Religious hermeneutical theology in contemporary scholarly discourse

¶ … systematic approach to bible study promoted in the book. The reader is then led through a discussion of the meaning of the term and the way it relates to the bible and those who follow and study the bible.

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

For more than 2000 years people have studied the bible and tried grasp it's meaning. There are schools of literary interpretation as well as schools of theoretical thought when it comes to the bible. It is the book of Christianity and the guideline from which Christians are to lead their lives if they want to live the way they believe God wants them too. However, there are so many different ways of interpreting the document that it can often lead to controversy and argument. In An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics, by Walter C. Kaiser, and Moises Silva makes a valiant attempt to simply the procedure. Studying the methodical principles of a book as complex and widely read as the bible is never an easy task but through the use of common sense and hard examination the authors have devised a way to get it done.

The dictionary says that the word Hermeneutics means to study the methodological principles of interpretations as of the bible. In laymen's terms this means that the study of the bible is studied. Confusing at best, but the authors of this book break it down in a way that it can be understood and applied.

Before one can truly and properly evaluate the content and value of this book one must understand a few basic principles of its subject. The study and interpretation of the bible is a complex and often confusing task. There have been many who have attempted and given up and there have been others who have found what they believed to be the truth (Kelley, Sarah. Teaching the Bible. Family values. (1990) June. Pp 54). One of the most important concepts to the study of the bible is the concept of exegete procedures. There is an excellent source by Walter Kaiser called, Toward An Exegetical Theology. According to Kaiser the true best method of exegetical Theology is to take every word in the context of the total work or total meaning (Kaiser pp 69). The ability to state what each section of the book is about and how each section contributes to that argument is one of the most critical steps" (Kaiser pp 69). Simply put this means that it is essential to the study and interpretation of the bible to be able to view each point in the total context with the other and total points of the entire work.

In order to study the bible there has to be an accepted leap of faith that the human interpreter or writer is of the belief there is a principle or truth that is a single truth, such as the existence of a God. Without the faith and belief that all come from that single belief the interpretation can become almost impossible.

This is evidenced in the work of Kaiser and Walter regarding the study of the bible and its meaning.

An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics is an excellent example of the study of the bible and its commands. The book is an overall success in breaking down the proper way to conduct the study of each passage and it also provides the many needed hints and guidelines for interpretation of passages. It is better than most works of the same nature because the author took care to put the steps in terms that can be understood by most laymen but can also serve as a jumping off point to those experts who need a work to use in the teaching of young ministers as well.

The book agrees on the whole with scholarly opinion because it takes the bible and studies the passages with the understanding thee is only one single truth and there is no room for subjectivity of that truth.

The authors strive to let the reader understand the importance of context during the study of the bible. The authors believe that the act of exegesis should lead the truth and pull the person along with the answers coming freely through the very act of the study and interpretation. "Proper exegesis should be informed by theological reflection. To put it in the most shocking way possible: my theological system should tell me how to exegete" (Kaiser, Walter. Mises, Silva. Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics. (Zondervan Publishing House; 1994 pp. 261).

The authors of the book develop what is known as systematic theology. According to the underlying message of the focus of the book everything that is done successfully over and over again has a systematic way of having it done. One can take the example of baking a cake. While a cake can be many different flavors and the decorations can take on many different themes the basics are always the same and systematic in their steps. One must mix the ingredients, preheat the oven, bake the cake, test for doneness and remove to cool. The hermeneutical study of the bible is as systematic if it is to be done correctly each time. One must follow a systematic theological approach if one is going to be able to properly discern and interpret the passages in many different settings.

The major strength in this book is the tools and the systematic approach that the authors give the readers for future use. The only weakness seems to be that the tools are sometimes a bit confusing if one is not already comfortable with the study and interpretation practices of study. This book was written for anyone who has a love of the word of God and a desire to study the word for the purpose of correct interpretation.

There are two points-of-view in the book. While Kaiser believes the total context is important and the process itself should lead to the truth, Silva believes that there has to be a constant and relentless interaction between the idea and basis of theology and exegesis.