Hermeneutics - 4

Ⅲ. Lessons from Bible interpretation by general history

 

1.  Interpretation of ancient Judaism

The history of interpretation had begun from Ezra(457 bc).

(Ne 8: 8-9). The Israelites of that time did not understand the Hebrew language because of their captivity, so Ezra and his partners interpreted the Bible in Aramic language. It is said.

After Ezra, the scribes believed every letter of the Bible as the inspired Word of God and feared it.

It is clear that Psalm 119 was written in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Psalm 119 consists of 176 verses, and paragraphs are written every eight verses.

 

In Psalm 119, the term law is

1. Law

2. Word  

3. Saying

4. Commandment

5. Statute

6. Ordinance

7. Precept

8. Testimony

9. Expressed

as way 10. Path.

 

Ezra and Nehemiah made the interpretation of the Bible thorough, but later the Pharisees used it excessively.

The ancient interpretation of the Bible interpreted all grammars and words as having hidden meanings, resulting in an unreasonable interpretation.

So it doesn't help us very much.

 

2.  Interpretation of 1century AD Judaism

First-century Jewish interpreters have several methods of interpretation.

Still, there are common interpretations according to various interpretations.

 

( Common faith of interpreters)

(1) The Jews believed in the divine inspiration of the Bible.

(2) The Jews believed that the Torah was a comprehensive guide to God's truth.

(3) Jewish interpreters believed that there was also a literal meaning different from the text.

 (4) Jewish interpreters believed that the purpose of the interpretation was to apply God's Word to life.

 

The Jewish interpretation of Christ's time is divided into four methods of interpretation.

 ①   Literal Interpretation

②   Midrashic Interpretation

③   Pesher Interpretation

④   Allegorical Interpretation

 

1)  Literal Interpretation

 

This method served as the basis for other methods of interpretation.

Deu 6:7 impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

 

Recite as written. You must understand and believe as it is written.

 

2) Midrashic Interpretation

The start was from the Bible, but as it was interpreted, it was interpreted in the wrong direction.

 

①  Regardless of the context, spiritual meanings are given to texts, verses, and terms to be interpreted as different meanings.

② If the words or phrases are the same, even if the contents are different, they are interpreted together.

③  A small grammar without importance is interpreted by giving some meaning to it as important.

 

3) Pesher Interpretation

This is an interpretation of the Qumran community.

Pesher means solution or interpretation.

The Pesher method and the Midrashic method are almost the same.

And the Qumran sect emphasizes eschatology. “The present phenomenon is the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.” It is interpreted as Isaiah 61: 1-2 is found in Luke 4: 18-19

“This article has answered your ears today.” (Luke 4:21)

 This tells Jesus that the Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled in himself using the Pesher method.

The apostle Paul is also a method of quoting the Old Testament.

 

4) Allegorical Interpretation

 

This way, I think the Bible is deeper than literal meaning.

Philo (20BC-50AD) was the leader in this method.

It was believed that literal understanding was at a low level of understanding.

It was believed that the allegorical meaning was at a more mature stage.

Philo says the Bible should be interpreted fervently when:

a)  When literal meanings degrade God's values

b)  When Bible verses conflict

c)  When the Bible itself is an allegory

d)  When the expression appears double

e)  When unnecessary words are used

f)  When the facts you already know are repeated

g)  When an expression represents several changes

h)  When synonyms are used

i)  When you can do finesse in terms

j)   When the term admits a slight change

k)   When the expression is not normal

l)  When there is something unusual in numbers or the poetic.

m) When the symbol appears  

 

Although Philo claims the above, there is a risk of misunderstanding the Bible except c) and m).