding meaning of words. Recognizes the possibility of contemporary relevance. God's Word is for us today. Meaning of text endures. What are the costs to a text-centered approach to biblical interpretation? - correct answer-Ignores dual authorship. God is behind the words we read in scripture. Minimizes the historicity of the text Reader is the center of interpretation. Reader becomes king. What are the benefits to a reader-centered approach to biblical interpretation? - correct answer-Recognizes that we come with pre-suppositions. There will be some level of subjectivity. We bring ourselves to the biblical text.

Highlights contemporary significance Serves as gateway to further explore author's meaning Welcomes us to bring our questions and issues to the text What are the costs to a reader-centered approach to biblical interpretation? - correct answer-Reader can become autonomous and unbridled relativism could result No truth. It is only what seems right to me. Is the Bible's presentation of historical events biased? Why or why not? - correct answer-Yes. It is divinely biased. It is God's interpretation on reality. The bible is not a comprehensive history of the world. We have the history and interpretation that God wants us to have. He authorized what the human authors wrote. Biblical writing is always theological; it is God's explanation of redemptive events. Did Matthew take Hosea out of context when he quoted Hosea 11:1 in Matthew 2:15? Why or why not? - correct answer-He is not using it out of context but moving beyond the literal or "original" context to tie it to our Savior. While in Hosea's original context, the verse doesn't have a prophetic feel to it, Matthew uses it that way, because he wants the reader to make a connection between the Israel and Jesus. Does every text of Scripture speak explicitly of Jesus? Why or why not? - correct answer-No. Interpreting redemptive-historically is not allegory. Unlike Augustine did in Proverbs 31, we do not find Christ explicitly in every verse. We want to look more broadly. What does Flemming name as the four "criteria for authentic contextualization" of the gospel? - correct answer-The biblical witness to what God has done in Jesus Christ must be central to our application of Scripture. Application is Spirit-guided Does my application ring true for the church in different settings other than my own? Does my application bear fruit in the furtherance of Christian mission and the transformation of individuals and the community? Describe Richard Hays's four step "diagnostic checklist" for the use of Scripture in ethics. (4 - DSHP) - correct answer-Descriptive task: reading the texts carefully. What texts have been chosen? How accurate is the interpretation of the text in its original setting? (passages included, not included effect conclusions.) Synthetic task: placing text in canonical context. How broadly have you gone in your use of Scripture? Have you used passages that only deal with the problem? Have you used any that are in tension with your position? What focal images/themes to you use? Hermeneutical Task: relating the text to our situation.What is the mode of appeal to the text?Rules: Is Scriptures giving a rule or commandment? ( Commandments)Principals: more general framework out of which to make specific decisions (greatest commands)Paradigms: How does character in Scripture show us exemplary or non-exemplary conduct? (Good Samaritan/ Ananias & Sapphira)Symbolic world: what are the categories through which God wants us to interpret life? (Rom 1 -

lens to understand humanity's condition; Eph 5 - h/w relationship lens to look at homosexuality question)What other sources of authority are you relying on? (church tradition, reason, experience, etc.) Pragmatic task: living the text. How is the vision seen in a body of texts lived out in a person's life and in the life of a community? Why is genre identification an important first step in biblical interpretation? - correct answer-Puts powerful constraints on legitimate attempts by a reader to understand the author's intent. Identifying the genre is a pre-interpretive exercise that sets expectations for interpretation. By paying attention to the author's genre choice, we'll be in a better position to understand the author's communication. The rationale for the diverse literary forms in Scripture is that revelation strikes all the chords of the soul, and not just the rational one. Name five biblical genres and discuss what to keep in mind as you interpret each genre.

• correct answer-Poetry Narrative Apocalyptic Epistle Wisdom Gospel Prophecy Poetry tips - correct answer-Don't immediately go into analysis mode Read more poetry if you want to learn how to interpret poetry in Scripture Look to be moved by truth and beauty Poetry is meant to provoke a holistic response A poem is the shortest emotional distance between the writer and the reader. SLOW DOWN when you interpret poetry! Epistle tips - correct answer-Do a close examination of the text Do historical and socio-cultural background research Look for how the good news of Jesus is contextualized to new situation. Look for the...Indicative (what is true about your union with Christ) Col. 3:1-5Imperative (how you live out what is true about your union with Christ) Eph. Eph. 4- 6 Don't forget about the community context! What would your community look like if we lived out what the epistle writers say? Apocalyptic tips - correct answer-Repeated theme of spiritual warfare "counterfeit trinity" in Rev. 12- 13 How should we understand the time of fulfillment?Preterist view (happened by the end of Roman empire)Futurist view (final crisis that takes place before the second comingHistorist view (cycles of spiritual warfare in the life of the church; chronological view of church historyIdealist view (all symbolic - not referring to specific events) See the visions not as chronological, but as thematic and repeated

