Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics

Key Points to Remember

#1 Most words can mean several things in a language. All of these possible meanings taken together equal the word’s Semantic range.

#2 Observation tries to determine what the writer intended to communicate, and not to read into the text what the reader thinks.

#3 The usage of the word in its immediate context is the best indicator of its intended meaning.

#4 Use study tools to dig for and understand the writers original usage:

1. Look up the word in strong’s exhaustive concordance. Copy the entry #
2. Find the number of the Greek term in the dictionary in the back of strong’s and copy the listing look it up.
3. Use the entry #’s and look for data from other lexical aids
4. Use different English translations to help you make additional observations
5. Summarize the semantic range of the word, in the original language if possible, you can do!
6. Explain/Determine the usage of the word in your passage

Word Study Notes

#1 How do we determine what the word means?

            We need the context…what the possibilities are.

            This will keep us from heresy

#2 How does the Bible use “this” word?

1. Determine what the word could mean
2. How is the word used?
3. What does the word mean?

A text without a context is a pretext.

#3 We need possible meanings then the real meaning

#4 Use Tools! They work!!