Hermeneutics Final Exam Flashcards
- Define and distinguish between authorial intention and reader response.
Authorial intent is what the author was meaning to come across to the audience while reader response is how the person reading responds to the material. The question asked by the reader “what does this mean,” bi-passing what the author meant.
- (Define author, meaning and application as they relate to biblical interpretation.)
Author is the person who wrote it, meaning is what the author meant when writing and application is the what the reader should take from the core idea of the text and apply to their everyday life. (Maybe on the test)
- (Explain the relationship between general, universal theological truths and concepts-specific theological truths.)
Universal theological truths - are like truths for all ages at all times.
Concepts-specific theological truths – These are truths specific to the situation and context in the bible. (Not on the test)
- Explain the primary danger of seeking a deeper, spiritual meaning in the biblical text.
When we seek a deeper spiritual meaning, we usually find ourselves moving into an area of reader response. Were we are the ones determining the meaning rather than the text. We can often miss completely the message God has intended and substitute our words for His.
- Distinguish between allegory and allegorical interpretation.
An allegory is a story that uses an extensive amount of symbolism. It is similar to a parable but generally has a greater degree of correspondence. While allegorical interpretation as an interpretive method is quite different from allegory, and it can mislead us completely if we use it to interpret a nonallegorical text. (not on the test)
- Define typology and foreshadowing.
Foreshadowing is something that can be between any part of the bible and is pointing to a future even while Typology is foreshadowing but specifically from the Old Testament into the new and generally needs a correspondence.
- Define inspirations and illumination. Explain how these two works of the spirit work together.
Inspiration refers to Gods work in human authors. Illumination is the Holy Spirit showing us or highlighting something. Since the Spirit inspired scripture in the first place, we should not expect him to contradict himself when he illuminates things to us. ( not)
- State and describe the five characteristics and the three parts of the New Testament letter.
The first is characteristic is comparable to other ancient letters… they were much longer than the usual, but the added length makes sense considering that they were trying to shepherd their flocks from a distance. Second is Authoritative substitutes for personal presence… This was the way they communicated when they could not be there in person. Third is Situational… They were written to address certain situations. Forth is carefully written and delivered… Normally done by a trained scribe and was a complex thing the end written by the author. Fifth is Intended for the Christian community… They were meant to be read aloud to specific congregations.
The three parts of the New Testament letter are Introduction, Body and conclusion.
- Explain why Mathew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels. (Maybe)
They tell a similar story of Jesus’s life but from their point of view and perspectives.
Why is the Gospel John not a synoptic Gospel?
John wrote with the intent of proving Jesus’s divinity. Because of this it was not written chronologically.
- State and apply the two interpretive questions that allow passages from the gospels to be read rightly.
- What does this small story tell us about Jesus? 2. What is the gospel writer trying to say to his readers by the way that he puts smaller stories together?
- Identify and describe the special literary terms found in the Gospels. What is the key to interpreting each special literary form?
A. Exaggeration or Hyperbole 2. Metaphor and simile. 3. Narrative Irony. 4. Rhetorical questions. 5. Parallelism 6. Parables.
Form of the gospel: Exaggeration/Hyperbole
Is used to drive a pint home and is not meant to be taken literally.
Form of Gospel: Metaphor and simile
They compare to prove a point.
Form of Gospel: narrative
Is irony is contrasting between what is expected to happen and what actually happens or something with an unexpected twist.
