Lesson 14 Hermenuetics

1

Today’s Culture vs. the BibleHow Should Christians Respond?

The New HermeneuticLesson 14:

By: Lynn S. Nored

Copyright Lynn S. Nored. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior consent of the author.

Mar. 2004 By Lynn S. Nored 2

Issues To Be Addressed

What is the “new hermeneutic”?

How is this affecting the church?

How can we do legitimate hermeneutics?


The Restoration

C o

f C

Her

men

euti

cs

Forms,structures“The Church”

“Salvation”

A Search for Unity

The Present

C o

f C

Her

men

euti

cs

????

????

????

?

Christ Centered

Solutions forPersonal Struggles

Postmodern

Fragmentation


SELF

CENTERED

PRESSURES UPON MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH

FUNCTIONAL

RELATIONAL

SELF

CENTERED

Members/The Church

Post Modernism

Church C

enter

ed

Christ Centered

ExistentialNo truthRelativismToleranceExperience

NewHermeneutic

New HermeneuticNarrativeLove Letter

Unity Movements

Command/Example/InferenceExtreme PatternismLegalism

RATIONAL

EMOTION

NARCISTIC


The New Hermenuetic-German School

www.Island-of-Freedom.com; Hermeneutics: From Textual Explication to Computer Understanding? John C. Mallery, et. Al. The Encyclopedia of Artificial Intelligence, John Wiley &Sons, New York, 1987.; The Romantist Hermeneutics…; Diwatao Vol. 1. No.1 , 2001

Friedrich Schleiermacher

1768-1834

Religion has a “sense and taste for the infinite”-consisting primarily in feeling.“The reader can recognize the intentions behind word the words by virtue of being in the same situation and sharing a common nature..”

Wilhelm Dilthey 1833 - 1911

“ ‘Interpretation would be impossible if the impressions of life were totally alien.” The highest form of understanding happens with the reader’s empathic reliving and recreating of the text’s life experiences (love, anger, oppression, revolution, beauty, pain….)”


The New Hermenuetic-German School

Bultmann, Rudolf. (1984). New Testament and Mythology. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press. Page 1;

"The world picture of the New Testa-ment is a mythical world picture.“ Demythologization and getting to identify with the “wholly other God” is the task of hermeneutics

Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976)

Hans-Georg Gadamer 1900-2002

He states that there is no method that can achieve understanding or arrive at truth. “Dialogical hermeneutics… and Interpretation represents creativity and not just reproduction. The reader participates just as much as the author does in putting together the meaning, or in the case of poetry, literature, and art, in creating the aesthetic experience.


Fathers of The New Hermenuetic

Ernst Fuchs1903-1983

Man does not give birth to language. “Rather,man is born out of language.” Reality is only that which can become present as language. Language creates the world.”

Gerhard Ebeling1902-2001

The formal program of the New Hermeneuticis for proclamation that has taken place to become proclamation that takes place. The interpreter enters into a dialogue with the text in order to be subjectively confronted by language and event from a different historic context. The interpreter seeks the original “language event” so that it can be translated to today with the same impact. When the language.. touches one’s life in a meaningful way, it becomes truth for that person”


New Hermeneutics in the U.S.James M. Robinson

Professor Emeritus of Religion, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California

New Frontiers in Theology, vol. 2 The New Hermeneutic,Edited by James M. Robinson and John B. Cobb Harper &Row 1963

Previous References:1. Jesus and the Word by Rudolf Bultmann, www.religion-online.org2. Artinian, el. Al. The Fundamental Method and Content of the Theology of Rudulf Bultmann, www.hillsdale.edu/dept/Phil&Rel3. Hans-Gerg Gadamer. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.4. Gerhard Ebeling. The New Hermeneutics and the Early Luther, Theology Today, Vol 21, no.1 April 19645. The MOST Theological Collection. The Consciousness of Christ: Appendix: Form Criticism-1 Pre-suppositions”www.catholicculture.org6. Tim Sensing, A Strategy for Preaching Paraenesis, Restoration Quarterly vol. 38,No. 47. Wooldridge, Barry. “Preaching As Subversive Activity, www.religion-online.org8. Braaten, Carl. How New is the New Hermeneutic? Theology Today Vol. 22, No.2 19659. Robinson, James. A. Braaten’s Polemic: A Reply. Theology Today Vol. 22, No. 2. 1965


SELF

CENTERED

PRESSURES ON MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH

FUNCTIONAL

RELATIONAL

SELF

CENTERED

Members/The Church

Post Modernism

Church C

enter

ed

Christ Centered

ExistentialNo truthRelativismToleranceExperience

NewHermeneutic

New Hermeneutic

Command/Example/Inference

NARCISTIC

Reader Determined “Truth”


THE NEW HERMENEUTIC:What is it for churches of Christ?

