Hermeneutics and Exegesis: A Guide to Biblical Interpretation

This assignment delves into the study of hermeneutics, the science of interpreting biblical texts. It explains that hermeneutics focuses on understanding the meaning of biblical texts, with a specific emphasis on the process of exegesis. Exegesis, as described in the assignment, involves interpreting biblical texts to derive their original meaning, which is then used to understand the text's relevance to contemporary contexts. The assignment highlights the importance of understanding the historical and literary contexts of the biblical texts. It also touches on the role of experts in exegesis while acknowledging that anyone can learn to interpret the bible. The assignment references scholarly sources to support the concepts of hermeneutics and exegesis, providing a foundation for understanding how biblical texts are interpreted and applied today. Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students.

Hermeneutics
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Hermeneutics
Hermeneutics is the study that involves the science of interpreting biblical text. It is concerned
with how we interpret biblical text. Exegesis is the act of interpreting biblical text with the aim of
drawing meaning from it1. According to Gordon Fee and Douglass Stewart exegesis comes prior
to hermeneutics. This is because what we think about a biblical text should be based on what the
text actually means.
Exegesis is viewed to have a historical aspect as it should draw the original meaning of the
biblical text. In other words, exegesis should give the first intended meaning of the biblical text.
After knowing the original meaning of the biblical text, the interpreter then tries to understand
what it means now. The main goal is to understand what the text meant to what it means now to
the life of a believer. The journey of understanding biblical scriptures start with exegesis.
Exegesis is mostly viewed as the role of experts. However, a common believer can do good
exegesis through learning. This involves reading the biblical text in its historical and literary
contexts. It also involves developing questions that are fully answered by experts. This leads to a
better understanding of the biblical scriptures. It is said that this is the only first step to successful
hermeneutics. The reader is expected to determine the original meaning of the text and then
become proficient in hearing that meaning in different or new contexts of today. An
understanding of what a biblical text said originally in interpretation of the text in the modern
days2.
1. Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to read the Bible for all its worth. Zondervan, 2014.
2. Schmidt, Lawrence Kennedy. Understanding hermeneutics. Routledge, 2016.

Reference
1. Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to read the Bible for all its worth. 4th ed. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.
2. Schmidt, Lawrence Kennedy. Understanding hermeneutics. 2nd ed. New York:
Routledge, 2016.
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