As Christians we keep hearing from the pulpits that the redemptive-historical (christocentric) hermeneutic is the proper way to interpret the scriptures (hermeneutics -> homiletics), and that this is the method that Jesus and the Apostles used. We are told that we need to interpret the bible in light of the New Testament and this method then becomes the lens by which we read the Scriptures, particularly the Old Testament. Not only that, our preaching should be subject to a “christocentric” approach where Christ is read into the Old Testament and every text is subject to Christ. Every pericope then must be seen in light of Christ or the gospel to be functionally relevant to the audience being preached to.
Luke 24:13-27 LSB And behold, two of them were going that same day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. 14 And they were conversing with each other about all these things which had happened. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus Himself approached and was going with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are discussing with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 And one of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a mighty prophet in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 But also some women among us astounded us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and not finding His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also said, but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Cory Marsh, Associate Professor of New Testament at Southern California Seminary is being highlighted on our featured blog today.
Cory has graciously allowed me to share his article titled: “Kingdom Hermeneutic and the Apocalpyse – A Promotion of a Consistent Literal Methodology.” which was posted in the Baptist Bulletin. Cory shared this article in a Facebook group that we both belong to and said the following regarding the article:
“It was nice to see Baptist Bulletin recognize some value in this article I wrote several years ago on the importance of a consistent hermeneutic for the Book of Revelation, and the dispensationalism to which such an approach inevitably leads. They were kind enough to secure the rights and re-publish it at a more accessible level. It’s attached for those who are interested.“
My hope is to help others see the importance, like Cory, of a consistent literal methodology when it comes to interpreting all of Scripture.
Abstract: How can the Scriptures stand as the exclusive authority for arriving at a God-given hermeneutic? The Scriptures themselves possess an exclusive hermeneutic that is the only hermeneutic authorized by God for interpreting and preaching the Scriptures themselves—‘the presuppositional hermeneutic.’
I have the opportunity to feature an article written by my brother Nehemiah Ryan called: “An Evaluation of Non-Dispensational Hermeneutical Presuppositions.”
