HermeneuticsHermeneutics

Bridging the Cultural GapBridging the Cultural Gap

Quote by John F. JohnsonQuote by John F. Johnson

““Understanding the Bible properly Understanding the Bible properly requires that we clear our minds of requires that we clear our minds of all ideas, opinions, and systems of all ideas, opinions, and systems of our own day and attempt to put our own day and attempt to put ourselves into the times and ourselves into the times and surroundings of the Apostles and surroundings of the Apostles and Prophets who wrote” (John F. Prophets who wrote” (John F. Johnson, as quoted by Zuck, p. 77).Johnson, as quoted by Zuck, p. 77).

Definition of CultureDefinition of Culture

““Webster defines ‘culture’ as ‘the Webster defines ‘culture’ as ‘the total pattern of human behavior [that total pattern of human behavior [that includes] thought, speech, action, includes] thought, speech, action, and artifacts,’ and as ‘the customary and artifacts,’ and as ‘the customary beliefs, social forms, and material beliefs, social forms, and material traits . . . of a racial, religious, or traits . . . of a racial, religious, or social group.’ Thus culture includes social group.’ Thus culture includes what people what people thinkthink and believe, and believe, saysay, , dodo, and , and makemake” (Zuck, p. 79).” (Zuck, p. 79).

Some Preliminary Some Preliminary Questions That Help Bridge Questions That Help Bridge

the Cultural Gapthe Cultural Gap Who wrote the book?Who wrote the book? At what time was it written?At what time was it written?

What revelation had already been given by this What revelation had already been given by this time?time?

What prompted the author to write the What prompted the author to write the book? What problems, situations, or book? What problems, situations, or needs was he addressing?needs was he addressing?

What is the message of the book as a What is the message of the book as a whole?whole?

To whom was the book written, that is, To whom was the book written, that is, who were the original readers?who were the original readers?

Categories and Examples of Categories and Examples of Cultural ContextCultural Context

Political (including national, international, and Political (including national, international, and civil)civil) Jonah’s reluctance to go to Nineveh.Jonah’s reluctance to go to Nineveh.

ReligiousReligious The 10 plagues which God brought on Egypt (Exodus The 10 plagues which God brought on Egypt (Exodus

12:12)12:12) EconomicEconomic

“For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked” (Eliphaz accusing Job in Job 22:6).

LegalLegal Law of the Medes and Persians in Dan 6Law of the Medes and Persians in Dan 6

AgriculturalAgricultural Comparison of wicked to chaff in Psa 1:4Comparison of wicked to chaff in Psa 1:4

ArchitecturalArchitectural Lowering of the paralytic through the roof in Mark 2:1-Lowering of the paralytic through the roof in Mark 2:1-

1212

Categories and Examples of Categories and Examples of Cultural ContextCultural Context

ClothingClothing The command to “gird the loins of your mind” in The command to “gird the loins of your mind” in

1 Peter 1:13 1 Peter 1:13 DomesticDomestic

Foolishness of the 5 virgins who took no extra oil Foolishness of the 5 virgins who took no extra oil for their lamps in Matt 25:1-13for their lamps in Matt 25:1-13

GeographicGeographic Going up to Jerusalem (even when it is to the Going up to Jerusalem (even when it is to the

South)South) MilitaryMilitary

“They mock at kings, And rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress, And cheap up rubble to capture it” (Hab 1:10).

Armor of God in Ephesians 6Armor of God in Ephesians 6

Categories and Examples of Categories and Examples of Cultural Context: SocialCultural Context: Social

Sources for Cultural Sources for Cultural BackgroundBackground

Bible Dictionaries and EncyclopediasBible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias CommentariesCommentaries Specialized books such as Specialized books such as The New The New

Manners and Customs of Bible Manners and Customs of Bible TimesTimes

The Bible ItselfThe Bible Itself

The Issue of Culture in The Issue of Culture in ApplicationApplication

Are some passages of the Bible limited to Are some passages of the Bible limited to that day by their cultural setting and that day by their cultural setting and therefore not transferable to our culture, therefore not transferable to our culture, or is everything we read in the Scriptures or is everything we read in the Scriptures normative for us today?normative for us today?

