# Gary's Hermeneutics ## Background #### 2026.05.23 - I will attempt to date entries and keep a history so I can document the changes that will inevitable occur #### 2024.01.01 - My methods of interpreting the Bible have morphed over time. I think the current version is rather mature. All that notwithstanding, until today, I haven't codified my hermeneutics. So, this will be my first attempt to do so. - In keeping with my typical study style, even this document will evolve over time. - My first cut will be a series of bullets. I am sure the format will change as well as the content as I think about this topic. - I will attempt to date entries and keep a history so I can document the changes that will inevitable occur ## Current Version ### Questions #### 2024.01.01 - When starting a new study, I start small and ask some basic questions such as: - What does the Bible say about X? - In what ways do I need to change my view of God and others as a result of this study? - As the study progresses and diverges, I usually add many more questions ### Flow #### 2024.01.01 - Once the study is started, I usually discover other related topics. I find the scope quickly diverges. Sometimes, I decide to incorporate other studies into the new one. - Sadly, for me anyway, after merging several studies, I decide the result is too broad and they need to be sub-divided. This sub-division helps me converge on a set of much narrower subjects. - It seems that the process of divergence / convergence happens on a detailed / micro level as well as a broad / macro level. ### God's Point of View (POV) #### 2024.01.01 - The process discussed above can be frustrating to many, but it enables me to look at the Bible from many points of view (POV). - One of those POVs, arguably the most important is God's POV. Of course, it isn't easy to see things from His POV. I think the best and maybe only process / method to see the Bible from God's POV is: - Acknowledging that all of it comes from Him - The whole story is about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit - One could argue that the Bible is about Israel. Certainly, Israel is the subject in a majority of the Bible. That notwithstanding, I think the real story is about God and His interaction with His chosen people group. - Then, the NT changes the object of God's focus from Israel to the church. ### Context #### 2024.01.01 - The method I use to try to see things from God's POV is to look at the context for every word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, chapter and book. - I am convinced the whole Bible is one single story line and it all fits together like a very detailed jigsaw puzzle. - Therefore, as I work to understand a passage it is necessary to telescope back and forth between the broad and the narrow. ### Word Study #### 2024.01.01 - In most cases, it is possible to understand the author's intended word definition from the context. However, there are many cases where this seems difficult / impossible. In the latter case, my hermeneutics require looking at the other uses of the word throughout the Bible. From those, it is usually possible to understand the definition. - Typically, I look at a growing list of translations / versions. The current list is [[Bible_Versions]] - If, after completing the steps above, it is still not possible to understand a word definition, I then consult various dictionaries. From those dictionary definitions, I derive my definition. ### Difficult Passages #### 2024.09.02 - This section was added on 2024.09.02 - There are more than a few passages that seem to contradict each other or are just plan hard to understand. - In these cases: - I study the passage as thoroughly as possible - Then, I set it aside / put it on the shelf kinda like a "cold case" in a detective show - While it is on the shelf, I continue looking for clues albeit at a very low effort - Amazingly, there have been many times I come across a different Bible passage that makes everything clear. ### Assumptions #### 2026.05.23 ##### Background - This section was added on 2026.05.23 - Whether we acknowledge it or not, we all approach life with a set of "assumptions." I have found it useful in life to identify those assumptions as early as possible in any discussion. - This section is not unlike the POV section above. Perhaps the best way to separate the two is to think about the POV section as focused on God and my methods to attempt to see things from God's POV. For that matter, I just renamed that section from "Point-of_View" to "God's Point-of_View" to make the distinction clear. - On the other hand, the "Assumptions" section is about the "lens" through which I see the world and consequently God's Word ##### My Lens - The OT is generally focused on the physical and the NT on the spiritual