Issues and Methods
in Interpreting Scripture
General
Brief explanation of the dynamic theory
of inspiration, showing its relationship to other theories of inspiration
and in relation to the concept of revelation. An Excerpt from The Modern Inerrancy Debate.
An analysis of the logical and theological problems
with positing inerrant autographs for the Bible. An Excerpt from The Modern Inerrancy Debate.
A chart showing the relationship
between the historical, literary and theological dimensions of Scripture.
Basic principles for reading and
understanding biblical narrative on its own terms as literature that
communicates a theological message.
A contrast of ancient tribal cultures' concern with
community and communal ways of thinking with modern individualism, and
its implications for understanding Scripture.
A concise contextual analysis of the church's
responsibility to 'bind' and 'loose' related to modern ethical
application of biblical principles within a Community of Faith.
A brief survey of the rise of modern critical study
of Scripture and its value for the church today.
A brief examination of the differences
between these two ways of reading Scripture, and the problems created when
they are confused.
Examines three major problems with
assuming that the literal or "plain sense" of the text is the best way to
read and interpret Scripture, also noting that the classical "plain sense"
reading was in opposition to allegory and dogma, not careful biblical
study.
Some issues evangelicals face in interpreting
Scripture, including assumptions, lack of historical knowledge,
misunderstanding of the nature of Scripture, and lack of critical
engagement with the text, along with suggestions for how to overcome
some of these issues.
Short article dealing with the span of
time in which the Bible was written, as well as some of the issues raised
in thinking about the development of Scripture as authority for the
church.
An examination of the role of textual criticism in
the church, especially in light of the claims of the inerrancy of
Scripture; detailed explanation of the issues involved in the textual
study of the Old Testament, with charts and examples. This article
is available only in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Various charts on word usage and grammatical features
to aid in the study of biblical languages.
The problems of interpretation in
subsuming the Old Testament to the New Testament; applies to wider texts than just Advent
readings.
A brief survey of the steps of exegesis, including
beginning assumptions about the nature of Scripture and the basic
questions to ask about a biblical passage.
Detailed guidelines to aid in the interpretation of a
biblical text, especially intended to assist the writing of exegetical
papers in an educational setting.
Biblical Languages
Brief introduction to the importance of understanding
the meaning of selected biblical Greek and Hebrew terms that lie behind
English translations. This new section of the site is being developed.
Basic issues in writing words from biblical languages
in English characters, with transliteration charts for both Hebrew and
Greek.
The importance of correctly
understanding the Hebrew and Aramaic terms used in the Old
Testament, especially considering cultural context, rather than depending on English
words for biblical study; a list of some key terms with links to
articles.
Old Testament
The various canons of the Old
Testament, including a chart comparing the arrangement of biblical books
in Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant traditions.
A detailed analysis of Hebrew terms in
the Old Testament that are sometimes translated 'demons,' seen against the
background of ancient Near Eastern culture.
An examination of some facts about the use of
satan in the Old testament, reflections about cultural context,
concluding with observations about the relationship of cultural context
and ministry.
A brief explanation of the
"documentary" theory of the traditions or "sources" that lie behind the
final canonical form of the Pentateuch.
A list of passages in Exodus that relate to the
Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart, as a resource for Narrative Theology in
Exodus.
Brief review of the various ways scholars have
understood the literary and theological relationship between Deuteronomy
and the surrounding biblical books.
A brief survey of the evidence for
establishing a date for the Israelite exodus from Egypt, with summary of
the role of historical methods of Bible study.
A brief analysis of Deuteronomy 18:22, examining the
claim that it proves that Old Testament prophecy is primarily predictive.
Essay on the role of Old Testament prophets as
covenant mediators and interpreters of history rather than seeing
prophecy as absolute prediction of the future.
A survey of the historical problems
encountered in comparing the biblical books of Joshua and Judges,
suggesting that the differences in historical details arise from the
different theological focus of each book as part of the larger canon.
Short article dealing with the form and
theology of the commissioning narratives, especially the prophetic "call"
narratives.
Definition and examples of this common
feature of Hebrew writing.
An analysis of the Hebrew words and syntax of Isaiah
7:14 to arrive at an accurate translation.
Examination of the cultural and
historical context of this passage, showing how misunderstandings can
arise when issues outside a biblical text or a misuse of the
"Scripture interprets Scripture" principle influence how we read it.
Study of how Matthew connects Jesus'
hometown of Nazareth with the Branch metaphor of Jeremiah as a theological
confession; addresses the issue of New Testament use of Old Testament
texts and implications for interpretation.
A detailed analysis of the theological relationship
between the Immanuel passage in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew's use of the
idea of Immanuel in his Gospel.
Examination of the word "change" in Malachi 3:6-7a as
a proof text for the immutability of God.
A detailed analysis of Psalm 139:16
dealing with the textual and interpretive problems of the verse.
New Testament
A list of some key terms with links to
articles. (This section is not yet available)
Brief summary in outline format of the
three ways on understanding the "Kingdom of God" in the New Testament; on
a larger scale it relates to millennial theories and how the
Time Frame of Book of Revelation
is understood.
Study of how Matthew connects Jesus'
hometown of Nazareth with the Branch metaphor of Jeremiah as a theological
confession; addresses the issue of New Testament use of Old Testament
texts and implications for interpretation.
A detailed analysis of the theological relationship
between the Immanuel passage in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew's use of the
idea of Immanuel in his Gospel.
A summary of the basic narrative story line of the
Synoptic Gospels, noting similarities and differences in how each tells
the story.
An analysis of the literary
relationship of the first three Gospels in terms of both shared material
as well as material unique to each; surveys the various source theories
and includes observations on the nature of the Gospels.
A brief survey of the process by which the New
Testament Gospels were compiled and written. (Excerpt from
The Gospels and the Synoptic Problem)
Information on the Gnostic Gospel of
Thomas, and its relationship to the canonical Gospels of the New
Testament; includes English translations of both Coptic and Greek versions
in a chart with Gospel parallels.
A brief article dealing with the
differences in chronology of the events surrounding the crucifixion of
Jesus, especially the differences between Mark and John.
Brief comments about Jesus' cry from the cross,
suggesting that the traditional interpretation that God abandoned Jesus
is inadequate.
Summary of the genre and form (structure) of New
Testament letters and epistles, and the implications for interpretation.
A brief analysis of the mistranslation
'appearance of evil' in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, with suggestions for a
better reading.
Short essay dealing with the misperception that every
person must hear the Gospel before the Second Coming of Jesus can occur.
For other
topics that might be relevant,
See Bible Short
Topics
-Dennis Bratcher, Copyright ©
2018, Dennis
Bratcher, All Rights Reserved
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