Biblical Hermeneutics

Transcription

1 General Rules: Poetry Biblical Hermeneutics General Rules: Poetry General Observation There is no book in the Bible that does not require the ability to interpret poetry to some degree because every book includes some figurative language. Ryken Hermeneutics General Rules: Poetry Literary Interpretation General Principles Genre Principles Prose Poetry Old Test. Narrative New Test. Gospel Rules for Poetry Law Prophecy Poetry Wisdom Acts Epistles Apoc. Hermeneutics General Rules: Poetry

2 Poetry: (1) Dynamics Restrictive rhythm, structure - forces economy of words - requires concrete images for abstractions - seeks vividness for vicarious reading Flexible grammar and syntax - non-sentence lines - non-sentence syntax Rhyme: identical sounds in metered flow - English: opening/ending of poetic lines - Hebrew: opening/ending successive words Just As I Am Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come. I come. Hermeneutics Poetry: Key Principles

3 Rhyme: identical sounds in metered flow - English: opening/ending of poetic lines - Hebrew: opening/ending successive words Meter: syllable accents in metered flow - English: demanding, lock-step flow - Hebrew: free rhythm flexibility Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident Well, I went down to the Grundy County Auction, Where I saw something I just had to have. My mind told me I should proceed with caution; My heart said, Go ahead and make a bid on that! I said, Hey, pretty lady won t you give me a sign, I d give anything to make you mine, oh mine, I d do your biddin and be at your beck and call. Yeah, I ve never seen anyone lookin so fine, Man, I ve gotta have her; she s one of a kind! I m goin once, goin twice, and I m sold To the lady in the second row! She s an eight, she s a nine, she s a ten I know, Ruby red lips, blond hair, blue eyes, And I m about to bid my heart good-bye! Sold, Tonic Sol-Fa Hermeneutics Poetry: Principles Words: poetic manipulation - Assonance: similar vowel sounds in series - Alliteration: similar consonant sounds in series - Word play: pun, repetition, onomatopoeia

4 Poetry: (3) Structure Parallelism: Description - Augmentation in successive lines strengthen, reinforce, develop, define, expand, intensify, compare, contrast achieves dramatizing effect - Structural analysis Stich (basic unit by lines): 2 = distich; 3 = triptych variations in successive sticks Complex relationships possible (grammar, syntax, semantics, phonology) Parallelism: Types - A = B (interchangeable ideas) 1. echoing 2. contrasting - A > B (dependent ideas) 3. subordination (means, reason, time) - A < B (progressive ideas) 4. continuation 5. comparison 6. specification (spatial, explanatory, purpose) 7. intensification Poetry: (3) Structure Parallelism: Examples - A = B (interchangeable): Matt 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light - A > B (dependency: means): Ps 111:6 He has shown his people the power of his works giving them the land of other nations. Chiasm a b χc b a

5 Chiasm - Development by sequence inversion a: b: c: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant b : the oath he swore to our father Abraham a : to rescue us form the hand of our enemies and to enable us to serve him without fear Poetry: (3) Structure Merismus - Inclusion by marking extremities from the least of them to the greatest (Jer 31:34) I am the Alpha and the Omega (Rev 1:8) Inclusio - Framing by repeating beginning, ending O Lord, our Lord, how majestic... (Ps 8:1, 9) I am the Alpha and the Omega (Rev 1:8; 22:13) Language as imagery - Essential function: to picture with words engages imagination and emotion generally called figures of speech - Essential types: simile and metaphor Simile: indirect comparison using like / as Metaphor: direct comparison without like / as - Essential problem: over-interpretation

6 the rocks will cry out wretched man that I am - Apostrophe: direct address as if present - Personification: humanizing if your eye offends the you, non-human pluck it out - Apostrophe: direct address as if present - Hyperbole: exaggeration for effect - Apostrophe: direct Jacob address for as Israel if present - Hyperbole: exaggeration for effect - Metonymy: surrogate idea

7 - Apostrophe: direct address as if present bow for - Hyperbole: exaggeration for effect weaponry - Metonymy: surrogate idea - Synecdoche: whole represented by a part - Apostrophe: direct address as if present - Hyperbole: exaggeration for effect expedient for one man to - Metonymy: surrogate die for the people idea - Synecdoche: whole represented by a part - Irony: positive stated negatively, obverse for obvious, deeper unintended meaning Interpreting language devices - Identify the type of figure of speech - Transform the literal into its figurative sense - Determine the figure s contextual function

8 Poetry: (5) Units Observe sense units - Note changes in content, grammar, form, speaker - Note concentrations of key words - Note repetitions Use sense units for outlines - Establish flow of units - Establish main point Poetry: (5) Units Small Group: Psalm 1 Identify figures of speech Analyze function and flow