Lesson one

Hermeneutics is a word used to describe the study of how the scriptures are interpreted. This word is derived from the name of a Greek messenger of the gods, Hermes, it is also related to the word hermeneuo meaning to “interpret, explain”. Hermeneutics appears in many fields of study but, as of us we are mainly concerned with Biblical Hermeneutics.

First of all, if you have ever read the scriptures, then, you have been involved in Biblical Hermeneutics at least informally. “Since God is one and God is truth, the bible never contradicts itself….”Rev Michael J.“Hermeneutics is the art and science of biblical Interpretation” Dr Thaddeus J James Jr.

There are three Hermeneutical processes that is to say, Preparation, investigation and application. “We prepare for The Word of God by having good material (to give us good motives) , praying and allowing the Holy Spirit to , Giving him freedom to work in our lives …” Dr Stephen J Brammer.

As we investigate the scriptures, we do our best to leave our modern world behind and grasp the portions of the Bible when they were first written .For example we explore the bible in its original languages, we take into consideration the linguistic conversions of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.

Application is simply connecting the original meaning to contemporary audiences. Once we’ve understood the original meaning we travel as it were through the millennia to our modern situation. We reflect in the ways the scriptures should apply to us as the people of God.The Bible was written by People who lived lived thousands of years ago so when reading it , we treat it like people who lived in an ancient world , THIS LEADS TO SCIENTIFIC HERMENEUTICS .The fact that those people lived a thousand years ago doesn’t mean they were not intelligent.

Scientific Hermeneutics is drawn from archaeology, History, anthropology, sociology, and linguistics.