Week 2: Overview of the Interpretive Journey

Week 2: An Overview of The Interpretive Journey

01

recap

what do you know about translations and the role of the holy spirit in interpretation?

what is biblical interpretation?

02

Basics of the Interpretive journey

class exegetical passages

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Colossians 3:22-4:1

Revelation 3:14-22

Luke 15:11-32

step 1: Grasping the text in their town

Question: What did the text mean to the biblical audience?

Completing step 1

-Read the text carefully and make observations -Study the historical-cultural context & literary-grammatical context -Write out the meaning of the passage for the biblical audience using past tense verbs

open your physical bibles: Joshua 1:1-9

Step 1: Grasping the text in their town for Joshua 1:1-9

• “after the death of Moses” –Time of Transition
• Moses & Joshua—divinely sanctioned leaders
• “the Lord said to Joshua” –Divine Speech
• Jordan River, Promised Land—Geographic Locations
• Series of Exhortations (vs. 6-9)

• Presence –vs. 5, 9
• Strength & Courage –vs. 6, 7, 9
• Law –vs. 7, 8
• Success –vs. 7, 8

what did it mean to the biblical audience?

The Lord commanded Joshua, the new leader of Israel, to draw strength and courage from God’s empowering presence, to be obedient to the law of Moses, and to meditate on the law so that he would be successful in the conquest of the Promised Land.

Step 2: Measuring the width of the river to cross

Question: What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?

Completing step 2

• Account for common differences: culture, language, situation, time and covenant.
• Focus on the unique differences found in a specific text.
• If you are studying an Old Testament passage, you must account for the life and work of Jesus Christ.

Step 2: measuring the width of the river to cross for Joshua 1:1-9

• We are not leaders of the nation of Israel.
• We are not setting out on the conquest of the Promised Land.
• We are not under the old covenant of law.

step 3: Crossing the principalizing bridge

Question: What is the theological principle in this text?

Completing step 3

• Recall the differences identified in Step 2.
• Identify any similarities between the biblical audience and contemporary life.
• Holding the differences and similarities together, identify a broad theological principle.
• Write out the theological principle, using present tense verbs.

a theological principle should...

...correspond to the teaching of the rest of Scripture

...not be culturally bound

...be timeless and not tied to a specific situation

...be reflected in the text

...be relevant to both the biblical and contemporary audience.

step 3: crossing the principalizing bridge for joshua 1 1:1-9

Differences

Similarities

• We are not leaders of Israel
• We are not on a journey to conquer the Promised Land
• We are not living under the Old Covenant.

• God has a calling on the life of each person.
• God is present with us.
• God’s Word requires obedience.

what is the theological principle of joshua 1:1-9?

To be effective in serving God and successful in the task to which he has called us, we must draw strength and courage from his presence. We must also be obedient to God’s Word, meditating on it constantly.

step 4: consulting the biblical map

Question: How does our theological principle fit with the rest of the Bible?

Completing step 4

• Does this principle correlate with the rest of the Bible?
• If in the Old Testament, run your theological principle through the grid of the New Testament.

step 4: consulting the biblical map for joshua 1:1-9

Psalm 46:1

The whole of Scripture affirms that God’s people can draw strength and courage from his presence. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit mediates God’s presence to his People. Also, in both the Old and New Testament God’s people are exhorted to meditate on Scripture.

John 14:16-17

Isaiah 41:10

James 1:22-25

step 5: Grasping the text in our town

Question: How should individual Christians today live out the theological principle(s)?

Completing step 5

• Apply the theological principle to the specific situation of a contemporary Christian.
• There are numerous applicational possibilities, because Christians today find themselves in a variety of situations.

Step 5: grasping the text in our town for Joshua 1:1-9

• Spend more time meditating on God’s Word by listening to Christian music in your car.
• If God calls you to a new, scary ministry be strengthened and encouraged by his presence.

04

In-Class group assignment: jeremiah 29:10-14

step 1: Grasping the text in their town

Question: What did the text mean to the biblical audience?

Completing step 1

-Read the text carefully and make observations -Study the historical-cultural context & literary-grammatical context -Write out the meaning of the passage for the biblical audience using past tense verbs

Step 2: Measuring the width of the river to cross

Question: What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?

Completing step 2

• Account for common differences: culture, language, situation, time and covenant.
• Focus on the unique differences found in a specific text.
• If you are studying an Old Testament passage, you must account for the life and work of Jesus Christ.

step 3: Crossing the principalizing bridge

Question: What is the theological principle in this text?

Completing step 3

• Recall the differences identified in Step 2.
• Identify any similarities between the biblical audience and contemporary life.
• Holding the differences and similarities together, identify a broad theological principle.
• Write out the theological principle, using present tense verbs.

step 4: consulting the biblical map

Question: How does our theological principle fit with the rest of the Bible?

Completing step 4

• Does this principle correlate with the rest of the Bible?
• If in the Old Testament, run your theological principle through the grid of the New Testament.

step 5: Grasping the text in our town

Question: How should individual Christians today live out the theological principle(s)?

Completing step 5

• Apply the theological principle to the specific situation of a contemporary Christian.
• There are numerous applicational possibilities, because Christians today find themselves in a variety of situations.