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

C. It will enrich our appreciation of life: God draws us into “vicarious living,” our experiencing of the concrete human experience of others, and asks us to participate within their struggles, hopes, and challenges (“You are there”).

D. It will entertain our hearts: God stretches and refreshes us with the beauty and artistry of the literary conventions.

E. It will enlighten our minds: God challenges us to recognize his Word in a form very different from our natural ways of thinking and being in the world, and through genres calls us to a rigorous study of the Bible.

As we engage the texts in the forms in which the Holy Spirit gave them to us, we will find that God is the God of infinite wisdom, always going beyond our attempts to put him in a box or concept we build for him!

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Conclusion

» Genre (pronounced JOHN-ruh) refers to that particular kind of literary form which communicates truth and must be interpreted according to the rules of that form. » As a book of literature, the Bible must be understood on its own terms, according to the rules which the Holy Spirit allowed the various portions and sections of the Bible to be written.

Please take as much time as you have available to answer these and other questions that the video brought out. A major element in effective biblical interpretation is training in and attention to the rules and elements related to genre study. The Bible is a book of literature, and understanding how literature functions can enhance greatly our appreciation of the mastery of the biblical authors, as well as our comprehension of the meaning of Scripture itself. Answer the following questions about genres and its relevance for biblical interpretation in light of its importance for developing a valid hermeneutic of Scripture. Be thorough in your answers.

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Student Questions and Response