Lesson 3
Pastoral
Ministry
Acts 8.26-35
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the
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treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.
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29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
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31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
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33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
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35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD.
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But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
1 Peter 3.15
GOLDEN TEXT
* Understand the meaning and function of biblical hermeneutics;;
* Realize that the correct interpretation of the Bible depends on hermeneutical tools;
* Master the principles and rules of Hermeneutics.
OBJECTIVES
Biblical hermeneutics provides the reader with the information necessary for understanding the Scriptures. This includes specific historical, geographic or cultural situations that are not explicitly presented in the text, but are implicitly there. In this way, by research and study, they can be found.
INTRODUCTION
THE SCOPE OF HERMENEUTICS
The main objective of hermeneutics is to help clarify both what the text meant at the time it was written and how it can mean today.
1 - THE SCOPE OF HERMENEUTICS
1 - THE SCOPE OF HERMENEUTICS
The relationship between biblical hermeneutics and exagesis
The scope of biblical hermeneutics
The need for biblical hermeneutics
What the Bible doesn’t do for Itself
In Bible study, hermeneutics and exagesis go hand in hand. While exegese is dedicated to the grammatical study of words in the original languages, hermeneutics is concerned with the interpretation of these words for the present day.
1.1 - The relationship between biblical hermeneutics and exagesis
1.2 – The scope of biblical hermeneutics
In general terms, hermeneutics works with contextualization, that is, with the communication of the biblical text and its application to the realities of current life. This fact is very important because it preserves the Bible from becoming outdated and irrelevant and allows it to remain, endlessly, the book of all ages and all peoples.
1.3 – The need for biblical hermeneutics
Although inspired by God, the Bible was written in human language, within the limits imposed by equally temporal cultures.
By the very nature of language, the absolute truths of Scripture run in the same bed as the languages and
1.3 – The need for biblical hermeneutics
cultures of the ancient Hebrews and Greeks. Thus, knowledge of such cultures is absolutely necessary in order to arrive at an adequate interpretation of biblical texts.
1.4 – What the Bible doesn’t do for Itself
The Bible does not cross cultural barriers to communicate its meaning. It needs the hermeneutic principle of interpretation - and the action of people - to make its message sail through the Cronus waters and reach human beings in their cultural space-time, without distinction.
DEFINITION AND FOCUS
2 – DEFINITION AND FOCUS
It is necessary to focus on the message of a biblical text, in the light of the historical situation in which it was generated, for its perfect understanding.
Reader-interpreters
2 - DEFINITION AND FOCUS
2.1 – Reader-interpreters
When approaching Scripture, the reader should remember the maxim of Martin Luther, who stated that every reader of the Bible is also its interpreter. So, as a modern reporter, some questions - among others - need to be asked (and answered):
2.1 – Reader-interpreters
* Who wrote the text? Was he a scholar or a people person?
* To whom was the message initially addressed?
* In what historical time was it written - dates?
* What locality was it written from - geographic space?
2.1 – Reader-interpreters
* In what historical, social, economic, religious context was it written?
* For what purpose was it written - goal?
* What is the central message of the book or text?
* What did the author originally mean - meaning?
2.1 – Reader-interpreters
* What is the genre of the book under study - historical narrative, laws, poetry, parables?
* Is the meaning of the text figurative or literal?
In general, hermeneutics is understood as the art of interpreting sacred books and ancient texts. The basic rule of hermeneutics is who is speaking; to whom he is speaking; for what time are you speaking; and in what sense are you speaking.
GOD'S REVELATION IN HISTORY
3 – GOD’S REVELATION IN HISTORY
The main task of hermeneutics is to interpret this revelation as faithfully as possible.
The Inspiration of Scripture;
The Timeliness of the Scriptures;
Understanding the Scriptures;
The effective aid
3 – GOD'S REVELATION IN HISTORY
3.1 – The Inspiration of Scripture
The Most High inspired men from very different contexts of life, at different times, to reveal His message to beings made in His image and likeness.
The texts produced by these human writers faithfully express His full will to the people, regardless of where they live, how they live and in what era they live.
3.2 – The Timeliness of the Scriptures
Scripture is made up of two Testaments: the Old and the New. The first was written in Hebrew; the second, in the popular Greek spoken at the time. Its oldest texts were written about four thousand years ago; however, the value of the Word of God lies in its power to communicate with human beings of any culture, people or time.
Despite being ancient literature, there is no book more current than the Bible. The famous American preacher Billy Graham said:
“It is more current than the newspaper that will come out tomorrow".
3.3 - Understanding the Scriptures
The Holy Scriptures are composed of texts that are difficult to understand. This is a fact.
In Paul's writings, for example, Peter recognized that there were parts that were difficult to understand (2 Peter 3:16).
3.3 - Understanding the Scriptures
If a contemporary of Paul cannot grasp everything the apostle wrote, it is not surprising that we have difficulties in assimilating certain subjects, even with the help of various sources of consultation and, above all, the help of the Holy Spirit.
3.4 - The effective aid
In view of the natural difficulties of understanding, it will be necessary to make use of specific tools for an adequate understanding of the biblical text.
3.4 - The effective aid
Hermeneutics allows us to leave the most superficial level of understanding to dig deeper into the ground of the real meaning of the biblical text, and thus find the deepest and truest treasures of divine truth.
RULES AND PRINCIPLES OF HERMENEUTICS
In the subsequent topics, there are some principles of biblical hermeneutics.
4 – RULES AND PRINCIPLES OF HERMENEUTICS
The Bible interprets the Bible itself
One should not interpret the text from isolated passages
You need to determine the style of the text
The text must be analyzed impartially
Only one meaning must be sought in the text
4 – RULES AND PRINCIPLES OF HERMENEUTICS
4.1 – The Bible interprets the Bible itself
The Bible must be interpreted in light of its own context. This principle is called the golden rule of biblical interpretation. Thus, a passage of Scripture is analyzed from the set of passages that are inseparably linked to it.
4.2 – One should not interpret the text from isolated passages
The use of isolated passages to understand the text will lead to misinterpretation, distortion of the truth and doctrinal deviations.
4.3 – You need to
determine the style of the text
Although it is very important to first consider the literal sense of the text, there are an abundant number of figures of speech and symbolism in the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus himself made extensive use of these resources in his teachings: (Mk 9.47) and (Mt 10.16).
4.4 – The text must be analyzed impartially
In other words, it means that it is necessary to analyze the text without subjectivism or preconceived beliefs. The work of interpretation must be done with an open heart and a willingness to find the truth. Denominational shackles, mysticism, and unrealistic visions must be avoided.
4.5 – Only one meaning must be sought in the text
Biblical passages have only one meaning; and this must be the target to be found.
The work of interpretation can be simplified when the Bible student has access to a greater number of Bible versions. A simple consultation of different versions of the same passage can lead to the solution of great difficulties.
Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk, considered the prophet and main character of the Protestant Reformation. He declared that every person justified in Christ is also an interpreter of the Scriptures.
CONCLUSION
This statement constitutes not only a devolution of the Scriptures to the church and its members, but also places on the shoulders of every born-again person the commitment to search for the real and true meaning of the biblical message.
CONCLUSION
GOD BLESS YOU!
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