A Discussion of Hermeneutics Paul Biedler 07/19/2015

2 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship What is the purpose of the discussion? We believe the Bible to be inspired and inerrant Good Biblical interpretation is essential to understanding the messages that God has put into his Word Good hermeneutics of scripture involve ordinary textual approach Most of what we hear and read are from people delivering their interpretation of a passage In our examples, we want to discuss the methodology of the TEXT not whether we agree or disagree with his philosophy, conclusions, or underlying beliefs, although we may touch on it. We want to talk about the textual methods that are being employed. I am not attacking the men who preach these messages. Rather we are examining the arguments that they are making My purpose is to help identify, when other people interpret scripture, whether or not they are providing a good interpretation.

3 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Understanding Ones Own Pitfalls to Correct Interpretation First: Be aware that you are much more likely to fall prey to bad interpretations if you already agree, or believe the conclusion that the speaker, the writer, etc is trying to prove. As a corollary, it is very easy to see things or to expand on what the Bible says when we are trying to buttress our own conclusions. People want to be able to say the Bible says and to make it say more than it really says. Finally, just because the approach to the passage is wrong does not mean that the conclusion is wrong, although it should be more highly scrutinized

4 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship What is meaning? Many people believe that in order to understand scripture, it requires some sort of mystical ability. The scripture (as being a divinely inspired text) is often viewed that it must have deeper meaning. There are two parties in any communication: an originator and a recipient. Communication involves the participation of both. The originator expressing meaning and the recipient understanding that meaning in the current context based upon common rules of language and the accepted meaning of words. Therefore, the understanding of the recipient is a significant factor in establishing the meaning of communication. Tony Garland The ability to correctly interpret scripture is the same as reading any other work. While ones own natural abilities, combined with experience and practice will improve the quality of the insights that one makes, the discipline of scripture interpretation is something in which every Christian should engage.

5 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Concurrence/Post Hoc A. Post hoc: This version of the fallacy presupposes that just because one event precedes another event the first event must be the cause of the second event. Hence the Latin name: Post hoc ergo propter hoc ("after this, therefore on account of this"). Obviously, mere temporal succession is not a sufficient condition to establish a causal connection. Nevertheless, this kind of reasoning is quite common and lies behind most forms of superstition. (A precedes B; therefore A is the cause of B). Sequence alone is no proof of consequence. Temporal Coincidence: In this type of the Non causa version of False cause the arguer claims a causal connection between two events or facts on the basis of their temporal coincidence or concurrence. But simply because two events happen to occur at approximately the same time is insufficient grounds for concluding that they are causally related.

6 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Concurrence Concurrence Fallacy To use the concurrence fallacy, one implies a causal relationship between two coincidental premises that are unrelated or only loosely related. Whenever I drink more than three mixed drinks, I meet the most beautiful women. Drinking must make me more attractive. A B BA

7 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Examples 1. Nervous entrepreneur: Ever since we stopped going to church on Sunday, business has been progressively getting worse. If we want to avoid bankruptcy we better start going to church again. 2. Devout child: Prayer works. Every time there is a storm I pray that our house will be spared, and not once have we been hit by lightning. 3. Real estate agent: Ms. Aquarius sold all three of her houses quickly because she placed the "For Sale" signs out at the exact time advised by her astrologer. 4. Superstitious supermodel: I couldnt help myself, I watched the Victorias Secret prime time presentation on TV a few weeks ago. I was so angry one of the models had a better figure than mine that I secretly wished she were dead. Two days later I saw on Entertainment Tonight that she had been hospitalized with a severe case of the inhalation anthrax virus. According to ET, the authorities suspect she was exposed to the virus during her frequent visits to Sen. Daschles office. Now I feel really, really bad. How will I live with myself if she doesnt survive?

8 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Examples 19th-century English social reformer: I have observed that every sober and industrious farmer owns at least one or two cows. Those who have none are usually drunken and lazy. Therefore, I recommend giving a cow to any farmer who has none, in order to make him sober and industrious. 1. Member of Congress: My dear colleagues, it is time to put an end to the importation of bananas. I have recently studied statistics covering the past forty years and I note with horror that the increase in the incidence of tuberculosis in our country runs almost exactly parallel to the increase in the volume of bananas imported here from Central America. We owe it to our constituents to ban once and for all the root cause of this terrible malady that afflicts so many of our countrymen. 2. Law enforcement official: 3. Concerned parent: More and more young people are attending colleges today than ever before. Yet there is more juvenile delinquency and more alienation among the youth of America. Clearly, their educators are corrupting these young people. Perhaps we should carefully consider the ancient Athenian solution to this Socratic problem. 4. Republican strategist: Under President Wilson we entered WW I, during President Roosevelts administration we became embroiled in WW II, with President Truman came the Korean War, and President Kennedy got us into the Vietnam War. Clearly, we should think twice before voting for a democrat in the 2000 election.

