Biblical Interpretation - Personal Reflection

         Biblical interpretation is not something new to me because I can interpret what the bible verses are telling me as I am reading them quite often, especially when I do require a direction of any kind. But after when I have read the pre-class preparation text books by W. Randolph Tate and Robert Alter, then I realised that the ways that I have interpreted the bible verses were not really ‘correct’. Those ways that I have learnt and heard from the pastors and fellow Christians on how we are able to receive the messages and interpret them accordingly in our own thinking are totally different from what these two books explained. What the book teaches is that when we are reading the bible verses, we ought to know and understand their historical and ideological background, the importance of the language, the illustrative methods and so forth. Wow, it is so ‘chiam’ that I have almost fall from my chair.  As stated by Robert Alter that, “As human actors reshape recurrence in language along the biases of their own intentions or misconceptions…” It is true that when I am reading the bible verses, I have unintentionally ‘fixing’ the meaning of the words to fit my present needs. This has changes my ‘ways’ of interpreting the bible verses immediately, or have a second thought of what is it that God is try to tell me (without using my own thought).

          When Brother Casey mentioned about the purpose of learning Biblical Interpretation and the integrated approach to the meaning of the verses, I realised that I have fallen into the trap of exegesis without application, i.e. irrelevant informed understanding, and application without exegesis, i.e. subjective exegesis. This make me realised that we cannot take the bible verses literary as they are. There are two different worlds with the text, the textual world (what it says on the surfaces) and the real world (what is the underlying meaning & purpose). Again I noticed that I am only reading the textual world and never have a chance to realise that there is an “underlying world’ beneath it until I am attending this class, thanks to bro Casey.

            Structural Diagramming was being taught by Sister Davina.  It was a very interesting and ‘blur’ topic to me as I found difficulties in indentifying all the different clauses and conjunctions. The purpose of this method of diagramming is to assist us in the analysis process of the thought flow, or structure of the passage. A passage in the bible to me is just an ordinary passage of God’s word, but thru this learning of diagramming, I see the ‘light’ that ‘shine’ out the different between the main ‘clauses’ and that of the subordinate clauses. A simple yet useful tool for the Pastors when they are preparing their sermon. I can visualize that one of this day, I will be using this diagramming too. Thanks to Sister Davina.

            The other area that I have learnt from Brother Casey is the topic on Parallelism. It is interesting to understand the differences in Synonymous, Antithetic and Synthetic Parallelism. When they are applied to the bible verses, I realise that the ‘plain’ English translation of the bible verses have so much differences in term of trying to get the messages across to the readers. Having to say this, I begin to understand why God is sending me here to study in AGBC. I believe He is trying to ‘open’ up my mind to have a better understanding of His words rather than ‘trying’ to figure out what does He trying to tell me. Praise the Lord for His purpose and plan.

            Our team consists of Lydia, Jesline, Louis, Faith and I. An interesting mixed as we have real fun especially when we are preparing our script for the presentation to the class. My role was a Christian ‘Ah Beng’. I have questioned Lydia why I was given this role, her answer was, “Is in-built in you lor!” What a ‘kind’ compliment!  Ha2. The presentation was a job well-done. I am glad that I am part of this small team, in this wonderful class, and best of all, in His Victory College.

            I pray that Lord will continue to give us strength to run this race that He has planned for us. We know that without Him, we can do nothing, but we can do all things thru Christ who gives us strength. May God bless all of us and most importantly, anoint both Brother Casey and Sister Davina with all the wisdom and knowledge so that they are able to continue grooming more disciples for our Lord, in Jesus' name, Amen.