The Bible will serve as our Magna Carta

PRACTICAL HERMENEUTICS. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION [pic] BY: DR. CORNELIUS (NEAL) HEGEMAN
MINTS INTERNATIONAL SEMINARY
(MINTS) 14401 Old Cutler Rd.
Miami, Florida 33158. USA hegjkm@aol.com 2013, 2015 (REVISION)
PREFACE The purpose for this course on practical hermeneutics is to give the
distance education Bible student tools by which to study their Bible. The
profile of the distance education student is one who is working full time,
does not have ready access to residential seminary or Bible college
courses, is involved in a gospel proclamation or teaching ministry, has
interest in meeting once a week for further Bible study and has access to
an Internet service.
Since Practical Hermeneutics is being translated into a variety of
languages several adjustments are made. Access to the English materials
will not be functional and practically speaking, it is assumed that the
resource available to the student is a Bible, several commentaries and
internet service. International internet services have Bible versions,
Concordances, Bible dictionaries and Lexicons, secular dictionaries and
other academic tools. These resources are very limited but they will have
to do until more resources are made available. As much as possible, the
resources quoted in the footnotes are internationally translated. If not,
the translators are free to add their own, as long as they are compatible
with the spirit of the course.
The greatest tools the believing student has available are the Bible,
the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the faithful and ministering Church.
The student in Russia, or Turkey, or Colombia has several versions of the
Bible handed down through the ages. The Holy Spirit illuminates our minds
to be perceptive, logical and consistent. God has planted and grown His
Church throughout the world. The gospel message is accessible through
mission outreaches, a variety of ministries as well as through the
worshipping community of believers, the Church. Therefore, this course will
use Scripture as its main source, rely on the talents and gifts God has
given to the leadership of the Church for guidance and teaching and use
logical argumentation as the instrument in order to think through the
implications of the text.
Since we will not be appealing extensively to external resources such
as academic studies, archeological finds, linguistical helps, we will rely
on the internal resources of the Biblical text. Such an approach is not a
detriment but a great advantage to the student since the Biblical context
is the greatest tool for determining the meaning of a text.
Having said this, our approach is not a substitute for the serious
study of the ancient cultures, history, languages, linguistics and
philosophies. One of the greatest needs in Biblical studies today is for
serious students in all ethnic groups to work on the translation of
Scripture from the original languages to their own language. I am in
agreement with Ralph Winter when he observes that a people group is not
reached until 20% of the population has attended a Christian church and the
church has at least some leaders who are able to interpret the Bible from
the original languages of the Bible. This unreached people principle may be
applicable to areas in the Euro-American scene as well.
The major reading sources for this course are Gordon D Fee and
Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for all its Worth, Baez-Carmargo
Gonzalez, Breve Historia del canon bíblico; Grant Osborne, The
Hermeneutical Spiral, Robertson McQuilkin. Understanding and Applying the
Bible. R.C. Sproul's, Knowing Scripture; and Geerhardus Vos. Biblical
Theology: Old and New Testaments.
A special thanks to Norlan de Groot, Jaime Morales, Eric Pennings,
Jared Reid, Roger Smalling, Allen Vander Pol and Julian Zugg for reading
this course (in English or Spanish) and making their contributions to it.
HERMENEUTICS: PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION PREFACE
COURSE INSTRUCTIONS
LESSON ONE INTRODUCTION
LESSON TWO THE HERMENEUTICAL CIRCLE
LESSION THREE THEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES FOR BIBLE
INTERPRETATION
The God of the Word
Christ-centered Revelation
Inspiration and
Illumination by the Holy Spirit
LESSON FOUR REVELATION AND INTERPRETATION
Revelation
Absolute Truth
Biblical
Historical Redemptive
Manuscript Study
LESSON FIVE TEXTUAL CONTENT STUDY
Inductive Study
Grammatical Analysis
Literary Genre
History of the Text
LESSON SIX GOSPEL AND CHURCH STUDY
The Source of the Gospel Message is the Risen Lord
The Analysis of the Bible must Conclude with the Gospel
Proclamatory and Expositional Preaching and Teaching of the Gospel is
Necessary
The Gospel is Enshrined in Biblical and Historical Doctrines
LESSON SEVEN PERSONAL AND CONTEXTUAL STUDY
PERSONAL STUDY
Sanctification
Sword of the Spirit
Sacrificial Service
Spiritual Worship
CONTEXTUAL STUDY
Bible Context
Secular Historical Context
Cultural Context
Universal Context
LESSON EIGHT MINISTERIAL APPLICATION
Proclamation
Priesthood of all Believers
Didactical
Worship of true God
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX
BIOGRAPHY
COURSE INSTRUCTIONS PURPOSE OF THE COURSE The student will be introduced to the science of Bible interpretation. SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT Lesson one introduces the student to the opinion of others as to how to
interpret the Bible. Lesson two reviews the hermeneutical circle. Lessons
three to seven are dedicated to the explanation of 20 principles for
interpreting the Bible. Lesson eight recommends three Bible study methods. COURSE MATERIALS The student manual consists of eight lessons. The eight hour conference
will orient the students according to the student manual. The students will
also read the book of R.C. Sproul, Knowing Scripture or watch the video
series with the same title as part of the their reading requirements (other
readings can be substituted). OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE There are five general objectives for this course on hermeneutics. First,
the student will participate in class and study groups. Second, the student
will seek to comprehend the basic concepts of hermeneutics. Three, the
student will develop hermeneutical and exegetical skills. Fourth, the
student will be exposed to proven Biblical interpreters. Finally, the
student will show mastery over the basic concepts of hermeneutics. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE 1. The student will attend 15 hours of class or interactive mentoring in
person or via Internet.
2. The student will complete the homework assignments at the end of the
lessons in the student manual.
3. The student will complete a special project where he/she studies a
Bible text using the principles and methods taught in the course (see
Exegetical Work Sheet in Appendix)
4. The student will become familiar with the writings and materials of
other authors.
5. The student will take a final exam. EVALUATION OF THE COURSE. 1. The student will attend 15 hours of class or interactive mentoring.
For every class hour attended one point will be given (15% of total).
2. The student will complete the homework assignment at the end of each
lesson in the student manual. For every homework assignment completed,
two points will be given (15%).
3. The student will complete a special project where he/she studies a
Bible text using the principles and methods taught in the course. The
student will complete the assignment prior to the last class (30%).
4. The student will become familiar with the writings and materials of
other authors. For the BA student, a three page report (for MA, 5
pages) will be written as to the content of Knowing Scripture, both
from the book and/or video (20%). The BA student will read a total of
300 pages and the MA student 600. The syllabus readings, as well as
the Sproul reading, are part of the total pages read; the rest is
determined by the student. A three page book review will be submitted
on the readings.
5. The student will take a final exam (20%). The final exam tests the
student in the understanding of the hermeneutical circle and the
definition of the principles of Bible interpretation as presented in
this cou