If some passages are limited to the If some passages are limited to the setting of their own day, how do we setting of their own day, how do we determine which are normative and determine which are normative and which are not?which are not?

Exercises are p. 91.Exercises are p. 91.

Zuck’s Principles for Zuck’s Principles for Determining Determining

“Transferability”“Transferability” Some situations, commands, or Some situations, commands, or

principles are repeatable, continuous, or principles are repeatable, continuous, or not revoked, and/or pertain to moral and not revoked, and/or pertain to moral and theological subjects, and/or are repeated theological subjects, and/or are repeated elsewhere in Scripture, and therefore elsewhere in Scripture, and therefore are permanent and transferable to us. are permanent and transferable to us. Examples:Examples: Capital punishmentCapital punishment Trust in the Lord (Pro 3:5-6)Trust in the Lord (Pro 3:5-6) Command to be humble (e.g. 1 Pet 5:6)Command to be humble (e.g. 1 Pet 5:6)

Zuck’s Principles for Zuck’s Principles for Determining Determining

“Transferability”“Transferability” Some situations, commands, or principles Some situations, commands, or principles

pertain to an individual’s specific non-pertain to an individual’s specific non-repeatable circumstances, and/or non-moral or repeatable circumstances, and/or non-moral or non-theological subjects, and/or have been non-theological subjects, and/or have been revoked, and are therefore not transferable to revoked, and are therefore not transferable to us today. us today. Examples:Examples: Paul’s command to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:11-13 to Paul’s command to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:11-13 to

bring his cloak and scrolls.bring his cloak and scrolls. The Lord’s command to Abraham to sacrifice his The Lord’s command to Abraham to sacrifice his

firstborn son (Gen 22).firstborn son (Gen 22). The Mosaic Law codeThe Mosaic Law code

The Bible is its own authority, including the The Bible is its own authority, including the authority to set limits on practices which are authority to set limits on practices which are limited for a time or particular situation and limited for a time or particular situation and which are not.which are not.

Zuck’s Principles for Zuck’s Principles for Determining Determining

“Transferability”“Transferability” Some situations or commands Some situations or commands

pertain to cultural settings that are pertain to cultural settings that are only partially similar to ours and in only partially similar to ours and in which only the principles are which only the principles are transferable. transferable. What are the principles What are the principles that remain binding for:that remain binding for: The holy kissThe holy kiss Not eating meat sacrificed to idolsNot eating meat sacrificed to idols

Zuck’s Principles for Zuck’s Principles for Determining Determining

“Transferability”“Transferability” Some situations or commands Some situations or commands

pertain to cultural settings with no pertain to cultural settings with no similarities but in which the similarities but in which the principles are transferable.principles are transferable. The sinful woman with the expensive The sinful woman with the expensive

perfumeperfume Moses’ removal of his sandalsMoses’ removal of his sandals Head coverings for womenHead coverings for women

Guidelines for Determining Guidelines for Determining Whether a Practice Is Whether a Practice Is

Culture-bound or Culture-bound or TransculturalTranscultural

See if the behavior in the biblical culture See if the behavior in the biblical culture means something different in our means something different in our culture (e.g. head coverings, holy kiss, culture (e.g. head coverings, holy kiss, foot washing).foot washing).

If the behavior does mean something If the behavior does mean something different, determine the timeless different, determine the timeless principle expressed in that practice principle expressed in that practice (submission, friendliness/affection, (submission, friendliness/affection, humility in service).humility in service).

Determine how the principle can be Determine how the principle can be expressed in a cultural equivalent.expressed in a cultural equivalent.

Next Week: Next Week: Bridging the Bridging the

Grammatical GapGrammatical Gap