BTheol Bachelor of Theology Biblical Hermeneutics 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'hermeneutics' refer to in biblical studies?
- The science and art of interpreting biblical texts (Correct answer)
- The process of translating ancient manuscripts
- The memorization of Scripture passages
- The comparison of different Bible versions
Correct answer: The science and art of interpreting biblical texts
Biblical hermeneutics is the discipline of developing and applying principles for correctly interpreting Scripture, drawing on linguistics, history, theology, and literary analysis.
Question 2: What is the 'grammatical-historical' method of Bible interpretation?
- Interpreting Scripture according to its original grammar and historical context (Correct answer)
- Interpreting the Bible using modern grammatical rules only
- Reading the Bible through church tradition exclusively
- Finding hidden numerical codes in the Hebrew text
Correct answer: Interpreting Scripture according to its original grammar and historical context
The grammatical-historical method seeks the author's intended meaning by studying the original languages, literary genre, and historical-cultural context of each passage.
Question 3: What is 'exegesis' in biblical interpretation?
- Drawing out the meaning from the text as the author intended (Correct answer)
- Reading modern ideas back into the biblical text
- Comparing parallel passages in different translations
- Memorizing Scripture for preaching
Correct answer: Drawing out the meaning from the text as the author intended
Exegesis means 'leading out'—the careful process of extracting the original intended meaning from the biblical text through contextual and linguistic analysis.
Question 4: What is the 'sensus plenior' in biblical hermeneutics?
- The fuller, deeper meaning of Scripture intended by God beyond what the human author consciously wrote (Correct answer)
- The most literal reading of a biblical passage
- The allegorical meaning found only in the New Testament
- The meaning agreed upon by all church councils
Correct answer: The fuller, deeper meaning of Scripture intended by God beyond what the human author consciously wrote
Sensus plenior ('fuller sense') refers to additional depth of meaning in Old Testament texts that God intended, which becomes clearer in light of New Testament fulfillment.
Question 5: In biblical hermeneutics, what is a 'pericope'?
- A distinct unit or section of Scripture with a coherent theme (Correct answer)
- A Greek manuscript fragment
- A commentary on Pauline letters
- A ritual reading from the Torah
Correct answer: A distinct unit or section of Scripture with a coherent theme
A pericope is a self-contained passage or unit of text—such as a parable, miracle story, or discourse—that can be studied as a coherent literary unit.
Question 6: What does 'literary genre' recognition contribute to biblical interpretation?
- It helps the interpreter apply the appropriate rules for understanding poetry, history, prophecy, or apocalyptic literature (Correct answer)
- It determines which books are canonical
- It establishes the date when a book was written
- It identifies which manuscripts are most reliable
Correct answer: It helps the interpreter apply the appropriate rules for understanding poetry, history, prophecy, or apocalyptic literature
Identifying the genre (poetry, narrative, prophecy, epistle, apocalyptic) is essential because each genre has distinct literary conventions that shape how its message should be interpreted.
