Hermeneutics: Interpretation and Keeping Away from Idolatry

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21, ESV). It’s an abrupt and provocative ending to the Apostle John’s letter. It must be especially important. John wrote to Christians who were delivered from pagan idolatry. Yet he knew from his own heritage, how hard it was for the Hebrews to [...]

Hermeneutics: Interpretation and Sounds of Silence

It seems that I just cannot keep silent about silence. John the Baptist abstained from wine and excused himself from an ordinary social life for eating locusts and wild honey in the wilderness. Jesus turned the water into the best wine, ate and drank with sinners and tax collectors; but nevertheless, did make [...]

Hermeneutics: Interpretation and the Wizard of Silence

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” – The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz (1939). In hermeneutics (interpretation) silence is the man behind the curtain: a pretentious wizard with an odd collection of personal effects. Those who would interpret the Bible cannot ignore him. He may [...]

Hermeneutics: Interpretation and the Authenticity of the Bible

Prior to the exam in evidence, our law professor made a statement that went something like this: Bare assertions without support are of no help to you and of no consequence to me (Charles Carr, Professor at SUNY Buffalo Law School). Among existing collections of historical documentation since the time of Jesus there [...]

Hermeneutics: Interpretation Honoring God Above Tradition

If we should teach you other than what you read in the Bible, then you go by the Bible. What does this oft repeated mantra mean: to go by the Bible? I recognize that the Bible is unique: writings recording the revelation of God. So if I discover that I [...]