Biblical Hermeneutics

Introduction                                                                                                   

          The term “Hermeneutics” has a significant role in the discipline of Theology. Especially Christian Theology gives much importance to the aspect of hermeneutics in its very nature. So it is indeed a necessity to understand “Hermeneutics” as term and also as an important discipline. “Hermeneutics from the Greek word ‘hermeneuein’, meaning “to express, explain, translate or interpret”, describes the art or theory of Interpretation that has its goal understanding”. So basically as a term hermeneutics means to explain or to make or derive a meaning out of one particular text. It is a way of expressing one’s view towards a text, event or object. “As a discipline hermeneutics is concerned with the study of phenomenon, theories and methods entitled in the interpretation of both text and aesthetic objects”. Its traditional meaning is relatively simple: “the discipline that deals with principles of interpretation. Some writers like to call it as the science of interpretation; others prefer to speak of the art of interpretation”. The term “Hermeneutics” appears to have been first used by J.C.Dannhauer in his book (1645), “Hermeneutica sacra sive methodus exponendarum sacrarum litterarum”. But hermeneutics was practiced even early in the interpretation of religious text by the priestly and royal clauses of the ancient society. There is also another aspect related with hermeneutics is that “Hermes” is the messenger of the Gods in Greek mythology and his task is to interpret the will of the Gods.

Importance of Hermeneutics

          As we already said that the role of hermeneutics is predominant in the discipline of Theology, especially in Indian Christian Theology, it has occupied a momentous place to explain and interpret the “sacred word”, The Bible.  In the ancient Greek context it was very much important to interpret the sacred word correctly. That was given much importance in their religious activities. The early Christian church, as it was also influenced by the Greek culture they also took this assumption, that the scripture needs to be interpreted in correct way. “Therefore it became very important to the early Christians to discover and apply the correct principles for the interpretation of Scripture, and hermeneutics thus became an important part of the study of Indian Christian Theology”.

Contemporary approaches to Biblical Hermeneutics

          “It is no exaggeration to say that the contemporary interest in hermeneutics signals a new epoch in the scientific study of the Bible”. Mostly the observers believe that the beginning of this new era in the works of Karl Barth (1886 – 1968), one of the most influential theologians of modern times. Barth had his theological training under scholars of classical liberal tradition. The 1950s and 1960s there were many theological developments initiated by many scholars followed by Barth and Bultmann.  During this period a movement emerged that known as “the new quest for the historical Jesus” attempted to bring the Jesus of history and later Christian faith together than Bultmann had allowed in his articulation.

          Following Barth, entered Rudolf Bultmann (1884- 1976), primarily a New Testament scholar. One of the important factors of Bultmann was the adoption of existentialism, majorly set forth by the philosopher Martin Heidegger. However, Bultmann’s theological aims also greatly affected like Barth’s aims, that by a concern for relevance. This principle led Bultmann to develop a hermeneutical method known as demythologization (but perhaps more accurately described as remythologization). Indeed, Bultmann’s approach did not precisely involve rejecting the myths but translating them to modern myths.

Dalit interpretation of bible

                   According to the Vedas Dalits  are lower class and also made as ‘untouchables’. It is supported by the Hindu karma ,according to this karma the present situation may be good or bad based on your past actions. So when Dalit people were converted into Christianity they were also clinched by this ideology. Now modern Indian liberation scholars are in the mode constructing the theology and hermeneutics based on the perspectives of people whom the people are oppressed by someone else. So liberation theologians move towards contextual theologies especially for the Dalits they seek the biblical text which supports the argument Of God’s solidarity with the oppressed.George Koontham in the book” voices from the margin” edited by R.S.Sugirtharaj, contributed the biblical hermeneutics which based on the reflections made from Isaiah 3:12-15, in the text Koontham related the text with the context of Dalits in India, he says that this text as empowerment for the Dallits as it seeks to portray God as God who is solidarity with the poor who are oppressed as they were being poor.Caste system is a great injustice structure of Indian society. There is a popular belif that the Aryans brought with them their sacred writings called the Vedas.

Dalit Women Hermeneutics

          Kodasingu Jesurathnam says that Dalit hermeneutics should adopt the methodology that to remove patriarchal hermeneutics and to limits the scriptures of other faith which are degrading values of women.As the Dalits are made to be oppressed and untouchables Dalit women also have to undergone to pain more than a Dalit man as she is born as a woman she have to undergone many struggles in her life. Dalit Christian also faces problem of discrimination in church, society, and in home also.

The men centred theology and its patriarchal structures continue to subjugate Dalit woman, as context is very much oppress them, Dalit women reading were emerged in order to create theology to them. Stella Faria in the book  Feminist Hermeneutics edited by Larinawami Ralte and Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar says that text should be refreshed and it should be restored to its God’s original inclusive message which would bring men and women in wholeness.

Tribal Hermeneutics

          The interactions, interrelations, confrontations, conflict realities are with them. It needed to resolve the problem in a biblical frame work which led to emergence of Tribal hermeneutics in India. Nirmal Minz in the book Readings in Indian Christian theology tribe is a homogeneous community occupying the particular land, with the language of their own. As for as Tribes are to be considered, land is an integral part of their life Some forces are trying to distort the idea of identity.These forces are called them as tribal and they were made to dwell in the forest areas. These forces tend to make some serious consequences in politics and in nature also. There are three paradigm of bible to provide contextual reinterpretation of tribal reality in the lives of  tribal’s.

Conusclusion

          Sharon H Linge concludes her argument of Biblical authority and interpretation saying that, The God cannot be captured in any human definition or job description, or even any combination of them. It is a God who calls into question every human self understanding with a new option for both faith and praxis. This new option can be summarized as the word event of the new creation, which must constantly be known anew in each situation, and of which the proleptic or anticipatory experience in human terms is the experience of liberation. So the discipline, Hermeneutics is not static and there is no true hermeneutic that is valid for all places, all situations and for all time. At the outset hermeneutics has very much been associated with the interpretation of sacred text to great extent.

Like everything else in this world hermeneutics also temporal, it has past, a present and a future. We discussed the historical development of hermeneutics and the contemporary hermeneutics developments. By these observations we can assume that the future hermeneutic will build upon the past. We shall say that the future hermeneutics may possibly dealt with the scientific method, the development of technology, multi religions and new directions in philosophy. So the field of hermeneutics progresses towards a new era to face new challenges and to adopt different sciences in its process of meaning making.

Bibliography                                     

Boyd,Robin. An Introduction to Indian Christian Theology.Delhi:ISPCK,1969.

Daniel J.Adams; Biblical Hermeneutics An Introduction. Madras, CLS,1987

Duncan S. Ferguson, Biblical Hermeneutics: An Introduction London: SCM Press, 1987

Green Garrett; Theology, Hermeneutics and Imagination. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.2000

M.L.Y.Chan, Global Dictionary of Theology, edited by William A. Dyrness and Veli-Matti

Walter C.Kaiser,Jr and Moises Silva, An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics: The search for Meaning USA:Zondervan Publishing House,1994

Sugirtharajah,R.S and Cecil Hargreaves.Readings in Indian Christian theology.vol1.Delhi:ISPCK,1993.