The written Word of God is accomplished with the medium of writing. This writing is a restrictive text; if the things the writing reveals were seen in live action, much more information could possibly be obtained. Dr. Heiser points out that those things you miss (if seen in live action) matter a great deal to the interpretation of the event and how you understand it [1]. Accordingly, the interpreter misses vocal and facial inflection and expression, and the things discerned through body language.
Dr. Heiser attributes all of real life participation and the things received through the association of live action greatly affects the interpretation assigned to it [2]. Professional Theologists are greatly affected by this association with their own actions, as they go into the worldly places, and teach the things of God. The more exposed Professional Theologists are to real time, real life situations, the more their body language and inflection contribute to the interpretation of their efforts to declare Scriptural Truths.
Scripture interpretation involves complications to understanding context because the expressions are only written, not viewed. Visual clues like body language set a context for interpretation. Inflection, tone, and expression identify the content of the words according to Dr. Heiser [3]. When words are just read off of a page or a screen, and not connected to the more expressive live action identifiers, some context is lost. That affects how much the content can be understood, and steers the interpretation to places that might not fully reflect the live action that the words attempt to record.
Professional Theologists must deal with the written Word of God in two different ways. The first is to interpret Scripture as closely to God's Truth as possible; sometimes this requires a wrestling with the Word with an active visualization of the hidden expressions and activities that might be invisible but present in the words. Secondly, as they teach the Word to those within the world, the medium of presentation matters a great deal. The written word in a book, the pithy word in a blog, the informative word in the website, all limit the reader more than does a live performance, lecture, or film created to reveal that Truth. But, the written word medium also serves as a benefit to the worldly readers, who have little time in their life to attend lengthy lectures, and are more apt to receive information that is imparted to them in tiny bits. Professional Theologists must weigh the limitations and benefits of a medium to discern which is most expressive of God’s Truth with the specific audiences they are tasked to train.
Bibliography
Heiser, Michael S. BI101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources: LOGOS Bible Software.
Footnotes
[1] Michael S. Heiser, BI101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources (LOGOS Bible Software).
[2] Ibid., 00:50.
[3] Ibid., 1:56.
Links
About the Author
Kathy L. McFarland is President and Founder of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. and the Becker Professional Theology Academy. She is also a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, is on track for the Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School in 2016 and will be seeking a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology and Apologetics beginning in the fall of 2016. She is the originator of the newest theological movement to encourage Christian leaders to minister within the modern-day marketplace as Professional Theologists. She is also the Curriculum Developer for Becker Professional Theology Academy and a teaching faculty member. Kathy's favorite studies to teach include the connections between Old Testament exegesis, Christian Apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.
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