Biblical Interpretation: Three Worlds of Text Explained

Introduction to Scripture Study

The process of studying Scripture usually requires more than reading surface text; an individual must conduct an in-depth study. Such a study is a necessary step toward understanding the meaning of a passage from Scripture and grasping it fully. For a reader to gain a rich understanding of a Biblical passage from different perspectives, in-depth study is essential rather than mere surface reading. One of the most important aspects of this process is identifying who or what determines the meaning of a given passage. There are several exegetical methodologies and methods of Biblical interpretation that assist in the in-depth study of Scripture in order to understand its meaning.

The Three Worlds of Biblical Interpretation

There are different methods of Biblical interpretation that scholars have developed to help readers understand the Bible. These methods are geared toward ensuring that in-depth study is carried out in line with exegetical processes and interpretation for orthopraxy and orthopathy. When studying the Bible, the most common methods of interpretation focus on the reader, the text, or the author. The question of who or what determines the meaning of a passage from the Bible is therefore examined from the basis of whether it is the author, the reader, or the text itself.¹

In that regard, there are three most commonly used methods for Biblical interpretation, known as the "three worlds of texts." These are the World in Front of the Text (Reader-Centered), the World Behind the Text (Author-Centered), and the World Within the Text (Text-Centered). These three methods are utilized in tandem with exegetical methodologies in order to obtain a rich understanding of a Biblical passage. Additionally, using these three methods together helps in interpreting Scripture in a manner that shows implications for the reader's contemporary situations and settings.

The World in Front of the Text is a reader-centered approach to in-depth Bible study, which involves bringing the reader's perspective to Scripture. This approach is applied because, without a reader, an unread text carries no meaning.² A text or passage gains meaning when there is a mutual convergence between the reader and the text. The significance of this method is that the reader must make important decisions regarding what the text says. However, this approach raises concerns about whether the meaning of a text is subjective to the reader's perceptions. Every reader brings different experiences, interests, presuppositions, and competencies that influence their understanding of the Bible. The main problem with this reader-centered approach is that the meaning of the passage becomes essentially the invention of the reader, which is distinct from the author's intention or the historical situation that influenced the original writing of the text. Moreover, each new reading generates a different understanding, implying there is no stable meaning of the passage.

The World Behind the Text is an author-centered approach in which the author's world and intentions are taken into consideration in order to derive meaning from a passage of Scripture. In this framework, the text or passage is viewed as a by-product of the author, who is himself a product of a historical context or period. Therefore, the social, cultural, political, and ideological aspects of the author come into play when examining a passage, given their role in shaping the author's work. When this method is used, the meaning of a passage is obtained from the author's motives with respect to his or her historical context as well as political, social, and cultural factors. This implies that the text itself and the reader are overlooked in the process of deriving meaning. The major problem with this approach is that it limits the meaning of a passage to its historical context, which may not be relevant to contemporary situations and settings.³

The World Within the Text is a text-centered approach to in-depth Scripture study in which the literal elements of the passage are considered in order to obtain meaning. This process involves consideration of the natural languages of Scripture, since languages are governed by syntactical, grammatical, and lexical codes.⁴ Secondary languages—known as literary languages—are also taken into consideration because they, too, have codes that influence the meaning of a passage. This approach enables the reader to go beyond the surface meaning of a text in its natural language to what it is actually about, by examining the codes embedded in both natural and literary languages. Notably, the text-centered approach emphasizes the text itself as the basis for the meaning of a Biblical passage. While this enables the reader to examine the content and meaning of a passage, it presents a major problem: the text is treated as the sole container of meaning and understanding, thereby disconnecting it from its historical context, from the author, and from the reader. As a result, the text or passage becomes autonomous, which generates difficulties in understanding its fuller meaning.

Most Suitable Approach for Biblical Interpretation

As the analysis of the three most common methods of Biblical interpretation demonstrates, no single method can be used on its own to generate a rich understanding of a passage from Scripture. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses that limit its applicability as the most suitable approach. As a result, the most effective way to determine the meaning of a passage from Scripture is to use an integrated approach that involves the reader, the author, and the text. The suitability of an integrated approach also stems from the fact that the meaning of a passage emerges from a mutual engagement among all three elements.

A rich meaning of a passage from Scripture is derived by examining the historical context (World of the Author), the narrative (World of the Text), and the reader's reality (World of the Reader).⁵ When any one of these perspectives receives exclusive focus while the others are neglected, it becomes difficult to obtain a full meaning of the passage. An emphasis on one method of Biblical interpretation over the others provides only a one-sided perspective—limited by its failure to consider the other important dimensions of the text that are crucial for deeper understanding and application.

The significance of an integrated approach is further evident in the understanding that written discourse is a conversation or communication among the author, the text, and the reader.⁶ There is no text without an author, and an unread text is meaningless; the author writes in order to communicate to the reader. That communication is not complete until the message—the text or passage—reaches its intended destination: the reader. Therefore, all three elements together determine the meaning of a passage and represent a balanced approach to Biblical interpretation. In this process, the author brings his or her perspective through a text or passage, while the reader brings his or her own worldview and conception of reality to that text.

Single-method approaches to determining the meaning of a passage should be replaced with an integrative approach, because the latter provides a richer and more balanced understanding of a Biblical passage.⁷ The hermeneutical direction for the twenty-first century increasingly embraces an integrated approach for understanding the meaning of Scripture. This integrated approach intersects the author, text, and reader to ensure that analyzed texts yield Christian principles that become part of the reader's way of life.

Conclusion

The question of who or what determines the meaning of a Biblical passage revolves around the author, the text, and the reader. The three most common methods of Biblical interpretation—the World Behind the Text, the World Within the Text, and the World in Front of the Text—each offer valuable but limited perspectives when applied in isolation. Following an analysis of these methods, it is clear that the meaning of a passage from Scripture is best determined through an integrated approach that includes the author, the text, and the reader in equal measure. This approach is supported by contemporary exegetical methodologies including historical criticism, redaction criticism, and textual criticism, all of which work together to provide a balanced and comprehensive understanding of Scripture.

Bibliography

Montague, George T. Understanding the Bible: A Basic Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. New York, NY: Paulist Press, 2007.

Smith, Dave. "Three Worlds of Text." Professor Dave Smith, last modified February 2014.

Tate, W. Randolph. Biblical Interpretation: An Integrated Approach. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., 1991.

Van der Merwe, Dirk. "Reading the Bible in the 21st Century: Some Hermeneutical Principles: Part 1." Verbum et Ecclesia 36 (1). http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2074-77052015000100025

Wallace, Howard. "Exegesis." Uniting Church in Australia, accessed December 9, 2016. http://hwallace.unitingchurch.org.au/Personal%20Resources/General%20Information/Exegeticalmethod.html