Author's intent hermeneutic

I am also concerned of the possibility that maybe..... I am imposing all these "rules" on them which only serve to obscure the Bible's true meaning

Hi,

Quick poll of this board.

So...my preparation for a Revelation Bible study has led me off on a study of hermeneutics. Which frankly might be a more important study, anyway. Learning right and wrong hermeneutics lays the groundwork for studying Revelation.

Let me explain my poll question:

Hermeneutics is basically the "rules of engagement" for interpreting the Bible. Such as, for example, our #1 rule of engagement is that we should sincerely seek God in all our study. After all, if we are not genuinely seeking God in all this, we will never interpret the right meaning out of God's Word.

Now, my question: do you believe it fair to say that whatever the author intended you to read, that is the correct meaning of the book? Put another way: assuming Moses wrote Deuteronomy, do you believe that whatever Moses was trying to say--that is the meaning of Deuteronomy?

OR: is it possible that, once the book became a part of the Bible and 2000 years have elapsed, that the Holy Spirit took over, and now the book, being a part of GOD'S Word, might mean something that the human author did not intend? For example: take Paul's letter to Philemon. When Paul originally wrote the letter, he intended the audience to be Philemon. But then a lot of churches also read the letter, and it became part of the Bible. Now, the letter becomes to ALL of us, and it takes on new meaning. But...does it take on new meaning that Paul never intended?

When I read about hermeneutics, I read that it is the former, i.e. you need to understand the author's intent. And I tend to agree with that. But I am also concerned of the possibility that maybe not everybody may agree with that, and that I am imposing all these "rules" on them which only serve to obscure the Bible's true meaning (which of course is neither my intent, nor that of hermeneutics). I hope I explained my question well?

You are very wise.

“The prophets, who prophesied of the grace (divine blessing) which was intended for you, searched and inquired earnestly about this salvation. They sought [to find out] to whom or when this was to come which the Spirit of Christ working within them was indicating when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow [them]. It was then disclosed to them that the services they were rendering were not meant for themselves and their period of time, but for you. [It is these very] things which have now already been made known plainly to you by those who preached the good news (the Gospel) to you by the [same] Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Into these things [the very] angels long to look!” 1 Peter 1:10–12 (AMP)

Excellent, relevant passage. But what is your exegesis of this passage?

My read is that, the Old Testament prophets, when they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, they knew there would be a latter day, which we now know as the New Covenant. And so the Holy Spirit revealed to them that their writings were meant for a later time's consumption.

Do we then infer that New Testament prophets did the same? e.g. that Paul's letters to Corinth were not meant for Corinth, but for churches which did not even exist at the time? And that Paul knew that, and that in fact THAT was Paul (the author's) intent?

Let's take the first thing: introducing the words, "Hermeneutics", "exegesis", and "eisegesis" to laymen. Exegesis=good. Eisegesis=bad. First thing somebody's going to ask: Do any of these words appear in the Bible? Well...not really. Instantly, they're turned off. We're "no longer studying the Bible". The Bible's supposed to be this easy-to-learn Word of God that we can all understand, but instead I'm using these big words.

Lesson learned: just don't use those big words.

the Author is the Holy Spirit and the intent is to testify of Jesus Christ

It is both. You must be born-again to have understanding of God word. If you are studying the word of God then you surely know the method of properly doing so. The "Authorial intent" is trying to Understand what God ( the Author) is saying:

1. who is HE saying it to
2. why did HE say it
3. what was the Time frame in which HE said it
4. how did they apply what HE said then
5. How do I apply it today?

The thing is,can one be born again without the understanding of God's word? Seems like you would need at least a basic understanding of God's word, especially the verses pertaining to being born again. I do agree with you that God is the author. Those that wrote the words down were really just scribes, even if they offered their own personal perceptions, because in all cases they were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the words down, whatever they may be or form that they would take.

You have valid point, however, many of us ( christians) have experienced being born-again yet did not know the term. it was after being born-again we learned what John chapter 3 and Jesus with Nicodemus was saying to him. God is the Author through HIS Holy Spirit because the Word of God says that.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

God is the author because Only God has the word of Eternal life because HE God is Eternal.

Hi,

Quick poll of this board.

So...my preparation for a Revelation Bible study has led me off on a study of hermeneutics. Which frankly might be a more important study, anyway. Learning right and wrong hermeneutics lays the groundwork for studying Revelation.

Let me explain my poll question:

Hermeneutics is basically the "rules of engagement" for interpreting the Bible. Such as, for example, our #1 rule of engagement is that we should sincerely seek God in all our study. After all, if we are not genuinely seeking God in all this, we will never interpret the right meaning out of God's Word.

Now, my question: do you believe it fair to say that whatever the author intended you to read, that is the correct meaning of the book? Put another way: assuming Moses wrote Deuteronomy, do you believe that whatever Moses was trying to say--that is the meaning of Deuteronomy?

OR: is it possible that, once the book became a part of the Bible and 2000 years have elapsed, that the Holy Spirit took over, and now the book, being a part of GOD'S Word, might mean something that the human author did not intend? For example: take Paul's letter to Philemon. When Paul originally wrote the letter, he intended the audience to be Philemon. But then a lot of churches also read the letter, and it became part of the Bible. Now, the letter becomes to ALL of us, and it takes on new meaning. But...does it take on new meaning that Paul never intended?

When I read about hermeneutics, I read that it is the former, i.e. you need to understand the author's intent. And I tend to agree with that. But I am also concerned of the possibility that maybe not everybody may agree with that, and that I am imposing all these "rules" on them which only serve to obscure the Bible's true meaning (which of course is neither my intent, nor that of hermeneutics). I hope I explained my question well?

Excellent, relevant passage. But what is your exegesis of this passage?

My read is that, the Old Testament prophets, when they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, they knew there would be a latter day, which we now know as the New Covenant. And so the Holy Spirit revealed to them that their writings were meant for a later time's consumption.

Do we then infer that New Testament prophets did the same? e.g. that Paul's letters to Corinth were not meant for Corinth, but for churches which did not even exist at the time? And that Paul knew that, and in fact THAT was Paul (the author's) intent?

One author the anointing Holy Spirit the teacher .

In the book of Revelation in verse one reveal the kind of hermeneutics is setup for the entire book as not only inspired but also signified the language of parables . Parables the tongue of prophecy .Right from the beginning there is division whether to seek out the spiritual understand hid in the parables or literalize the parable as lose the unseen understanding.

Revelation 1 King James Version (KJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: