CS215 Tutorial: Hermeneutics, Biblical Interpretation, and Challenges

This assignment is a CS215 tutorial exploring the principles of hermeneutics, focusing on the interpretation of Scripture, based on the work of Fee and Stuart. The assignment addresses key questions such as the aim of interpretation, the role of the reader as an interpreter, the dangers of misinterpreting the Holy Spirit's message, and the importance of considering both the historical context ('then and there') and contemporary relevance ('here and now'). The student also reflects on personal challenges in interpreting Scripture and proposes strategies to overcome them. The assignment concludes by identifying the antidote to bad interpretation, emphasizing the need for a good and informed approach to understanding the text. The tutorial provides a comprehensive understanding of hermeneutical principles and challenges in interpreting the Bible.

CS215
TUTORIAL for Topic 2
WHAT IS HERMENEUTICS?
Due Friday of Week 2
Answers to be found in any version of:
How to read the Bible for all its worth: A guide to understanding the Bible Fee, G.D.
& Stuart (2003)Grand Rapids MI: Zondervan – Chapter 1
Please read the whole chapter before completing the exercise
LODGE THIS EXERCISE ON MOODLE
1. Discuss what the authors believe to be the aim of interpretation?
According to Fee and Stuart (2003), the aim of interpretation is “to get at
the plain meaning of the text”. Therefore, the authors believe that the aim
of a good interpretation is not uniqueness but to clearly state the inherent
meaning of the text (Fee and Stuart 2003). It is to be noted that often the
actual meaning is lost in the middle of all the interpretations by the
various religious preachers and teachers and therefore, the authors
believe that the actual aim of interpretation should be to clearly state the
inherent meaning of the text without much textual jargon. The aim of
interpretation is also to understand the “then and there” and the “here and
now” meaning of the Scripture (Fee and Stuart 2003).
2. What is Fee & Stuart’s point about every reader being an interpreter?
According to the authors Fee and Stuart (2003), each reader is an
interpreter and he or she interprets the text as per his or her own
intellectual capabilities. It is also interesting to note that the interpretation
of the text by an individual is often different from the religious
interpretations of the same text. It can be a reflection of the cultural, social
economic, educational backgrounds and other factors which determine the
identity of an individual that comes into play when the same person tries
to interpret the text. This also gives rise to the diversification of meaning
for the same word. In Chapter 1 of the text, the authors Fee and Stuart use
the metaphor of “cross” to drive home this particular point (Fee and Stuart
2003).
3. What is the danger of assuming that our own understanding is the same as
the Holy Spirit’s?
According to the authors Fee and Stuart (2003), each reader is also an
interpreter. However, it is often seen that the meaning of the text which is
being interpreted by the various individuals is very different from the
CS215 Tutorial for Week 2
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religious connotations of the same text. Most people think that their
understanding of the text is the same as the Holy’s Spirit’s. However, most
of the time people forgot that the way an individual interprets the text
depends on his or her cultural, social, economic and educational
background. Therefore, if the reader assumes that his or her
understanding is the same as the Holy Spirit’s then the process of
interpretation will not be an effective one.
4. Explain the point of the authors about the starting point for our
interpretation of the Scriptures. Why is understanding this important?
It is to be noted that the Bible is often considered to be both the “eternal
relevance” as well as the “the human words in history”. Therefore, an
interpreter needs to take both these two points into consideration before
he or she embarks on the process of interpretation. In the words of the
two authors, “The Bible......is the Word of God given in human words in
history”(Fee and Stuart 2003). Moreover, it is to be noted that the Church
since the traditional time has understood the nature of the Scripture to the
same as that of Christ. Therefore, as per the authors the starting point of
our interpretation of the Scriptures requires an understanding of the “then
and there” and “here and now” (Fee and Stuart 2003).
According to the authors Fee and Stuart (2003), an understanding
of the “then and there” and the “here and now” is very important for an
understanding of the Scriptures because during the interpretation of the
Bible, the interpreter often faces a tension between the historical and the
eternal relevance of the scripture. According to the authors, “God chose to
speak in the context of real human history, we may take courage that these
same words will speak again and again in our own “real” history, as they
have throughout the history of the church”(Fee and Stuart 2003).
Moreover, in order to interpret the “then and there” in a more effective
manner the interpreter also needs understand the general rules applicable
to the Biblical words. In addition to this, the “here and now” help the
interpreter to understand the manner in which the Almighty
communicates with the individuals. Therefore, it can be said an effective
understanding of these two points is very important for an interpreter to
interpret the scripture in the best possible manner.
5. Write a short journal 200-250 words to explain what you believe to be the
challenges for you as you seek to become more proficient in the task of
interpreting Scripture? Be specific on the challenges you believe you face
and what specific steps may help you to respond to those challenges.
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An effective interpretation of the Scripture has always been a challenge for
me. There were times when I used to have a tough time trying to interpret
the Scripture for myself and had to take the help of my parents and elders
to interpret the Scripture. I would say that the first challenge which I faced
during the process of my interpretation of the Scripture was the use of too
many obsolete as well as ecclesiastical words with which I was not very
familiar. I would like to say here that I had to take the help of not only my
parents and elders but also the help of the Father of our local Church to
understand the exact meaning of those words and the context in which
they were used. Another major challenge faced by me during the process
of interpretation of the Scripture was my inability to understand the
setting as well as the latent meaning of some of the parables. Once again
the support provided by my elders, parents and the Father of our local
Church were very helpful. Another major challenge which I faced was the
“tension” between the “then and there” and the “here and now” of the
Scripture. I would like to add here that being a citizen of the 21st century I
was obviously trying to interpret the Scripture in the context of the 21st
century Literature however, later i came to know from my teachers and
elders the “then and there” aspect also matter a lot. The Father of our local
Church cleared up the air for me and helped me to understand there are
two aspects of the Bible “the eternal relevance” and the “human words in
history” and that both the aspects need to taken into consideration for an
effective interpretation of the Scripture.
6. Explain what the authors see as the antidote to bad interpretation.
According to the authors, the “antidote to bad interpretation is not no
interpretation but good interpretation” (Fee and Stuart 2003). An
interpreter should take into consideration both the “then and there” and
“here and now” aspects of the text(Fee and Stuart 2003). According to the
authors, this particular problem arises because of the dual nature of the
Biblical text- as an “eternal relevance” and “human words in history” (Fee
and Stuart 2003). Therefore, an interpreter needs to take into
consideration both these aspects of the text before embarking on the
process of interpretation. In addition to this, the interpreter also needs to
take into consideration the differences in the meaning of certain words
used in the Bible and their common use.
References
Fee, G.D. and Stuart, D., 2003. How to Read the Biblefor All Its Worth: A Guide to
Understanding the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
CS215 Tutorial for Week 2
V5 December 1, 2016