Have the Jewish Scriptures Become Second Class Among Christians Part 3
Introduction
As an undergraduate majoring in religious studies, I was expected to take a semester-long course entitled “hermeneutics.” I had no idea what this term meant. As a young boy, the only religious subjects I ever heard about were in Hebrew school. Unsurprisingly, my synagogue in Newark, NJ, did not offer a course in “hermeneutics.”
The only connection I made to any person named “Herman” was TV’s parody of the Frankenstein monster known as Herman Munster. Maybe the university I attended expected me to take a class on British rock bands, focusing on the British pop group “Herman’s Hermits.” I wasn’t sure lead singer Peter Noone had enough hits to fill a semester’s coursework
I soon discovered other famous Hermans, including the TV character Pee Wee Herman and the NY Yankee baseball great George Herman “Babe” Ruth. Eventually, I wised up and realized the Religious Department of Dallas Baptist University would hardly offer a semester course that catered to my penchant for nostalgia.
So what is hermeneutics? After further investigation, I learned that hermeneutics is a discipline necessary to correctly understand the Scriptures, both the Hebrew text and the New Covenant. I hope I cleared up this mystery for those struggling to understand what “hermeneutics” is all about. Perhaps you feel Pee Wee Herman is more interesting.
The Centrality of Biblical Hermeneutics
I like the definition of hermeneutics offered by the IVP Pocket Dictionary of Τheological Terms (pg. 59, InterVarsity Press, 1999):
The discipline that studies the principles and theories of how texts ought to be interpreted, particularly sacred texts such as the Scriptures. Hermeneutics also concerns itself with understanding the unique roles and relationships between the author, the text, and the original or subsequent readers.
When a student applies hermeneutical skills to the sacred text of the Tenach or the New Testament, they understand the passage(s) being studied with greater respect. Hermeneutical proficiency prevents the Bible student from making superficial observations about a biblical passage. Instead, the student is called to study a passage seriously, in a way that conforms to the author’s original intent.
Are you ready for this? Without understanding hermeneutics, the student of religion cannot begin to comprehend what many Bible verses are about.
Dare I say it? A good grasp of biblical hermeneutics is the central tool for making sense of many hard-to-decipher Scripture passages.
I hope I raised your curiosity. So let’s take a break from listening to our worn-out Herman Hermit’s 45s and take a deep dive into hermeneutical tools.
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