THE

CHURCH

Christ As Lawgiver

Correct Church Structure

Correct Worship

Correct Discipline

Correct Salvation (Baptism)

Pre-suppositions(Theological Lens)Pre-1970’s

Rational/Functional Approach



CHRIST

Family

Fellowshipping Community

Spirit-Led Community

Problem Solving Community

Pre-suppositions(Theological Lens)

Post 1970

Relational/EmotionalApproach

Loving Community



“Various hermeneutic models have been proposed.”(T. Olbricht. Hermeneutics in the Churches of Christ, Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 37,no.1)

“We need to move boldly and openly into a discussion of proper hermeneutic theory and practice”(G. Collier. Bringing the Word to Life, An Assessment of the Hermeneutical Impasse in Churches of Christ, June 1990. CSC 1990. www.onlinebibleclass.com

“Those at the forefront are extremely vague when it comes to identify the New Hermeneutic” (Dave Miller. The New Hermeneutic, Part 1. The Restorer, Sept/Oct. 1990)


THE NEW HERMENEUTIC:Possible Approaches

Scripture as Love Letter from God:

“Scripture is not a constitution or code book as envisioned by the old hermeneutic but is a love letter from God”Olbrict, T. (CSC. 1989) Restoration Quarterly, Vol.37, no.1. [Note not his major proposal]

But, there is no set form or “concrete guidelines” for what this means in practice within the churches of Christ.

1. “We must interpret scriptures on the basis of how it teaches to us to love God and others” (Gothard,B. Interpreting Scripture, www.billgothard.com)



Canonical Model for Reading Scripture:

1. Scripture is the “Word of God” from which seek to discern the “weightier matters”. “Biblical statements should be seen and applied according to the larger theological context.”

2. “ We will heed Jesus advice to the Pharisees to, “ Go, and learn what this text means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’”.

3. “Ancient documents must be read in light of then contemporary literature.”



Canonical Model for Reading Scripture-Applications:

1. “Take seriously all aspects of text. Don’t pick and choose.”

2. “Distinguish between form” (words) “of the text and the principal which stands behind it”. Ex. “washing feet”

3. “Is the form integral to the principle?” Ex. Lord’s Supper

4. “Acknowledge up-front that the text was written with and to specific historical and social circumstances” and take “seriously our own existential situations in applying the principles of the texts”

Collier. G. Standing Under Scripture, www.onlinebibleclass.com, 1995



"Michael Casey proposes that scripture be perceived according to a narrative or story form model. He champions this model on the ground that it has precedence in the Biblical text, and is popular among both scholars and non scholars as a means of perceiving reality and structuring discourse. He still needs, however, to work out a story telling hermeneutic that can set forth the parameters of the faith and life of the believing community” (Thomas Olbricht,CSC, 1989,p7)

Scripture As Narrative :



Scripture As Narrative :

1. Well Developed. This approach “analyzes plot, theme, motifs, characterization, style, figures of speech, symbolism, foreshadowing, repetition, speed of time in narrative, point of view and the like.” (Klein, et. Al. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Word Publishing 1993.

2. A narrative may implicitly push “the reader towards the heart of the story.”

3. A “narratives claims are many times intimately connected with our real life situation.”(Wise, M. Narrative Theology and the Dogmatic use of the Bible. www.theo.uu.nl)

4. The messages the stories have may well have universal significance since they may appeal to universal experiences.



Intentional Theology:

Three focal points show God’s DesireCreationChristConsumation

Not So New Hermeneutic:

Purpose( original)

Principle

Precedent (justifiable reliance)

Smith, F.The Cultural Church,20th Century Christian, 1992

Collier, G. Standing Under Scripture, www.onlinebibleclass.com, 1995


What IS an Acceptable Hermeneutic?

Exegesis– Choose a good translation and compare with other

translations

– Determine the genre(law, poetry, narrative, etc.)

– Examine the overall historical context

– Examine the overall literary context (word, verse, paragraph, chapter, book)

– Examine the historical-cultural background

– Determine the meaning in its context

Pray Before and Throughout Your Study



Application– Recognize and put aside your pre-suppositions

– Recognize there are functional and relational concepts as well as rational and emotion “heart” related concepts

– Determine what the text has to do with theological issues like God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Salvation,etc.



Ask the following questions:– What hope or encouragement can I draw from

this passage?

– What are the examples that have theological significance that I need to imitate?

– What are the commands that I need to follow?• What did the text tell it’s audience to do?

• What biblical principles lay behind this call?

• How does this fit with other biblical teaching?

• How do this translate to our culture?


PRESSURES ON MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH

HermeneuticWarPost Modernism

Old Herm

eneu

tic

New Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics IS a Fellowship Issue

1. There must be a consensus on matters of faith2. We must recognize we will differ3. Recognize that “God calls us in Diversity”4. We must overcomesuspicion and distrust.

5. Keep peace and unity primary overPersonal preferences6. Conflict defused “depends upon the wisdom of

the leaders “Smith. G. The Cultural Church, 20th Century Christian, 1992Dobbs, J. Finding Peace in the Hermeneutic War Within Churches of Christ, www123jesus.com/SermonsCan Churches Survive Conflict,Yes But Leadership is Crucial. Christian Chronicle, April 2002

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Lesson 14 Hermenuetics