Biblical Perspectives, Vol. 8 No. 1-2, 2000.
Review article
Biblical Interpretation
Richard K. Davidson
; Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, SAD
Abstract
God has revealed Himself and His will to His prophets in specific statements of truth, and through His Spirit He has inspired the bib¬lical writers to record the divine revelation as the trustworthy and authoritative Word of God. The Spirit also illuminates the minds of those who seek to understand and interpret the divine revelation.
The need for interpreting Scripture arises because of the finite human mind in contrast with the infinite God who reveals Himself, and because of the darkening of the human mind through sin. The necessity for the interpreta¬tive process is further mandated by our sepa¬ration in time, distance, language, and culture from the scriptural autographs.
The study of the basic principles and pro¬cedures for faithfully and accurately interpreting Scripture is called biblical hermeneutics. The task of this discipline is to understand what the human writers and the divine Author 1 of Scripture intended to communicate and also how to communicate and apply the biblical message to modem humanity.
The final goal of interpreting Scripture is to make practical application of each passage to one’s individual life. The interpreter must seek to understand how each passage applies personally. The Scriptures should ultimately be read and accepted as if personally ad¬dressed to the interpreter. They are God’s liv¬ing and active Word for the soul.
This article first presents foundational principles and specific guidelines for biblical interpretation, followed by a brief history of biblical hermeneutics.
Keywords
Bible; Hermeneutics; Interpretation
Hrčak ID:
99734
URI
Publication date:
11.12.2000.
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