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Proper interpretation of the bible
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Daniel Migliore states, “Theology, is the continuous process of inquiry that is prompted both by the surprising grace of God and by the distance between the promise of God’s coming reign … and our experience of brokenness of human life. When we, as a community invest in our theological understandings and explore the Biblical, historical and philosophical details of a text, we can continue to hear God’s guidance and examine our faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our faith, trust and confidence, must propel us to seek understanding, prompt us to listen and submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Our faith allows us to laugh, sing, suffer, rejoice, confess, hope, act with a passion that allows us to receive freedom from God, who loves …show more content…
Authority of Scripture reconciles the community with God and can transform our lives. To participate in the fuller blessing of understanding, it is important to view Scripture with historical and literary sensitivity, interpret theocentrically, ecclesially, and contextually. I realize each of these can be overwhelming to the average person who is seeking direction for a specific concern in their life. Therefore, Migliore reminds us, interpreting Scripture is practical engagement in the living of Christian faith, love, and hope in a still redeemed world. When we listen carefully to the voices of the past, from a worldwide culture, and guided by the Holy Spirit, we will open ourselves to those transformational opportunities. Meaning of Revelation As defined by Migliore, Revelation means an “unveiling,” uncovering,” or “disclosure” of something previously hidden. Today, Community of Christ affirms the Living God is ever self-revealing to the world through the testimony of Israel and Jesus Christ. Revelation provides important decisions about who God is and how we are to understand the world and ourselves. In seeking to understand, as a member of Community of Christ, we must explore the historical and contextual response of the leaderships to revelation within the setting of the Restoration and the Reorganization era. Our Christian theology, our understanding of Scripture and our hope placed in revelation can guide us through the struggles we face in questioning our historical
According to David M. Carr, the history of Scriptural interpretation indicates that religious texts are popular candidates for reinterpretation and, as such, are spaces wherein the personal identity of the reader frequently inscribes itself at length:
“Theology is not superior to the gospel. It exists to aid the preaching of salvation. Its business is to make the essential facts and principles of Christianity so simple and clear…that all who preach or teach the gospel…can draw on its stores and deliver a complete and unclouded Christian message. When the progress of humanity creates new tasks…or new problems…theology must connect these old fundamentals of our faith and make them Christian tasks and problems.” (WR 6)
The Bible is read and interpreted by many people all over the world. Regardless, no one knows the absolute truth behind scripture. Walter Brueggemann, professor of Old Testament, wrote “Biblical Authority” to help people understand what he describes as six different parts that make up the foundation to ones understanding of scripture. He defines these six features as being: inherency, interpretation, imagination, ideology, inspiration, and importance. As Brueggemann explains each individual part, it is easy to see that they are all interconnected because no one can practice one facet without involuntarily practicing at least one other part.
Michael Joseph Brown, unveils new ways to read and examine the Bible in his book, titled “What They Don’t Tell You: A Survivor’s Guide to Biblical Studies”. Although quite technical, the guide, not book, really goes into depth on the process of studying the Bible and its documents. Brown has a new and refreshing way of giving the reader this information that is necessary in a small group, or for a Biblical scholar. This guide is not meant solely for the biblical scholar and talks in detail about the difference between these two, because some may link the two together. Published by the Westminster John Knox Press, WJK for short, this book gives straight forward answers on the best way to thoroughly understand Biblical text. As you read on you will find out more about how they differ and why they appear so similar from an outside perspective. Brown has taken a wide variety of information, and made it into something interesting and extremely useful for the reader. In his own words, “What I have done is to ‘translate’ some foundational concepts in biblical studies into an idiom more people can understand” (xiii)
N.T Wright (2008) stated that “When we read the scriptures as Christians, we read it precisely as people of the new covenant and of the new creation” (p.281). In this statement, the author reveals a paradigm of scriptural interpretation that exists for him as a Christian, theologian, and profession and Bishop. When one surveys the entirety of modern Christendom, one finds a variety of methods and perspectives on biblical interpretation, and indeed on the how one defines the meaning in the parables of Jesus. Capon (2002) and Snodgrass (2008) offer differing perspectives on how one should approach the scriptures and how the true sense of meaning should be extracted. This paper will serve as a brief examination of the methodologies presented by these two authors. Let us begin, with an
Although the New Testament has twenty-seven books, I choose to do this research project on the book of Revelation also called Revelation to John. Despite the fact that many people avoid this book, saying that it is confusing, or perhaps even frightening, in my opinion it is the most intriguing and interesting book within the New Testament. The book of Revelation can be quite difficult to understand, there for it often raises more question than answers. However by concentrating on the structure and the symbols within the book, it becomes less difficult to understand. Choosing the book of Revelation for this research paper will give me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of what is in my perspective is one of the most important books in the bible.
As I consider the various lessons that I have comprehended in this course further advances my calling to be an observer for the Lord. I acknowledge that an unadulterated life focused in a steady love of the Lord and a reliable sharing of my constant faith is important to satisfy the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. I have understood that my reverential life, the act of sharing my faith and administering to the lost has melted away and is conflicting.
The New Interpreter's Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha. Nashville: Abingdon Press, ©2003.
Cosby, Michael R. Interpreting Biblical Literature: An Introduction to Biblical Studies. Grantham: Stony Run, 2009. 120-25. Print.
Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version. New York: American Bible Society, 1995. Print. (BS195 .C66 1995)
As we search the word of God with passion and earnestly, the Holy Spirit will illuminate us, so we can grasp his will in our life “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:13).
There is considerable debate about the extent to which Humankind has received the Revelation of God. The term revelation deals with how God has revealed himself to humanity or in other words, how he made himself known to that which he has created. Theologians generally distinguish God’s revelation in two ways General, and Special revelation. Many theologians agree that something can be learned from the study of human nature. However, most evident is the moral and spiritual qualities found within humankind that reflect the character of God. One could argue the point that the nature of revelation depends on whether revelation is given or understood through experience, proposition, culture, scripture or all four. Numerous studies show that revelation has been received by humankind through scripture. The influence of scripture has allowed humankind to find out not only about God, but themselves as well. Therefore many people believe that scripture is the one and true way that God have made himself known. Research indicates that through scripture God has inspired, communicate, and revealed himself to humankind through the elements of the world. Through these studies humankind has come to believe and understand that there is a greater source that can give and take away that which he has created. R.C.Sproul states “for whoever or whatever God may be he is altogether beyond our knowledge. Being limited in our ability to think as God does, one must believe and trust through the faith which has be built through the very word that has been written. With that being said, the writer Timothy share with his readers that all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (Ti...
The stated purpose of revelation is to reveal Jesus Christ (1:1): His James 1:12 For these believers who endure trials, tribulations, and severe suffering, even unto death. Revelations 2:8-11. This crown is also referred to as the martyrs’ crown.
Consequently we ask the question where does the idea of the Bible effecting Christian ethical decision making stop having unlimited interpretation. Interpretation can keep on being made of the biblical texts in so many different ways. A Christian living in today’s modern society who is practicing with the Bible as the role of how they base their ethical decisions has many things to consider. Mainly direct and indirect interpretation is to be had of the old and new testaments. Bringing the Bible stories and parables into context helps modern Christians to understand and live out ethically correct lives by applying it to the situation they are in.
The goal is to continue to reveal God firstly, define salvation, also discussed, the individual coming to God. Also coming up is a very brief description of the world and the Christian population. Fifthly, a description of the diverse