Hermeneutics: Knowing and Living the Text

I used to teach biblical hermeneutics at Reformation Bible College. I enjoy all my subjects, but hermeneutics remains a favorite. I especially value the opening sessions where we define a faithful, Christian method for interpreting the Bible. I often start by quoting Augustine from his work On Christian Teaching: So anyone who thinks that he has understood the divine scriptures or any part of them, but cannot by his understanding build up this double love of God and neighbor, has not yet succeeded in understanding them. This quote challenges every interpreter to move past mere head knowledge. We must live out the text. Knowing Scripture truly requires putting it into practice. A person only attains genuine knowledge of God when they embody the life of Christ toward others. I am most impressed when students live rightly in response to the text rather than just interpreting it correctly. It is a vital encouragement when a student uses their understanding to build up love for God and neighbor. Augustine also provides a necessary conviction. We often treasure theology at the expense of Christ Himself as warned in John 5:39. We may crave theological debate instead of intimate fellowship or choose to challenge the honor of others rather than outdo them in honor as Romans 12:10 commands. Such habits frequently appear in seminaries where we are meant to be equipped for love. Hermeneutics is fundamentally relational. Our hearts often drift toward a hollow sort of knowledge. Professors can teach with cold orthodoxy, and students can harbor misguided zeal without realizing it. Many profess love for the Bible while failing to love the God of the Bible or His people. Recognizing this in my own heart makes me grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. He perfectly fulfilled the law to love God and neighbor as shown in Matthew 22:36-40. We are in union with Him by faith alone. We receive Christ as a gift first, then as an example. Martin Luther correctly insisted on this order. We look to the One who lowered Himself for others, and by the Spirit, we find the strength to do the same. This has everything to do with hermeneutics. We often treat Scripture like a gas station, filling up our own tanks and driving away with no concern for the owner or the people around us. Studying Scripture is not merely the acquisition of information. Kelly Kapic correctly asserts that faithful theology is deeply relational. We should not aim to be masters or judges of the text. As Luther argued, Scripture knows only witnesses, disciples, and confessors. We should aim to be faithful disciples who know and love God and our neighbors. Our study should not be about impressing others but about enjoying communion with our Triune Lord. Hermeneutics is an act of relating to the Lord, to our neighbors, and to those who came before us. Understanding it any other way harms the church. May God grant us the grace to be convicted by Augustine and to evaluate whether we have truly understood the Scriptures. #MoreJoyMinistries