Seven Keys To Understanding Scripture

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By Tremper Longman on January 1, 2010 ,

Seven Keys To Understanding Scripture

Everyone who reads the Bible interprets the text. Unfortunately, however, the Bible is not always easy to understand. Even when the text seems straightforward, we may feel uncertain that our interpretation is right. All of us want to treat the Word of God with the respect it deserves, and we certainly don't want to read into it things that are not there. For these reasons, we need to apply the basic principles of hermeneutics—the science of interpretation—as we read the text.

Many believers already apply these principles just by using common sense. Indeed, they are simply principles of good reading. Though the Bible is a unique book in many ways, many of the rules for interpreting the Bible are rules for interpreting any book. . .

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Tremper Longman

Professor and Theologian

Tremper Longman III, Professor and Theologian, is the Distinguished Scholar of Biblical Studies at Westmont College, visiting professor of Old Testament at Seattle School of Theology and Psychology and adjunct of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary. He earned a Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary and completed a doctorate in ancient Near Eastern studies at Yale University. He has authored over thirty books including interdisciplinary works and textbooks. Titles include Science, Creation and the Bible: Reconciling Rival Theories of Origins; How to Read Genesis; Intimate Allies; How to Read the Psalms; How to Read Proverbs and Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation. He is one of the main translators of the New Living Translation and has consulted on other translations.

 

Notice: This material is made available for limited use to participants of the C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows programs. Please do not reproduce any of the materials in the Fellows Resources other than for your personal use.

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