• elements of truth in all of the above What is textual criticism? Why is it important? - correct answer-Process of comparing extant (still surviving) manuscripts in order to develop a "critical text" which lists variant readings in footnotes called "critical apparatus." Goal: reconstruct the original wording of the biblical text Rules of thumb:

• variant that parallels the author's writing style is preferred
• shorter reading is preferred
• more difficult reading is preferred
• the more that different families of manuscripts attest to a certain textual variant, the more likely the variant is true. Important because:Extant manuscripts are witnesses to the original, inspired Word"The true text would be perfectly preserved within the body of witnesses." (extant manuscripts)We can increase not decrease confidence! Literal/formal equivalence - correct answer-word-for-word; literal; goal is to preserve the FORM Dynamic equivalence - correct answer-thought-for-thought; functional; goal - strive for accuracy of MEANING, rather than on the precise form of the original Strengths of Literal/Formal Equivalence - correct answer-Greater word-for-word correspondence Less interpretation of original text Better for in-depth study More precision Weaknesses of Literal/Formal Equivalence - correct answer-May have awkward English Can potentially obscure meaning (Gen 19:5) May be more difficult for non-believers/new Christians More reliance is on the reader for proper interpretation Strengths of Dynamic Equivalence - correct answer-More readable Priority on conveying meaning Good for public scripture reading Weaknesses of Dynamic Equivalence - correct answer-Less correspondence to the original text More interpretive decisions by translators Not as good for careful Bible study More expansive, uses more words What criteria may have been used to decide which writings should be part of the Christian Bible (canon)? - correct answer-Orthodoxy of content: is what is taught in this book normative?

Apostolic origin General acceptance by the churches (catholicity) Antiquity, traditional use and lection (read in churches) But ultimately, we cannot be dependent on ANY criteria set forth by a group of bishops or any group of people or individual. We depend on the Lord. How does the Protestant Bible differ from the Catholic/Orthodox Bible? - correct answer-The Catholic and Orthodox Bible have additional books from the Protestant Bible. The Catholic Bible has 7 additional books. The Orthodox Bible has 10 additional books. All of these books came from the Septuagint but not all were readily accepted as canon. The New Testaments are the same in all Christian Bibles. Why do the difference in the Protestant and Catholic bibles matter? - correct answer- The differences matter because the internal (from Scripture itself) and external (from history) evidence points to the canon that we have today being what God intended to be included in His Spirit-inspired Word. The NT writings provide first century "internal" evidence of OT authority. Jesus and the NT writers used the OT canon, not any of the extra-canonical writings. Essentially all of the OT books are quoted by or alluded by the NT writers. (They also much more infrequently allude to extra-canonical writings but not in the same way.) What is meant by the term "self-attesting nature of Scripture?" - correct answer- Because it is the Word of God, the authority of Scripture does not depend on the testimony of any man or church. It wholly depends on God who is truth Himself, and the work of His Spirit bears witness to that Word in our hearts. Note five reasons why it is important to interpret the Bible in community, as discussed in the last lecture. - correct answer-1. Our blindness to our sin. We see what we want to see.

2. We need others to serve as a "mirror" to help us see what we bring to our interpretations of Scripture. (presuppositions)
3. We are limited creatures, and Scripture is rich and deep.
4. We ARE our brother and sister's keeper. (Speak truth into one another's lives.)
5. God's Word is directed toward communities of faith, not merely individuals.
6. We BOTH read Scripture on our own AND read it in community. It's not an either/or, but and both/and.
7. The gospel is for the entire world, not just my ethnic or theological tribe.
8. The gospel is for everyone throughout the ages, not simply my "time." What is the nature or character of the Bible? - correct answer-progressive, personal revelation of God to his people. True and cohesive story The good news that through Jesus, God came to the world to end our bondage to suffering and sin. Simple yet profound, no part of our lives should remain unchanged after encountering this redemptive story.

