BBI Part Four

Some of the followers of this blog may be getting a bit antsy about ever getting to the "meaning" of the interpretive process.  Read, ask questions, read again?  What kind of interpretation is this?

BBI Part Four: Look For Answers

Having now accomplished the task of identifying critical questions to understanding the text in question, it is time to move into the "research" mode. Research is defined as "the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions." (Apple Dictionary 2.1.3)  The questions that remain need to be answered and research is the first step toward obtaining relevant and accurate information.

The first course of action is to try to distinguish or categorize the questions into various groups.  These might be 'historical' questions that try to find out specific information, e.g. how long is a cubit.  There might be other questions, depending on the text chosen, that ask about where the writer got the information or why one passage doesn't seem to coordinate with another passage you know, e.g. the books of Kings and Chronicles.  Other questions will be of a devotional nature and will take reflection and meditation to discover an answer.

Begin by finding answers to the historical questions as they serve as a basis for biblical interpretation.  If you need to know a name, check out a 'biblical names' source, if it is a city try a biblical atlas.  Find out as much of the factual details you can since a wrong presupposition here, e.g. Jerusalem is south of Bethlehem, will lead you astray for many years to come. It should be noted that there is often disagreement about where a city might be located or what a name might mean, but the majority of historical questions are relatively easily answered.

The second type of questions mentioned are more difficulty.  For questions of this sort, you probably are going to need to read what other people have said about the passage under consideration.  The unreliable source is usually fond on the internet.  This does not mean that every internet source is erroneous, but many are not judicial in expressing their opinions fairly in light of opposing opinions.  The normal place to look is a book or electronic resource you might actually have to pay money for!  The free sites are free for a reason.  Matthew Henry commentary was written in the late 1700s and is not noted for provided recent opinions on the text.  While it might be suitable for the next set of questions it is not suitable here.  Commentary series vary and hardcover ones normally outperform paperback ones (it may have to do with the investment of the publisher to print good information). This is a more difficult section because only time and repeated attempts will help you discover where you can find good, reliable information.

Finally, devotional questions.  Some of you may be thinking: "this guy is finally getting spiritual!!!" The point is not that I am finally getting spiritual, but I am providing stages for developing and attuning the spirit and mind!!!  Far too many 'spiritual' interpretations have proven false when the information they were based on was found to be invalid!!!  One need only look at various translations of 1 Cor 7.1 and how they punctuate the second half of the verse.  Since Jesus once said "I am the way the truth and the life" it might be useful to base any understanding of Jesus on truth rather than folly, or on fact rather than rumor.  (Readers will be glad to note that I did not include a non sequitur just to create a list of three comparatives.)

Having established that devotional questions should be answered later rather than sooner, these devotional questions are a great time to begin journaling and writing down further questions that serve to clarify the direction of spiritual inquiry. This will require more of that which you thought the others required: time.  To answer devotional questions, one may even need to communicate with other believers and ask them questions to find answers consistent with the Spirit of God's direction.

Once the questions have been answered, it is on to Part Five!