750 WORD RESPONSE
My response focuses on the linguistic context section of the course with particular attention given to interpreting the Bible at the word level. Prior to the course, I assumed that a good Bible dictionary and/or lexicon could reliably help me determine the meaning of a word. The course then revealed a long list of obstacles confronting me in my task of interpreting the Bible with confidence. One of the main issues is the way language changes over time. Societies find new uses and applications for words and a common word such as ‘gay’ takes on an entirely different meaning within the space of fifty or so years. This explains, in part, why there are so many different Bible translations. The word ‘bowels’ in the King James Version is translated as ‘affection’ in the NIV and ‘tender compassion’ in the New Living Translation. A single word has the power to shift the entire meaning of a text. Therefore, if I do not understand a word in its historical and cultural context, then my understanding of a passage may be incomplete or wrong.
The course introduced me to a variety of contexts in which to view a text, genre being one of the most important. The main genres of the Bible include historical narrative, wisdom literature, poetry, prophecy and letters. Poetry is known for painting word pictures and prophecy for its vivid metaphorical imagery. Some passage are intended to be interpreted literally while others metaphorical or figuratively. Jesus used hyperbole for emphasis and exaggeration and parables to keep his messages hidden form his audience. In each case, unless the reader first understands the rules that govern the genre, then the full sense of the meaning may not be understood. One of the readings discussed the study of collations which look at the family or group of words relating to the word being studied. For instance, if the word was used in a battle scene or sacrificial system, then the meaning would be determined depending on that context.
While the course lectures covered the main themes, it was the recommended readings went ito more detail on certain topics relating to the interpreting of words. One reading mentioned how Etymological studies, which is the study of a word’s historical origins, was once the primary method of determining the meaning of a word. The discussion then highlighted problems with relying on this approach alone. ‘Semantic anachronism’ refers to the mistake of treating words as if their ‘meanings never change over time from culture to culture’. I refer to my earlier examples of ‘gay’ and ‘bowels’. The reader needs to understand the purpose of these words at the time of their writing. Contextual studies attempt to overcome many of these issues by taking into account the historical, anthropological, cultural, social, cognitive, literary and textual factors. All these factors shape the changing role of language from culture to culture and are therefore, necessary for accurate interpretation.
Considering the multifaceted task of word analysis, how should I go about my own study of words in the Bible without knowing Greek and Hebrew? The course made reference to a number of excellent tools within the Logos Bible software. The Bible sense lexicon helps determine the semantic range of a word, or all the possible meanings of a word. The reverse interlinear enables me to quickly find out whether a word is a subject, verb or object. The exegetical guide provides primary source information on the original language. I currently make good use of the Bible sense lexicon for quickly finding where else a word is used in the Bible and for finding other closely related words.
The course has raised many questions with no quick easy answers. Firstly, should I only read translations that translate word for word or should I also be making use of modern paraphrase versions which translate ideas instead of words, presenting them in contemporary language? Then there is the question of when to limit my study to just the Bible and when to access tools outside of the Bible such as commentaries, dictionaries and lexicons. As stated at the start of the course, Bible interpretation is difficult. I am trying to understand a text written thousands of years ago in a different time and culture. The difficulties reveal the need, beyond all else, to seek God’s help. I therefore, depend on Him to reveal the truth that He wishes for me to see, understand and then apply.