Lesson 1: Laying the Foundation

Unpacking the Principle

1. Definitions
2. Interpretation: An understanding of a particular text
3. Hermeneutic: The principles applied to arrive at an interpretation
4. Theology: One’s understanding of God and his world
5. Course aim chain
6. To learn how to read the Bible as the Bible itself demands to be read (hermeneutic)
7. So as to understand each text of Scripture as God, the Author, intends (interpretation)
8. So as to think about God and his world truly (theology)
9. So as to live fruitful lives to God’s glory, ever-growing in our discernment, love for God, and assurance
10. The importance of interpretation is rooted in the nature of the Bible. It is:
11. Infallible and inerrant
12. Authoritative
13. Historical and theological
14. Translatable
15. Hard and clear
16. The Bible teaches that it has both human and divine authorship
17. Biblical writers might have written better than they knew, though never contrary to what they knew
18. The sixty-six books of the Bible play together like a renowned orchestra
19. God is who he is, irrespective of what we believe about him. So too, the Bible means what it means, irrespective of our interpretation.
20. When we read the Bible, we either understand what God is actually communicating, or we understand wrongly.
21. True meaning originates from the authors (God and men), not the reader. Hence, what something means “to me” is irrelevant. The real question is, “What has God said and what does this require of me?”
22. Meaning is not relative or fluid. It does not change just because people do.
23. Everyone’s interpretation is not equally valid.