1. Can We get the AIM? I. Hermeneutical Distance separates us: A. History, language, geography, purpose, culture, textual variants. B. Interpreters are fallible and language is slippery. II. Preunderstanding: The body of assumptions and attitudes which a person brings to the perception and interpretation of reality or any aspect of it. B. Taxonomy: Information, attitude, ideology, methodology. A. Sources: Cultural, psychosocial, physical, historical, environmental, educational, vocational.

2. 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

3. Can We get the AIM? II. Preunderstanding -- This is not determinism because: B. There is a consistency in linguistics from word definitions to the modes and genre of speech. This might be called “range of meaning.” Statements can mean several things but not “anything.” A. All people have similar emotions, similar spiritual and intellectual abilities. C.We are able to “bridge” – put ourselves in other’s shoes. D.Presuppositions can be changed.