Hermeneutic

Witness
July 14, 2010

Hermeneutic

Hermeneutics may be described as the development and study of theories of the interpretation and understanding of texts. In contemporary usage in religious studies, hermeneutics often refers to study of the interpretation of Biblical texts. A hermeneutic is defined as a specific system or method for interpretation, or a specific theory of interpretation.

Essentially, hermeneutics involves cultivating the ability to understand things from somebody else’s point of view, and to appreciate the cultural and social forces that may have influenced their outlook.1

Throughout religious history scholars and students of religious texts have sought to mine the wealth of their meanings by developing a variety of different systems of hermeneutics.

These principles govern the method of interpretation scholars use when reading the Word of God, and it adds integrity to their interpretation because it demands consistency and thoroughness. Any scholar attempting to interpret the Word of God, and any man hoping to teach the Body of Christ should attend to these principles to limit distortion of God’s meaning by the subjective nature of individual study.

1 “Hermeneutics.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 27 Feb 2007, 03:13 UTC.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 28 Feb 2007
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hermeneutics&oldid=111244952>

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