To Determine the Author?s Intent: The Theologian’s Approach

By Desmond Allen

Christians are reading their Bibles, but do they truly understand what they read? We cannot apply what we do not fully understand, and it is counter productive to apply what we misunderstand. Merely reading these ancient, sacred passages and leaping to some personal application is a leap of ignorance.The accurate interpretation of Scripture is critical. Faulty interpretation leads to a faulty theology, which leads to faulty doctrine and subsequent faulty behavior. However, in today's context the term interpret almost seems a misnomer; in that many construe this to imply readers have license to draw from a passage whatever seems appropriate to their personal circumstance. As if it was some poem by Henry David Thoreau. But this is not the interpretation of which we speak. Some sort of touchy-feely-what-does-it-say-to-you, as pursued in abstract, existential poetry is not our concern. Bible interpretation, or hermeneutics, is the scientific process of understanding the original meaning of the ancient, biblical text. This requires a certain historical knowledge of the original language, the culture in which the text was written, and the theological matters of concern. As such, understanding the author's intent, the literal meaning in common language, is or goal. Once we have this knowledge we can make personal application, if it is applicable.There are precise methods Theologians use to arrive at this historical meaning. Here, we will learn them.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1477683291
• ISBN13: 9781477683293
• Release Date: June 2012
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 146 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"