What have you learned about methods of biblical interpretation?  How have these methods contributed to your skill as an interpreter of biblical literature?

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            There are several ways to go about interpreting biblical texts.  Hauer and Young present the method of three “worlds”, which include the “literary world”, “historical world”, and “contemporary world”.  By using these three methods combined, we are able to focus on the biblical texts themselves, the events, places, and people that form the context in which the Bible was written, how it was and is interpreted, and are also able to look more closely at how the Bible applies to contemporary life.  It is sometimes difficult to incorporate all of these aspects to every time we read, and thus interpret the Bible, but it allows us to more thoroughly grasp the concepts in the texts, and gives depth to their meanings. 

            The methods of biblical interpretation are tools to help contemporary readers make sense of the Bible.  When the Bible was written, the people to whom it was written were addressed directly.  Nowadays, we do not have this luxury.  By using methods of interpretation, we can hope to extricate moral ideas from texts, and apply the ideas presented, to our lives.

            First of all, we focused on the literary world.  Hauer and Young give the definition of the literary world as, “the biblical texts themselves”(Hauer and Young, 32).  I have learned that it is important to understand what the Bible is and was actually composed of.  The Jewish Bible was simply called “Scripture”, and only later was the term “New Testament” added to Christian vocabulary.  The Bible was not so simply composed, and it took centuries to finally form the text we now call the Bible.  I have found that it is important for me, as a reader and Biblical interpreter, to understand that the Bible has gone through several modifications (canonization) to create what I now read.  Perhaps by looking at the Bible as a changed story, I am then more readily capable of interpretation on my own.  Certainly it has helped me to become a more active reader of these texts.

Secondly, we focused on the historical world.  The definition used in Hauer and Young is, “the events, places, and people that form the context in which the Bible was written, transmitted by copyists and translators, and interpreted through the ages”(Hauer and Young, 32).  This study approach has helped me to think in a broader sense about the context of the Bible as a whole.  I had always viewed the Bible as a message to the people in a very general sense.  I understood that there were overriding themes throughout—the main being the love of Christ—but I had never thoroughly conceptualized the diversity of the text.  The Bible was written over a large span of time, and composed by several authors, to several groups of people, for several reasons.  And although there may be large overarching themes throughout the whole Bible itself, there are also many features in each book that make them unique.  Take for example the repetition of God blessing Abraham in the first few books of the Old Testament.  The repetition of Abraham is definitely noticabe here, and thus, the literary technique of repeptition underscores the theme of blessing.  There is also an emphasis on faith and promise, both from and to God.  I would possibly have subconsciously picked up on these themes, but after learning about this method of interpretation, I now am able to have a more intelligent idea of when, where, and why these texts were written.

            Thirdly is the idea of the contemporary world. The definition given here is, “the assumptions, points of view, and questions modern readers bring to the Bible whenever they encounter it; the ways in which the Bible confronts and challenges us today; and the various uses to which the Bible is put in the present by individuals and communities”(Hauer and Young, 32).  This is a long definition, but more simply put, I have found this method to be the day-by-day applications of the Bible.  This method of interpretation is one I think we all use when reading the scripture.  The reasons most Christians read the Bible revolve around the idea that the text within is the blueprint of how to live a Godly life.  I myself use the Bible in just this way.  I also believe that this ability to apply the messages to contemporary life was the reason why the Bible was created.  The story of Christ is what is most important to be conveyed to the world, but every story written down has ideas, themes, and laws that can be and are to be applied to contemporary Christian life.  Take for instance that story of David and his kingship in Israel; on the surface, it may seem that this is simply a story about a powerful ruler and what he did for the people of Israel, but by using the contemporary world as a tool for interpretation, we begin to extrapolate key themes such as power's corruptive quality, inherent sin, and the true power of God.  Although from the surface, the story of David may be surpassed for other more obvious, life-directed speeches, by using the method of interpretation, we can still find powerful themes to be used in contemporary society.

            By using the methods of interpretation, as presented by Hauer and Young, I have been able to more thoroughly understand the Bible as a whole.  I now look at the themes that run through each book, and how those themes may then be applied to my life.  The basic understanding of Bible as book in itself, and all the modifications it has been through, gives me a better idea of the text within.  By looking at historical context, I have gained a deeper knowledge of when, where, and why these books were written.  Knowing that each book was published for a different reason leads me to make connections between the historical context in which a specific author was writing, and then make further assumptions about why the text may be addressing particular events or ideas.  Lastly, by looking at the Bible through a contemporary lens, I have gained a broader idea of how specific texts can be applied to my life.  Although I still need guidance through scripture, I feel that I am now more capable of making intelligent interpretations myself, and thus am able to be a stronger Christian.