Theses on Hermeneutics

Abstract

Although hermeneutics is concerned with much more than the interpretation of Scripture, a glance at New Testament occurrences of hermeneu6 and related words is instructive. In four places (In 1,38.42; 9,7; Heb 7,2) the verb refers to the translation into Greek of Hebrew names or titles. In one place (Lk 24,27) it refers to the risen Jesus explaining the Scriptures to Cleopas and his companion. Here some early manuscripts use the compound (possibly stronger) form diermeneu6, which in Acts 9,36 means "translate". A special use is found in Paul: in I Corinthians he uses diermerzeu6 (12,30; 14,5.13.27), hermenia (variant spelling of hermerzeia, 12,10; 14,26), and hermeneutes (interpreter, 14,28) in connection with the translation or interpretation of glossolalia. Whether one speaks of this as translation or interpretation will largely depend on whether one understands glossolalia as speaking in an unknown language, or as uttering sounds in which meaning is discovered by the interpreter.