HST&M

PROJECT

DATE CLIENTNOV 2014

ENCOUNTERING THE NEW TESTAMENTHISTORY OF INTERPRETATION

PATRISTIC ERA 100-500ADApologists

Parting of the Ways

Persecution to Christendom

Irenaus, Origen, Tertullian, Augustine

PATRISTIC ERA

School Of Alexandria School of Antioch

Allergorical Method Of Interpretation

Historical-Grammatical, Typology

Spiritual Reading Plain Sense of the Text

A popular form of literature in which a story points to a hidden or symbolic parallel meaning. Certain elements, such as people, things,

and happenings in the story, point to corresponding elements in another realm or level of meaning. The closer the resemblances

between the two realms, the more detailed is the allegory. The best allegories are interesting, coherent stories in their own right and

through the story provide new insight into the realm they depict (e.g., Pilgrim's Progress and The Narnia Chronicles). Semitic parables,

including the Gospel parables, have varying amounts of allegorical elements. Those with many corresponding elements in both realms

are properly called allegories.

ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION

ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATIONThe man going down to Jericho =Adam

Jerusalem, from which he was going =City of Heavenly PeaceJericho =The moon which signifies our mortality (this is a play on the

Hebrew terms for Jericho and moon which both look and sound alike)Robbers =Devil and his angels

Stripping him =Taking away his immortalityBeating him =Persuading him to sin

Leaving him half dead =Because of sin, he was dead spiritually, but half alive, because of the knowledge of God

Priest =Priesthood of the Old Testament (Law)Levite =Ministry of the Old Testament (Prophets)

Good Samaritan =ChristBinding of wounds =Restraint of sin

Oil =Comfort of good hopeWine =Exhortation to spirited work

Animal =Body of ChristInn =Church

Two denarii =Two commandments to loveInnkeeper =Apostle Paul

Return of the Good Samaritan =Resurrection of Christ

TYPOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION

Typology: ‘the study of analogical correspondences among revealed truths about persons, events, institutions, and other things within the historical framework of God’s special revelation, which from a retrospective view, are of a prophetic nature and are escalated in their meaning’ pg. 14

INTERTEXTUALITY AND TYPOLOGY

John 19:36 (ESV)36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”

INTERTEXTUALITY AND TYPOLOGYMatthew 2:15 (ESV) quotes Hosea:11:115 [Jesus] remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Hosea 11:1 (ESV)1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Egypt

Water

God’s Presence

Temptation

Law

MONASTIC PERIOD 500-800ADRenunciation and

Contemplation

Prayer and Worship

Bonafice, BedeFourfold Method

MONASTIC PERIOD 500-800ADExample: The Crossing of the Re(e)d Sea. 1 It was literal because Moses and Israel actually crossed it. 2 It was spiritual because it represents our baptism and new life. 3 It was moral because we cross-over life's difficulties (Egypt) into our personal earthly blessings (Promise Lands). 4 It was eschatological because we look forward to the final crossing-over from death to eternal life in heaven.

• Literal: What the passage says about past events • Allegorical: What the passage can tell us about Christ • Moral: What the passage can teach us about how to live • Anagogical: What the passage tells us about our ultimate fate

MEDIEVAL ERA 800-1500AD

Development of Universities

Scripture as rich source for prayer and spiritual vision.

Renewed Influence of Philosophy

Bernard of Clairvaux‘I ruminate on these things sweetly,and they fill my inner parts. They nourish my

inmost being and all my bones bring forth praise.’

As food is sweet to the palate, so does a psalm delight the heart. But the soul that is

sincere and wise will not fail to chew the psalm with the teeth as it were of the mind, because if he swallows it in a lump, without

proper mastication, the palate will be cheated of the delicious flavour, sweeter

even than honey that drips from the comb. Let us with the apostles offer a honey-

comb at the table of the Lord in the heavenly banquet. As honey flows from the

comb so should devotion flow from the words; otherwise if one attempts to

assimilate them without the condiment of the Spirit, the written letters bring death.’

THOMAS AQUINAS 1225-1274Catena AureaCommentaries

Systematic ‘Summa

Theologica’

REFORMATION 1500-1700Key featuresRediscovery of textual and historical tools (humanism)

Printing press enables access to the Bible

Key figures: Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer

‘Only the historical sense gives the true and sound

doctrine’ (Martin Luther)

Rejection of AllergoryChurch Authority Challenged

Bible in the Vernacular

MARTIN LUTHER ‘Unless I am convicted of error by the testimony of scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority

of Pope or of Councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often

contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning I stand convicted by the

scriptures to which I have appealed, I cannot and will not recant anything. On this I take my stand; I can do no

other’

‘Only the historical sense gives the true and sound doctrine’ (Martin Luther)

I defie the Pope and all his lawes. If God spare

my life, ere many yeares I wyl cause a boy that driveth the plough to

know more of the Scripture, than he doust.

William Tyndale 1494-1536

MODERN 1700-

Key featuresDevelopment of modern scienceIndustrialisation, social and political movements New global awareness and reach (developing colonialism)Key figures: Friedrich Schleiermacher, John Wesley, Rudolf Bultmann

RUDOLF BULTMANN 1884-1976Man’s knowledge and mastery of the world have advanced to such an extent through science

and technology that it is no longer possible for anyone seriously to hold the New

Testament view of the world–in fact, there is hardly anyone who does……t is impossible to use electric light and the wireless

and to avail ourselves of modern medical and surgical

discoveries, and at the same time believe in the New

Testament world of daemons and spirits.

LATE MODERN 1945—Key featuresEmphasis on personal empowerment and experienceSensitivity to abuse, bias and perspectiveLegacy of the modern era both valued and contested

Key figures: Jurgen Moltmann, Elizabeth Fiorenza, Guttierez

InterpretationLiberation theology, feminist theology, Postmodern ismFundamentalism

BILLY GRAHAMAt one time in my life I had a struggle believing the Bible to be the authoritative Word of God. Some professors and other intellectuals were

expressing their own doubts about it and pointing to alleged contradictions in the Bible. I was young, just out of school, and was having

my first experiences in preaching. Seeds of doubt began to grow and I struggled over this

question of the integrity of the Word of God. The one moonlit night in the mountains of California I went out alone with my Bible. The turmoil in my

mind was a sharp  contrast to the peace and serenity of the natural beauty around me. Finally, I laid my open Bible on the stump of a tree and

prayed: “Oh, Lord, I don´t understand everything in this Book, but I accept it by faith as the Word of the living God.” And I can truly say that since that moment I´ve never doubted that the Bible is

the Word of God. Furthermore, God has confirmed this to me time after time, as I have

witnessed the power of the Word of God at word in the lives of people.