Interpretation

                  8. Hindrances to interpretation                                                Virgil Warren, PhD

ADULTERY, DIVORCE, AND REMARRIAGE

                  B. Interchange of Nature, State, and Action Terms                Virgil Warren, PhD

            B. Misidentifying the genre                                                               Virgil Warren, PhD

                        b. Presuppositions (accompanying misinformation)         Virgil Warren, PhD

BIBLICAL BRAIN TEASERS

Virgil Warren, PhD

            Many of the examples below raise issues that are not in themselves very important. We offer them, however, as (1) “exercises” in hermeneutical creativity on matters where frankly it does not hurt to be wrong. Besides, it is not healthy to get in the habit of “dodging” critical issues because they impact (2) evaluating biblical accuracy. Though the points themselves are often not significant, their existence in a religious text does raise a point that is significant—whether people can trust the biblical accounts. Distrusting them for unnecessary reasons should be avoided, and we cannot legitimately trust them without correct exegetical work as a means of properly avoiding unnecessary criticism of scripture.

BIBLICAL FIGURES OF SPEECH

BLESSINGS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE KINGDOM

BRAIN TEASERS

Virgil Warren, PhD

         The following examples provide occasions for working through paradoxes, apparent contradictions, hard sayings, and ambiguous comments. A summary of ways to resolve difficulties accompanies the course description and agenda sheets: “Resolving Apparent Contradictions in Scripture.”

BUILDING LIFE ON A FIRM FOUNDATION

Virgil Warren, PhD

            C. Confusing example and precedent                                           Virgil Warren, PhD

            C. Consequent nature of appropriating scripture (illumination)      Virgil Warren, PhD

                        c. Irrationalism (improper thinking patterns)                    Virgil Warren, PhD

COMMENTS ON “FULFILL”

Virgil Warren, PhD

                  We may wonder what definition to put on “fulfill” if it covers such a wide range of ideas as (1) a prediction’s coming to pass, (2) an event that illustrates a generalized principle (Acts 1:20?), (3) the accomplishment of something that was also the purpose of something else (the gospel’s fulfilling the Mosaic law: Matthew 5:17; cp. Romans 3:31?), (4) an obedience that accomplished what was commanded (Romans 13:8-10), (5) a necessary inference from another passage, (6) a meeting of the requirements for something (“This course fulfills the requirement”), and (7) a mere formal similarity (? Matthew 2:18, 23; perhaps 2:15).

CONCEPT INVENTORY

            D.  Adopting an inappropriate model (cp. allegorizing comparisons and nature of the

            E. Misidentifying the Intended Reference (frame of reference)      Virgil Warren, PhD

            F. Confusing language and reality                                                    Virgil Warren, PhD

FORMATS FOR SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

            G.  Reading restrictive for nonrestrictive (or positive)                   Virgil Warren, PhD

GETTING THE POINT

GREEK HELPS IN NEW TESTAMENT INTERPRETATION

            H. Technicalizing terminology                                                     Virgil Warren, PhD

HARDENING PHARAOH’S HEART

Virgil Warren, PhD

Mode    Text                            Wording                                     sign             Pharaoh’s            

                                                                                                                            offer          

       c   Ex 4:21           I will harden Pharaoh’s heart

HATE, ADULTERY, AND DIVORCE:

Hermeneutics A

Virgil Warren, PhD

A.   Interpretation of texts often comes in terms of the assumed overall viewpoints, more than by the requirements of the text under discussion. Hence, we can’t solve the problem itself because we are not dealing with the whole viewpoint that gives credence to the idea on this text.

HERMENEUTICS: GETTING THE POINT:

HYPOCRISY

            I. Setting the conclusion and then working toward it                    Virgil Warren, PhD

  II.      SELECTED LINGUISTIC PHENOMENA (Note Dr. Warren’s Ph.D. dissertation The Implication of Divine Self-Consistency for the Doctrine of Natural Depravity, pp. 152-70.)

INTERPRETATION IN HEBREWS CONTRASTED TO

THE ALLEGORICAL METHOD OF PHILO

INTERPRETATION, HERMENEUTICS, THEOLOGICAL METHOD

Virgil Warren, PhD

INTERPRETATION, HERMENEUTICS, THEOLOGICAL METHOD

Virgil Warren, PhD

INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS ON JONAH

 IV. INTERPRETING VARIOUS CLASSES OF LITERATURE      Virgil Warren, PhD

            J. Confusing advice and commandment                                           Virgil Warren, PhD

JESUS AND THE LAW

JEWISH EXPECTATIONS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

LOVE AND HATE IN SEMITIC PARLANCE

MISUSED BIBLICAL TEXTS

NEW TESTAMENT INTERPRETATION

OF OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS

Virgil Warren, PhD

OATHS AND ADVERSARIES

OVERCOMING THE CRITICAL MIND SET

PRIME PASSAGES

Virgil Warren, PhD

Genesis 3:20: “He named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all living.” Evolution

RESOLVING APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS IN SCRIPTURE

SOME IMPLICATIONS OF LEGAL PROCESS FOR

STRENGTH FOR TODAY

STUDY METHODS

SYSTEMATIC INTERPRETATION

Virgil Warren, PhD

Is there a verse or set of verses in scripture that supports the hermeneutical principle (biblical/systematic) that specific passages are to be understood within the overall context of scripture itself, or is this a logical principle of interpretation put together from experience?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TALKING TO THE FATHER

THE BIG PICTURE

Virgil Warren, PhD

                  One of the biggest plagues in Bible study is failing to see the “big picture.” We tend to read a verse and discuss it. As a result, that statement gets lifted from its setting and put in the context of people’s interests or problems even when it may not belong there. Foreign ideas come into the picture because context is not kept in mind. Bible study needs to cover large portions to keep in sight the general flow of thought. In addition, the total purpose and character of Christian understanding must provide the framework for individual doctrines.

THE IMPLICATION OF DIVINE SELF-CONSISTENCY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF NATURAL DEPRAVITY:

THE MEANING OF THE GOLDEN RULE

Virgil Warren, PhD

THE SERMON AS A WHOLE

Virgil Warren, PhD

THE VALUE OF THE GOLDEN RULE

Virgil Warren, PhD

                The previous study on Matthew 7:12 dealt with the meaning of the Golden Rule. This study looks at the impact of the Golden Rule on individuals and on their relationships. In the parallel between “[Do] [to others] [as you would have others do to you]” and “[Love] [your neighbor] [as yourself],” we made two primary observations. (1) Do replaces love; so love is an action that can be commanded. That doing is a giving of ourselves for the joy of others. Often love means giving of ourselves for the needs of others, but we can also love God, who “is not served by men’s hands as though he needed anything” (Acts 17:25). It is better, then, to define love broadly enough to include loving him. When we meet people’s needs, we are increasing their happiness; so love becomes self-giving for the joy of others.

V. PITFALLS IN INTERPRETATION                                                  Virgil Warren, PhD

VALUES OF BIBLICAL LANGUAGES FOR BIBLE STUDY

Virgil Warren, PhD

 VI. TESTING OTHER PEOPLE’S INTERPRETATION                   Virgil Warren, PhD

VII. HERMENEUTICS AND LIFE                                                         Virgil Warren, PhD

WISDOM AND LAW: DIVORCE

Virgil Warren, PhD

            The difference between law and wisdom as well as the relationship between them showed up in an article on the adult offspring of divorce by Irene Sege published in the Boston Globe (see The Manhattan Mercury for Friday, December 20, 1995, D1). Generalizations about these young people show that their parents’ divorce measurably affects a sizable portion of their children when they grow up.