Lesson 3: Learning Our Hermeneutic from the Bible

Assignment

The Bible demands that we follow its own hermeneutic, which it teaches both by principle and by example.
This lesson unpacked this principle by teaching several sub-principles:
  1. Three sources help us develop a biblical hermeneutic:
  2. Godly teachers provide us with a foundation.
  3. The Bible itself refines and develops our hermeneutic.
  4. God himself teaches and empowers us as we develop a biblical hermeneutic.
  5. The Biblical authors themselves follow a biblical hermeneutic and expect us to do the same.

Develop a Biblical Hermeneutic Reference Page

From this point on, we expect you to progressively develop a short reference sheet that succinctly and accurately summarizes the interpretive principles taught in this course. You may use this template as a starting place. You are free to format and organize this reference page in a way that serves you. However, you must include:
  1. The primary interpretative principles taught by each lesson.
  2. Explanations that unpack that principle in your own words.
  3. Scripture references that ground each interpretative principle.
  4. Steps that outline how to apply that principle when interpreting a text.
The review step from each lesson will provide a helpful start for you to see both the primary interpretative principle and the bullet points that develop the principle. From there you can survey the lesson steps for the key Scripture texts. Again, the goal is to summarize the content in your own words.
You will turn this whole “Biblical Hermeneutic Reference Page” in at the end of the course. But each week we expect you to submit the written content added by the current lesson. You can then add that content into your reference page. For an example, see what we’ve done for the principle from lesson 1:
#1 The Bible demands that we interpret it according to its nature as the Word of God. (Psa 19:7–9)
  • We must understand, not merely read, the Bible. (Matt 13:19, 23; Col 1:6; Acts 13:27)
  • The Bible is inerrant and infallible, which means it is totally true and completely trustworthy. (Num 23:19; Psa 19; Titus 1:1–3)
  • The Bible is completely authoritative, to submit to the Lord is to submit to his Word. (Deut 6:4–9; Matt 28:16–20)
  • God wrote the Bible through human authors. (2 Tim 3:16–17; 2 Pet 1:21)
  • Applying the Principle: (1) Seek to understand what the Author intended to communicate; (2) Trust and submit to what I discover; (3) Make observations; (4) Ask questions; (5) Compare translations

Biblical Hermeneutic Reference Page: Write the content from lesson 2 for your reference page here.

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Biblical Hermeneutic Reference Page: Write the content from lesson 3 for your reference page here.

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Interpretation