vcu Understanding the New Testament Reflection paper

What is Exegesis and Hermeneutics?Exegesis as defined in your text book pg. 70 Is a scholarly study of the bible with particular text and with certain methods or tools in which to academically study the work. A narrowing in on a text Hermeneutics Is a philosophical understanding of the interpretation. What is the goal of interpretation? What makes these authoritative? So, Exegesis is the how and hermeneutics is the why? And understanding yourself coming to the text? What is our hermeneutical lens or What is our goal in interpreting? Methods: Biblical CriticismText- comparing manuscripts available to find the most reliable reading of the document when there is no original. Archaeology – study of human history through study of artifacts, and physical remainsSociological- social science to study unique characterization of the times in which the text was written Cultural anthropology- a study of the text cultural by studying others as well Historical- general study of the time it was writtenSource- study of the matter that contributed to the formation of the text Form- what is the genre, the purpose of the text Redaction- what is missing, or has been edited out, why Narrative -use modern literary analysis to study the effects the text might have on its readersRhetorical- Reader-Response Ideological- how might the text be heard and used from a certain perspective Deconstruction – subjective criteria and not on any intrinsic claims -A tool is used to unlock a question of the text. The text is like a diamond with many faces and one tool may help view one side yet not the whole.