'Hermeneutics' Is Such a Big Word...

Our previous discussion was about The Bible itself; what it is as a historical piece of literature. In this post, I will look at how I have learned to read the Bible.

To kick-off discussion, I asked this question in our confirmation class last year when we were talking about the Bible. I asked, "The Bible is what...? 1. God’s love letter to us. | 2. A playbook to run your life by. | 3. An autobiography, written by God, describing to us who he is and what he’s done. | 4. A guide and directions for being saved or going to heaven." Of course I let them know that there is no one completely right answer to the exclusivity of all the others. When all was said and done, where they stood was that it's a combination of 1 and 3 with a dash of 2 and just a pinch/hint of 4.

The answer one gives to that question will color your interpretation of the Bible and its purpose - your hermeneutic. If the answer is purely that the Bible is "a playbook to run your life by," then what happens when your life does not run 'according to plan'? If the answer is purely that the Bible is "God's love letter to us," how does one explain God's punishments and threats contained therein? If the answer is purely that the Bible is "an autobiography of God..." then where is the breath of life that is evident when read? If the answer is purely that the Bible is "directions for being saved..." where is the sweetness of the gospel knowing that we ourselves cannot sufficiently attain that goal?

So, how do I answer the question: what is my hermeneutic (or 'lens' from here on out so I don't have to continue typing that long word)? I don't have a good answer for it because a) there are a bunch of different types and they could be applied legitimately at different times, and b) it is constantly changing due to new research or discoveries or listening to others or reading new commentaries (each w/their own different lens). So maybe that's my first lens... knowing that my lens may change its focus :)

However, one lens that will never lose its focus, and one that will be my default and primary lens, is that I believe the entirety of Scripture points to Christ. He says time and again that the Law and the Prophets (therefore that would be the vast majority of the Jewish Scriptures) testify to him and about him (John 5:39, Matthew 5:17-20, Luke 4:14-30, Luke 24:25-27). The Gospel writers also note that the Law and the Prophets point to Christ; as all of them, at some point in their book, mention that Jesus did something to fulfill what was previously written about him. And from the Gospels onward, the disciples all point to Christ and what he has done for us. 

It is through this cross-shaped lens that I see the entirety of Scripture as redeeming and redemptive. I see the entirety of Scripture as God showing his love and mercy to us. I see the entirety of Scripture as exhortative and encouraging as we walk this path of discipleship. I see the entirety of Scripture in Immanuel, God with us.