Correct method of correctly interpreting the Sacred Text

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StMarkStLuke983

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Correct method of correctly interpreting the Sacred Text

What would be the Biblically based correct method of correct interpretation of Scripture?

Formally, I teach Scripture study at 5 progressive levels: introductory to beginner (not as simple as it sounds), beginner, intermediate, advanced and instructor’s level.

In the beginners level, I teach correct methods of interpretation of Scripture; in other words, I don’t just give a person a fish to feed them for a day (teach them what the Bible teaches), but I also teach a person how to fish to feed them for a lifetime (teach them how to properly discern and correctly interpret the Sacred Text) and I start off with a Biblically based correct method.

Hint: The literalist method is not Biblical and it is also the least accurate method of interpretation known to mankind to spite the fact that Evangelicals and Fundamentalists use nothing but the literalist method. Literalist method < 0.01% accurate quantitatively and harbors almost 0.00% precision qualitatively.

Teaching Scripture study, including proper Biblical exegesis is beyond the scope of this forum, but I would invite anyone who has any interest or knowledge of proper discernment to share his or her views and opinions on the matter.

Peace in Christ,
 
**Hint: The literalist method is not Biblical and it is also the least accurate method of interpretation known to mankind to spite the fact that Evangelicals and Fundamentalists use nothing but the literalist method. Literalist method < 0.01% accurate quantitatively and harbors almost 0.00% precision qualitatively.

Teaching Scripture study, including proper Biblical exegesis is beyond the scope of this forum, but I would invite anyone who has any interest or knowledge of proper discernment to share his or her views and opinions on the matter.

Peace in Christ, **

I have been reading and trying to learn the deeper ends of scripture.Since you teach scripture,I have a question for you my brother.

You said the literalist method is not Biblical? Now is that applicable to John 6 when Jesus is discussing the Eucharist/Living Bread?
 
StMarkStLuke983 said:
Correct method of correctly interpreting the Sacred Text

What would be the Biblically based correct method of correct interpretation of Scripture?

Formally, I teach Scripture study at 5 progressive levels: introductory to beginner (not as simple as it sounds), beginner, intermediate, advanced and instructor’s level.

In the beginners level, I teach correct methods of interpretation of Scripture; in other words, I don’t just give a person a fish to feed them for a day (teach them what the Bible teaches), but I also teach a person how to fish to feed them for a lifetime (teach them how to properly discern and correctly interpret the Sacred Text) and I start off with a Biblically based correct method.

Hint: The literalist method is not Biblical and it is also the least accurate method of interpretation known to mankind to spite the fact that Evangelicals and Fundamentalists use nothing but the literalist method. Literalist method < 0.01% accurate quantitatively and harbors almost 0.00% precision qualitatively.

Teaching Scripture study, including proper Biblical exegesis is beyond the scope of this forum, but I would invite anyone who has any interest or knowledge of proper discernment to share his or her views and opinions on the matter.

Peace in Christ,
Click to expand...
I’m glad you bought this up. Is there a publication, web site, or book that I can reference to help me interpret scripture? I am in complete aggrement with you that most of scripture is not meant to be taken literally. So what can I read or listen to that will help me?

God bless you
 
Thank you for your post!

There is a difference between the literal method versus the literalist method.
The literal method, which Catholics use recognizes that the Divinely inspired writers used a whole variety of literary devices including taking a passage, such as in John 6 literally, but it also recognizes when the Bible uses figures of speech, metaphors, symbols…etc. and it also allows for digging deeper into Scripture for Spiritual meanings including those of a Sacramental nature. It also recognizes that some Christian doctrinal beliefs can span over multiple verses, multiple chapters, multiple books, even span over the entire Bible to get the complete message; the full truth.

The literalist method used to be defined as only take the Bible literally until both evangelicals and fundamentalist had to answer for John 6, now the definition has been modified to take the passage literally if it is convenient, but evangelicals and fundamentalist will perceive passages in the symbolic, figurative or metaphor, such as in John 6, when the literal interpretation is inconvenient.

Another difference between literal and literalist is that the literal method recognizes and respects the proper context of Scripture where the literalist method is either blind to or ignores the proper context.

Does that answer your question?

Peace in Christ,
 
I hope you are familiar with "And God Said What?: An Introduction to Biblical Literary Forms" by Margaret Ralph, Paulist Press. She has been doing what you are doing for many years, at the high school, college, and parish adult education levels. This bok is the textbook for many courses and is quite readable and inexpensive.
 
Dear Avate:

How I learned several years ago about the proper exegesis of the Sacred Text is when I purchased a copy of “Our Father’s Plan”, which is narrated by Jeff Cavins and Dr. Scott Hahn and you can purchase that video (commonly on DVD) from EWTN, The Catholic Company, St. Joseph Communications…etc. Alternately, you can log onto www.ewtn.com and specifically to ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=-306548622&pgnu=
which will give you the audio only version via a free download.

You can also enroll for free for some online courses at St. Paul’s Center for Theological study.

salvationhistory.com/studies/courses/online/covenant_love

and also

salvationhistory.com/studies/courses/online/genesis_to_jesus_a_journey_through_scripture

That should get you started…

Peace in Christ,
 
Dear patg:

I would suggest to you to check out and consider the suggestions I made to Avate.

I will check out your suggestion since I was not aware of it.

I would suggest to you that studying the different literary forms from strictly a grammatical perspective is not enough to properly discern the Sacred Text.

In my experience, where most people become confused is that just because people are sufficient at standard reading skills to read common day literature such as magazines, books, novel, library references…etc. and even if they are an English major does not necessarily mean that they possess all the critical skills necessary to discern the Sacred Text.

God did not present His Word with the same method of presentation and modern day authors do for the above mentioned materials. In fact, he presented it entirely differently.

To know what God’s methods are is what it means to know how to read the Bible.

Peace in Christ,
 
StMarkStLuke983 said:
Dear patg:

I would suggest to you to check out and consider the suggestions I made to Avate.

I will check out your suggestion since I was not aware of it.

I would suggest to you that studying the different literary forms from strictly a grammatical perspective is not enough to properly discern the Sacred Text.

In my experience, where most people become confused is that just because people are sufficient at standard reading skills to read common day literature such as magazines, books, novel, library references…etc. and even if they are an English major does not necessarily mean that they possess all the critical skills necessary to discern the Sacred Text.

God did not present His Word with the same method of presentation and modern day authors do for the above mentioned materials. In fact, he presented it entirely differently.

To know what God’s methods are is what it means to know how to read the Bible.

Peace in Christ,
Click to expand...
That is all handled very thoroughly in the book I suggested (I never have liked the title).
 
The four senses in which you can take Scripture are also good stuff to teach kids.
 
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