9 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Example Glyphosate as a Cause for Autism A major missing link in the search for what's triggering a massive spike in autism rates appears to be the world's best-selling weedkiller, Roundup. Dr. Stephanie Seneff from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been studying the autism issue for several decades, and her copious research has led her to the almost undeniable conclusion that glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, is a major driver of autism. What was once an extremely rare health condition now afflicts roughly 1 in 68 children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And if things continue down the current path, says Dr. Seneff, nearly half of all children born in the year 2025 will be born with autism, which can result when the the gut microbiome of humans is destroyed, which depletes the body of needed minerals and can exacerbates the toxicity of other chemicals, including those added to vaccines.

10 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Concurrence ATI Wisdom Booklet Is there a connection implied in the passage that the reason Daniel received spiritual insight was because of fasting? In fact, what does the angel say why he came? Is spiritual insight something that we can harness? What does the scripture say about the prophets and their prophecies? B A BA

11 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Concurrence KJVHe staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; NKJV He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, NLT Abraham never wavered in believing Gods promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. NIV Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ESV No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, HCSBHe did not waver in unbelief at Gods promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, Bonus points for the misquote and shift of meaning/idiosyncratic definition The key issue here is that the verse does not imply that A causes B. It is reasonable to suppose that A & B happen simultaneously, but that does not imply a causality. If anything, the text would seem to be the opposite growing stronger in faith causes one to give greater glory to God as in the NLT. Notice how the example implies that the promise of God to Abraham was no different than getting in ones head that they will be a millionaire, or have cancer cured A B

12 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Concurrence This is an interesting one. Ive labeled it as concurrence, since it is not clear from most of the passages that the thing he says causes the other textually, with the exception of the tithing. It also is really out of context passages. But it raises the question, what is the expression windows of heaven Is it merely the invisible? It talks about the rain in Genesis Is it only blessing? The rain was a curse. Isa 24:18 isnt included There are times when God makes it clear the work that Hes doing but isnt it hubris to say that these are things that we control? But textually, isnt there also some shift of meaning taking many passages with different usages and then only applying a formula to it? Jack Hyles - Windows of Heaven II Kings 7:2,19Concurrence Isa 24:18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

13 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Shift of Meaning Equivocation occurs when a key word is used with two or more different meanings in the same argument. Supporters of the Alpha Institute properly employ the institute's trademarks in all written works referencing the institute. People who do not properly employ the institute's trademarks are not supportive of the institute. The original premise is true only of ideal supporters. While ideally everyone would properly display the appropriate trademarks, not doing so does not make them unsupportive. Equivocation ("to call by the same name") is an informal logical fallacy. It is the misleading use of a term with more than one meaning or sense (by glossing over which meaning is intended at a particular time). It generally occurs with polysemic words (words with multiple meanings).informallogical fallacymeaningsensepolysemic Albeit in common parlance it is used in a variety of contexts, when discussed as a fallacy, equivocation only occurs when the arguer makes a word or phrase employed in two (or more) different senses in an argument appear to have the same meaning throughout A feather is light. What is light cannot be dark. Therefore, a feather cannot be dark. "Do women need to worry about man-eating sharks? "Nothing is better than" Margarine is better than nothing. Nothing is better than butter. Therefore, margarine is better than butter.

14 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Shift of Meaning Jack Hyles From Matthew Henry: "Take heed of anger and ungoverned passions. Be you angry, and sin not,' v. 26. This is borrowed from the Septuagint translation of Ps. 4:4, where we render it, Stand in awe, and sin not. Here is an easy concession; for as such we should consider it, rather than as a command. Be you angry. This we are apt enough to be, God knows: but we find it difficult enough to observe the restriction, and sin not. "If you have a just occasion to be angry at any time, see that it be without sin; and therefore take heed of excess in your anger.' If we would be angry and not sin (says one), we must be angry at nothing but sin; and we should be more jealous for the glory of God than for any interest or reputation of our own.Ps. 4:4

15 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Shift of Meaning Notice in this text how Benny uses the word out. But he latches on one particular use or sense of the word and makes that his hinge on which his reading of the text works for him. Benny Hinn, Out, not down

