What is the A.I.M.? Author’s Intended Meaning Axiom #2: If your interpretation exceeds the author’s intended meaning it ceases to have God’s authority.

Is There Really Only One AIM? 1.God is the source of the Bible. He is not schizophrenic and does not change. What he says is consistent and singular (Jn 12:49; 1 Cor 14:37; Gal 1:12; 1 Thess 2:13; 2 Pet 1:20-21).1 Thess 2:13 3.We are told to hold to the traditions. How can we hold to something inherently unstable? (2 Thess 3:6; 1 Tim 6:20; 2 Tim 1:13-14; Jude 3).2 Tim 1: The Bible expresses the expectation that we read and understand God’s word (2 Cor 1:13; Eph 3:4-5; 2 Tim 3:15).2 Cor 1:13; Eph 3:4-5

Is There Really Only One AIM? 4.We are instructed to rebuke deviants. How can we do that if there is no “rule”? (Mt 15:3-9; Gal 1:6-9; 2 Thess 2:10-12; 1 Tim 4:1-4; 1 Tim 6:3-5; 2 Pet 2:1- 3; 2 Pet 3:16-17)1 Tim 6:3-5 6.It is a necessity of human language. It is an obvious and indispensable characteristic of human language. 5.We are told to have “one mind” (John 17:20-21; 1 Cor 1:10; Eph 4:1-6; Phil 2:2-5). 1 Cor 1:10

What AIM Does NOT Mean: 1.There are no genre exceptions. 2. Meaning/Interpretation/Application -- Meaning is singular -- Interpretation is plural -- Application is infinite 4. Ambiguity is a valid and important literary device. 3. Inference is necessary but not inspired.

Can We get the AIM? I. Hermeneutical Distance separates us: A. God spoke to people in language that he created. B. Imago Dei (Gen 1:26). Through obedience (Jn 7:17; 8:32) and the renewed mind (1 Cor 2:16) we can understand. D. Hermeneutical helps: Translations, dictionaries, maps, encyclopedias, archaeology, textual apparatus, etc. C. Universal Hermeneutical Principles: -- Built into the universe and observed universally. -- Truly Scientific -- Appealed to by common sense

Can We get the AIM? II. Preunderstanding -- This is not determinism because: A. All people have similar emotions and similar life experiences. C.We are able to “bridge” – put ourselves in other’s shoes. B.All people share spiritual longings to know God.

Project #2 Read through the entire book where your passage is found. Make a general outline of the book, with 3-5 major headings and no more than 3-5 minor headings under any given point. Include the chapter and verse references with each point of the outline. Then in a paragraph or two, explain how your passage fits into the flow of the book.

1 Thess 2:13, “When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

2 Cor 1:13, “For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand.” Eph 3:4, “In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.”

2 Tim 1:13-14, “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you— guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

1 Tim 6:3-4, “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy.”

1 Cor 1:10, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”