A true tale from God's perspective through the individual voices of the human authors God's story, his declaration of the way the world really is. One of the ways He reveals himself to restore relationship with his people. How does that impact our approach to interpretation? (Emlet) - correct answer-o Bigger Bible, Richer ministry - all parts of the Bible contribute their unique voices and are "fair game" for use in ministry. This can give us the courage to read and apply the Scriptures more widely and deeply. o Helps us avoid introspective, individualistic application o Bidirectional living § Looking forward to when Jesus returns § Always remembering what God has done o Pursue interpretation and application in community with other believers. What does it mean to read the Bible "back to front"? - correct answer-Reading from "back to front" means that we can read any text (particularly OT passages) in light of the end of the story - the coming of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. We know who wins and can read and interpret in light of that. Whether we are in the Old or New Testament, we expect to find natural connections to the person and work of Christ and many implications for the lives of God's people. What does it mean to read the Bible "front to back"? - correct answer-Reading from "front to back" means that pay attention to where a particular text falls in the historical aspect of the story because: § The Bible is an evolving practical theology by God's design (God shapes his word based on the changing needs of his people.) § Guards us from oversimplifying the plotline of Scripture. (Jesus Is not in every Scripture explicitly.) § Details matter. (The more we pay attention to and appreciate the details, the more we will understand and appreciate the climax.) "Some passages speak more clearly to certain issues than others, but all passages provide a perspective or lens through which to view any issue." Explain. (Emlet) - correct answer-Worry Lk 12:22- 34 - antidote to worry1 Peter 1:3- 9 - hope we have in Jesus Couple in ConflictJames 4:1- 11 - specific instructions1 Peter 2:9- 10 - calling to higher behavior because part of priesthood How does approaching people as "saints, sufferers, and sinners" help you apply Scripture to life? (Emlet) - correct answer-Every person we meet is wrestling with two problems. The first has to do with identity and purpose (who I am and what should I be doing (saints). The second has to do with our experience with evil. Evil from "without" (making us sufferers) and evil from "within" (making us sinners). The Bible clearly speaks to experiences as saints, sufferers and sinners. God's redemptive words confirm our identity as the chosen people of God (1 Pet. 2:4-11),

console and comfort his afflicted people (Ps. 22:24) and confront the ways we turn away from his character and redemptive work (Gen. 6:5). How do we apply Scripture in relevant ways without being completely relativistic? (Conn) - correct answer-Hermeneutic spiral - progress of understanding. two complementary processes are taking place as our cultural setting is matched with the text and the text with our setting, the text progressively reshapes the questions we bring to it, and in turn, our questions force us to look at the text in a fresh way. The Bible always remains central and normative. How is the Biblical story a "nonmodern metanarrative?" (Bauckham) - correct answer- What justifies the term metanarrative is that the biblical story is a story about the meaning of the whole of reality. Unlike the modern metanarratives, the biblical story accounts for history not in terms of immanent reason or human mastery but in terms of the freedom and purpose of God and of human freedom to obey or to resist God. In the biblical story, there is therefore ample recognition of contingency in history in the sense that much, perhaps most, that occurs is not the intended result of human activity. While the biblical storytellers recognize the hand of God in the contingency of history, some aspects of history remain hard to deal with and comprehend in these terms. Discuss the intersection of biblical theology and a missional hermeneutic. (Kelly) - correct answer-Biblical theology gives the shaping of Scripture a decidedly christotelic cast. As we are united to Christ in both his death and resurrection (Rom 6:3-5), our expected missiogenic reading of scripture will be a call to suffering and to hope. Is Psalm 22 more "messianic" than Psalm 23? Why or why not? (Green) - correct answer-While Psalm 22 has several direct prophecies to Jesus the Messiah, and Christ even quotes it from the cross, Psalm 23 when read as a fulfilled messianic prophecy, can be seen as even more "messianic." When God is seen as the shepherd leading Christ through every stage of His redemptive life, it paints a beautiful picture of His love and care not only for Jesus but for all of us who have been united with Him through baptism. His story becomes our story. It's an example of the reading of the Bible from back-to-front. We know the end of the story, so we can read with great anticipation of the victorious ending and of how God wants to work in us in the meantime! Discuss three overarching ways the Bible functions to guide our conduct. - correct answer-Law - The Bible contains divine commands with some of the reasons for those commands. Although they were first given to others, they were "written down for our instruction" (1 Cor. 10:11) and from them we learn the will of God in our somewhat different circumstances of our own lives. History - The various stories within biblical history give us examples to follow in similar circumstances. The biblical story also gives us our place within redemptive history. Personal relationship - What God wants of us is ourselves. The Bible is full of relational language. God is our Father, our shepherd, our kinsman-redeemer. He makes covenants with us, His chosen people. And unlike most covenants involving a ruler, he

did not gain, but sealed his oath with the blood of His Son. Because He draws us into relationship with Himself and the rest of the trinity, that will necessarily affect the rest of our relationships with each other. We cannot vow homage to our King and simultaneously treat our brothers and sisters in Christ unfairly or unkindly.