“The Bible needs no interpretation because it interprets itself.” Herbert W. Armstrong

He also taught that God had revealed to him alone the key to interpreting scripture. He alone was the legitimate interpreter of Scripture

Spiritual/Pneumatological Interpretation Inspired Authors and Inspired Readers But ….

Principle’s One and Two Good interpretation requires: 1. Many readers who bring various expertise and experience 2. Ongoing research into the language, customs and culture of the Bible

1. Many readers who bring various expertise and experience 2. Ongoing research into the language, customs and culture of the Bible 3. Understanding the context for which a passage or text was written 4. Recognizing to whom the passage or book is addressed 5. Recognition of patterns (meaning is encoded but the code is not a secret) 6. Keeping the big picture in view (both the book and the entire canon) 7. Following the cues of the literary form or genre 8. Looking for the structure of the passage 9. Finding the appropriate comfort, aesthetic pleasure or emotional response to a passage

What is the Bible?

Every reader depends upon a large community of scholars stretching back to the autograph: for transcription for translation for lower criticism: determination of what constitutes the best available Greek or Hebrew manuscript

The Bible is not the Koran or the Vedas

The Bible is the product of a complicated process of transmission

The Bible is composed by many poets and narrators and authors over a span of several millennia

The Bible we have is not a facsimile of the autograph.

The Bible is not a book but a canon (a list) determined by a series of committees after much debate

The Hebrew Canon - 24 books - Yavneh ca 100 c.e. (signature for a series of discussions from ca 400 b.c.e to 200 c.e.) The New Testament Canon African Synod of Hippo 393 c.e. Councils of Carthage in 397 and 419 c.e Council of Trent of 1546 c.e.

Wittenberg Bible 1534 c.e.

Good interpretation requires: 1. Many readers who bring various expertise and experience 2. Ongoing research into the language, customs and culture of the Bible

Historical Consciousness

H-G. Gadamer Horizons

The Samaritans DNA evidence - share a common ancestor with Jews Torah - scripture Worship - Mount Gerizim, high places which the OT prophets denounced Nehemiah’s wall excludes them Hasmoneans destroy their temple Excluded from Jerusalem temple Treated as unclean

What are these three Gospel stories about? Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan Luke 17:11-19 The Ten Lepers John 4:1-42 The Samaritan Woman at the Well

The Good Samaritan Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

The Ten Lepers JAMES CHRISTENSEN "TEN LEPERS"

Samaritan Woman at the Well Roman Catacomb ca. Second Century C.E.

Implications Interpretation is always on a trajectory rather than a terminus Interpretation is a risky venture When the purpose is personal inspiration, a misinterpretation is not necessarily a problem. Meir Sternberg - The Bible is Fool Proof When the purpose is doctrine and church order, good interpretation needs to involve many readers and many forms of expertise and experience.

What makes a Book scripture? What makes the Bible authoritative? Can we trust the product of tradition and discernment?

What kind of Book is the Bible?

What makes the Bible Authoritative?

Representation of Reality: being good counts more than being powerful Theology: God cares about the least of these Community Ethic: I am my brother and sister’s keeper. Purposeful Life: I have a choice to get with God’s plan and make His light shine.

What does it mean to call the Bible the Word of God?

Testament - Covenant: an agreement that creates a relationship between two parties, a reciprocal promise between two parties

Promise