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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Doctorates (PhD or ThD?)

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: Revdpickrel AT wmconnect.com
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Doctorates (PhD or ThD?)
  • Date: Mon, 05 Sep 2005 18:45:26 +0100

On 05/09/2005 18:27, Revdpickrel AT wmconnect.com wrote:

...

Kevin, I think you error with your statement "Too much of the Bible "theology"is based on interpretation." Rule are simple: 1) only one interpretation 2) many applications, and 3) all scriptures point to the Messiah. Sometimes folks confuse interpretation with application which appears to be what you're doing. There can only be one correct interpretation: my interpretation and your interpretation could both be incorrect. But we couldn't have two different interpretation and both be correct.


These sound like good principles. Of course not everyone would accept the last one. But I don't think the error here is Kevin's. Rather, he is making essentially the same point as you, that some ThD's (and no doubt some with other academic qualifications in theology, including my MA) "confuse interpretation with application", by bringing theological presuppositions, rather than just linguistic method, into interpretation. I have seen the same myself.

Now I accept (as an MA in theology myself!) that there is some impact of theology on interpretation of biblical passages. For example, if the interpretation of a passage is uncertain between two possibilities, one of which is in accord with the general theology of the writer and/or those around him and the other which is not, it is reasonable to conclude that the former interpretation is probably correct. The problem comes when interpreters try to use their own personal theological convictions as a guide to interpretation.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/



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