16 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Idiosyncratic Definitions Jack Hyles Stand means dont change You may argue that theres an aspect of not changing. But textually, what is the definition that is most correct? If we say that we must stand in place, firm and unwavering to do this then the text would say that we have our loins girt about with truth. If we are to be firm, then we must consider whether we are in danger of not being firm. If we must have truth as part of what we need to be firm and to not give ground to the devil, then, necessarily we must always be submitting ourselves to the Word of God, rooting out the error that we discover for who of us can say that we have all truth. If on the other hand we say that we must not change and this is what it means to stand, then if we change our beliefs and our understanding, we are giving way to the devil. If this is true, how is a believer to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? Stand verb (dictionary) have or maintain an upright position, supported by one's feet. (strongs) to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set (strongs) of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver to not change Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

17 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Spiritualizing the text / Faulty Analogy Scriptural Confusion - Words are elastic and their meanings can be changed after-the-fact and even be completely inverted. Gods numerous OT prophecies and promises concerning Jerusalem and Israel are now reinterpreted to mean something else entirely. If we were to adopt the preterist interpretation, we could only conclude that in their original context such prophesies were misleading and even downright misrepresentations, for the way they were understood in the common language of the prophet and his listeners was not their true meaning.42 Dangerous Teachings - The inversion of meaning associated with various passages results in all sorts of unscriptural beliefs which can lead the believer, without even being aware of it, into a position in opposition to Gods will. For example, those who believe that the Church is the new Israel are likely to stand opposed to the true Israel in her claims based on Gods OT promises. Such believers stand opposed to Gods heritage (Jer. 50:11; Joel 3:2)! Denial of Gods Word - Gods promises no longer are reliable. If promises concerning the literal city Babylon and the literal nation Israel in the OT no longer apply to these same entities, but now are to be understood in an entirely new waynot just broader, but in a way which denies the meaning of the original context, then what confidence can we have in Gods promises to us? How do we know that eternal life is really eternal? How do we know the New Jerusalem is in fact a real city and as glorious as the NT describes? If we use similar interpretive techniques as the preterist, we may just find when we get to heaven that what God said in the NTbased upon the common rules of language and the context of the recipients is not at all what He meant. Assigning such malleable meaning to the words of Scripture undermines the promises of Scripture and maligns the nature of God. It is no small matter! Harold CampingRevelation 18Spiritualizing the Text

18 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Harold Camping Faulty Analogy

19 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship The danger of analogies Faulty Analogy Overextension of analogies http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/scenario/analogy.htm Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you (Hosea 10:12).

20 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

21 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship

22 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship False equivalence is a logical fallacy that describes a situation where there is a logical and apparent equivalence, but when in fact there is none. This fallacy is categorized as a fallacy of inconsistency. [1] It would be the antonym of the mathematical concept of material equivalence.logical fallacy [1]antonymmaterial equivalence Composition Fallacy Poop = Enterovirus = Beards Jerusalem = Great City = Babylon Similarity does not make identity!

23 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Passage does not support argument Persecuted Us

24 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Selected Examples Cherry picking, suppressing evidence, or the fallacy of incomplete evidence is the act of pointing to individual cases or data that seem to confirm a particular position, while ignoring a significant portion of related cases or data that may contradict that position. It is a kind of fallacy of selective attention, the most common example of which is the confirmation bias. Cherry picking may be committed intentionally or unintentionally. Achan and his sin: Hidden Sins, Damaged Lives Sermon shared by Jerry Fenter Joshua 7:1-7:26 Lesson # 1: Were extremely vulnerable to temptation in moments of apparent success. Here we have an example of sin that caused Keiran MurphyJoshua 7Selected Examples And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

25 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Non-Sequitur Begins with a premise, gives an example, that does not match or demonstrate the premise, but claims that it does. The definition: a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Bonus points: idiosyncratic definitions. There are several definitions: the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality: something that is fair and just: Law. Also called chancery. the application of the dictates of conscience or the principles of natural justice to the settlement of controversies. Also called chancery. a system of jurisprudence or a body of doctrines and rules developed in England and followed in the U.S., serving to supplement and remedy the limitations and the inflexibility of the common law. an equitable or legally valid right or claim.equitable equity of redemptionequity of redemption.

26 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Non Sequitur Gothard Mat 14:21And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

27 Sovereign Christ Bible Fellowship Benny Hinn Non Sequitur Benny HinnLuke 16:10Non-Sequitur Luk 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luk 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. Mr. Hinn makes the wild logical leap that faithfulness, which in the context of Luke 19 is when Christ comes into his kingdom, is somehow connected with an increase in anointing. Youll notice anointing is not present in the passage, and cannot be made to be in the passage, and yet this text is supposedly used as support for an increase in anointing. Bonus Points: Extra points given for noticing the large leap in texts from Luke 16:10 and Luke 19:17. Neither passage is put into context.

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A Discussion of Hermeneutics Paul Biedler 07/19/2015