DISPENSATIONAL HERMENEUTICS THE GRAMMATICO – HISTORICAL METHOD
What makes someone a dispensationalist? While many view Dispensationalism as a mere theological system, this assessment is inaccurate. In actuality, Dispensationalism has more to do with commitment to a particular hermeneutic then it does to adherence to a theological model. The Dispensational Theological System arises out of a hermeneutic rather than from a theology imposed upon Scripture.
First, the literal, grammatical, historical hermeneutic will be defined.
Second, it will be shown that the literal, grammatical, historical hermeneutic is the same approach used in ordinary communication.
Third, it will be established that Dispensationalism is simply the outworking of an application of this interpretive approach to the totality of biblical revelation.
First, the literal, grammatical, historical hermeneutic will be defined.
Second, it will be shown that the literal, grammatical, historical hermeneutic is the same approach used in ordinary communication.
Third, it will be established that Dispensationalism is simply the outworking of an application of this interpretive approach to the totality of biblical revelation.
Literal Interpretation
The dictionary defines literal interpretation as that type of interpretation that is “based on the actual words in their ordinary meaning…not going beyond the facts.”
Two concepts seem to be in view.
First, literal interpretation encompasses the idea of assigning to every word the same meaning it would have in its normal usage, whether employed in speaking, writing, or thinking.
Second, literalism resists going beyond what is written. Because literalism resists “going beyond the facts,” when interpreting a given text, literal interpreters resist the temptation to import foreign ideas from outside the text.
Two concepts seem to be in view.
First, literal interpretation encompasses the idea of assigning to every word the same meaning it would have in its normal usage, whether employed in speaking, writing, or thinking.
Second, literalism resists going beyond what is written. Because literalism resists “going beyond the facts,” when interpreting a given text, literal interpreters resist the temptation to import foreign ideas from outside the text.
Grammatical Interpretation
Grammatical interpretation observes the impact that grammar plays in any given text. Thus, bible interpreters must correctly analyze the relationship that words, phrases, or sentences have toward one another. Such an analysis entails the study of lexicology (meaning of words), morphology (form of words), parts of speech (function of words), and syntax (relationship of words).
Historical Interpretation
Historical interpretation takes into account historical context, setting, and circumstances in which the words of Scripture were written.
Philosophy
Why should biblical interpreters employ the literal, grammatical, historical method of interpretation?
J. Dwight Pentecost cites four dangers when such an approach is not used.
First and foremost, the authority transfers from the text to the interpreter. In other words, the basic authority in interpretation ceases to be the Scriptures, but rather the mind of the interpreter.
Second, the Scripture itself is not being interpreted. The issue becomes not what God has spoken but what the interpreter thinks.
Third, one is left without any means by which the conclusions of the interpreter may be tested. When the objective standard of language’s common meaning is dispensed with, one man’s personal interpretation becomes just as valid as anyone else’s.
Fourth, there is no mechanism to control the imagination of the interpreter.
J. Dwight Pentecost cites four dangers when such an approach is not used.
First and foremost, the authority transfers from the text to the interpreter. In other words, the basic authority in interpretation ceases to be the Scriptures, but rather the mind of the interpreter.
Second, the Scripture itself is not being interpreted. The issue becomes not what God has spoken but what the interpreter thinks.
Third, one is left without any means by which the conclusions of the interpreter may be tested. When the objective standard of language’s common meaning is dispensed with, one man’s personal interpretation becomes just as valid as anyone else’s.
Fourth, there is no mechanism to control the imagination of the interpreter.
Consistent Literalism
What makes Dispensationalism unique as a theological system is not merely its emphasis upon a literal, grammatical, historical hermeneutic. Many theological systems selectively incorporate this hermeneutic. Rather, Dispensationalism remains unique in its insistence in consistently applying this literal hermeneutic to the totality of biblical revelation.