how to read the Bible probably still be seen as such
2. Matters of indifference are cultural rather than inherently moral (even if they come from religious culture)
3. The sin-lists 5 in the Epistles
name principles rather than specific first century issues
problem 3 - cultural relativity The Bible is a text of eternal importance written during a particular time in history. Do some issues, which appear to have modern day comparables, need to be translated into our times or simply left out? There is no divinely ordained culture, so we cannot simply live as in the first century. But how and where do we draw the line? Here are some guidelines: 1. Decide on the core message of the Bible: the Cross is core but not the holy kiss6
2. Distinguish what the New Testament sees as distinctly moral
3. Be aware where the New Testament reflects differences7 in teaching and where it is consistent: differences may indicate cultural issues
4. Distinguish between principles and specific applications
5. Determine the cultural options that would have been open to the New Testament writers8 but with great care! If the
nucleus easter ‘09
writers have only one cultural option open to them and they affirm it in the text then the likelihood of that issue being ‘culturally relative’ increases. Homosexuality was both affirmed and condemned in general society during the first century, yet the New Testament is consistently against it. This is unlikely to be a culturally relative issue
6. Be aware of possible cultural differences between the first and 21st centuries. For example, consider the position women held then before reading the various passages speaking on the role of women9
7. Recognise the difficulty of this process and be humble to each other when tackling these tough issues
problem 4 - task theology Sound exegesis is crucial when learning theology from the Epistles, because the theology is task oriented rather than systematically presented. Even then, our theological understanding is limited by the fact that the Epistles are written for specific situations. So beyond what the text says, ‘everything else is mere speculation’.10
The other problem is when we ask our questions of texts written for
specific situations, which only answer their questions. To deal with contemporary issues (such as abortion), ‘we must attempt to bring a biblical worldview to the problem’.11
conclusion To answer the hermeneutical questions, we must look at God’s Word to them before we examine his Word to us. After all, we do not treat every patient with acute abdominal pain for appendicitis reflexively. We use their history (the context) to inform our treatment. Interpreting God’s Word is no different; we must come to the conclusion sensibly and consistently.
Siôn Glaze is a clinical student at Cardiff University
REFERENCES 1.
Ip H. How to read the Bible for all its worth - introduction: the need to interpret. Nucleus 2006; Autumn:36-39
2. Fee GD et al. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3rd ed. Zondervan. 2003:74 Ibid:75
3.
4. 1 Corinthians 8:10 5. eg Romans 1:29-31 6. Romans 16:16 7. eg compare 1 Corinthians 11:5 with 1 Timothy 2:12
8.
Glaze S. How to read the Bible for all its worth - the Epistles: learning to think contextually. Nucleus 2008; Christmas:40-41
9. eg 1 Timothy 2:9-15 10. Fee GD et al. Op cit:86 11.
Ibid:87 39
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