Bible Question: What is an evanglical hermenutical approach and why does it matter. |
Bible Answer: Hi, larmcdani... I believe that Jalek gave you a good definition of hermeneutics. I think that in the phrase you ask about is also the word "evangelical." If I heard that phrase what I immediately assume is that they are talking about hermeneutics built upon the presupposition of evangelicalism. Evangelicalism is a very broad category of Protestant groups. When I became a Christian it generally included those who believe that it is appropriate and necessary as Christians to proseletyze. Over time it has come to mean a narrower set of people who believe in a specific methodology for proseletyzing, and other related teaching. Consequently, wherever you heard that phrase, the person was probably talking about a set of doctrinal assumptions that would form a foundation from which one would interpret the Scriptures. The Bible translations made available by our gracious host, Lockman, are built upon something more fundamental than doctrinal assumptions. Jalek made references to these assumptions. We generally call them historical-grammatical assumptions. In other words, we interpret Scripture in terms of the historical and grammatical context of the Bible passages themselves. In other words, we try to understand what was written when it was written. On that basis we then build doctrine. The reason the question is important to you, is that many people will try to persuade you of a particular truth based on some other authority than the Scriptures. They will add things like people, organizations, experience, feelings, etc. In Him, Doc |