Subject: How literal is the Bible? |
Bible Note: Hank, This may seem like an overly simple request here, but please define "exegesis". Often when I hear this word, it seems like some default method of interpreting scripture after the method of "sola scriptura", that may not necessarily involve the slightest interaction with the Holy Spirit. There are perhaps some who, in their belief that the Holy Spirit no longer writes scripture today, also feel that the Holy Spirit no longer interprets scripture for us either. Miracles and direct revelation have passed, as they say. One could possibly say, for example, that this particular pastor in your story needed a bit more of the Holy Spirit than exegesis, when interpreting the scripture. It seems that any unsaved individual can use man-made methods of exegesis, and therefore arrive at very naturalistic results. The scriptures may be merely intellectually interpreted, without any spiritual inspiration from above. What we then often lack as a result is a spiritual understanding and application. 1 Corinthians 2 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (NAS95) - One may even infer that the Pharisees themselves were the best exegeticists. The problem, however, is that even the finest exegeticism becomes well nigh worthless, without the direct revelation from the Holy Spirit. And the result of these darkened and naturalistic exegetical interpretations is evidenced in the lack of spirituality conveyed. 1 John 2 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. (NAS95) - We can pay any unsaved seminary scholar to teach us exegesis, and to give us exegetical interpretations. In fact, we can even perform exegesis on any secularly-derived text, with no reference to the bible. But what does that prove? I suggest that naturalistic methods of exegesis are not nearly enough, when it comes to spiritual discernment of the scriptures. Indeed, it falls far short. - Luke 24 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, (NAS95) Luke 24 32 They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" (NAS95) Acts 8 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. 33 "IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH." 34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. (NAS95) - Blessings, Reighnskye |