Concepts of Authority

Who Is Herman?

Inside Jokes

There are only 10 types of people in this world: those who understand binary, and those who don’t.

Regular Joe overhearing two theologians talking about Hermeneutics. “I don’t know who this Herman guy is, but he sure seems to be trying to make Bible study complicated!”

Definition: Hermeneutics

The study of the methodological principles of interpretation (as of the Bible)

(hermeneutical - Greek hermeneutikso, fr. hermēneuein to interpret, fr. hermēneus interpreter)

Principles of Interpretation are simple

• Based upon a an acceptance of the claims the Bible makes for itself

– 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21

• We must accept the following:– The Bible is inspired (plenary & verbal)– The Bible contains God’s will for man– The Bible contains all of God’s will– The Bible is sufficient for man– Man has no authority/ability to direct

himself

Foundational Principle of Bible Interpretation

God Has Spoken to Man!

• Directly– Explicit statements made to man

• Indirectly– By use of examples and implication

There are only two ways for God (through the written word) to communicate His will to mankind:

Direct / Indirect Instruction: Lord’s Supper

• Direct – An Explicit Statement– L.S. Instituted (cf. Mt. 26; Mk. 14; Lk. 22)– (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

1 Corinthians 11:23-28For I received from the Lord that which I

also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Direct / Indirect Instruction: Lord’s Supper

• Direct – An Explicit Statement– L.S. Instituted (cf. Mt. 26; Mk. 14; Lk. 22)– (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

• Indirect – An Approved Example– The Day of Observance (in Kingdom)– (Acts 20:7) “first day of the week”

Acts 20:7Now on the first day of the week,

when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Direct / Indirect Instruction: Lord’s Supper

• Direct – An Explicit Statement– L.S. Instituted (cf. Mt. 26; Mk. 14; Lk. 22)– (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)

• Indirect – An Approved Example– The Day of Observance (in Kingdom)– (Acts 20:7) “first day of the week”

• Indirect – An Implication– Frequency of Observation (Every first

day)– (cf. – Exodus 20:8)

Exodus 20:8Remember the Sabbath day,

to keep it holy.

A failure to observe any of the 52 Sabbaths that occurred each year was punishable by stoning.

“...Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” (31:15)

Conclusion• The methodology we use to interpret

the Bible (hermeneutics) is not arbitrary or contrived. It is a logical extension of written communication

• Jesus used the concept of implication to prove the resurrection from Jehovah’s words, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (cf. Mt. 22:32)

• We use the same with our civil laws, (statement, precedent and argumentation)