Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

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B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

Biblical Inspiration The Origins and Authority of the Bible

Welcome in the strong name of Jesus Christ! After your reading, study, discussion, and application of the materials in this lesson, you will be able to: • Define hermeneutics as the discipline and branch of knowledge which focuses on interpretation, especially the interpretation of texts. • Give evidence that the Bible must be interpreted as a divine and human book, with both dimensions to appreciate and fully understand the nature of Scripture. • Lay out the critical presuppositions that historically orthodox Christians have believed about the nature of Scripture including their divine origin, Scripture interpreting Scripture, the idea of progressive revelation, the Christ-centered nature of Scripture, and the necessity of the Holy Spirit to understand God’s Word. • Give an overview of the Three-Step Model of biblical interpretation which includes understanding the original situation, discovering biblical principles, and applying the meaning of Scripture to our lives. • Recite the various elements involved in preparing the heart for biblical interpretation, including the need for humility and prayer, diligence and determination, and rigorous engagement of the Bible as a workman. • Demonstrate a knowledge of the kinds of roles we ought to adopt as we prepare our mind for serious biblical interpretation including the role of an explorer, the role of a detective, and the role of a scientist—seeking the Word diligently, following up on clues, and weighing the evidence carefully before making judgments. • Exhibit from Scripture its claim that the Bible is both inspired by God as well as written by human authors. • Demonstrate and distinguish between the various theories of inspiration which seek to explain how and in what way the Scriptures can be inspired by the Holy Spirit and also be influenced by human authors.

Lesson Objectives

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