Theology Case

All of the New Testament epistles are first century occasional documents; written for a specific occasion (Fee & Stuart, 2003). These factors can contribute to a difficulty in correctly interpreting epistles. Epistles were not intended to be extensive theological discourses but were intended to apply particular principles to the matter at hand.

Two important considerations one must look at before trying to determine epistolary interpretation: historical and literary context. Determining historical context is attempting to reconstruct the original situation the author was addressing (Fee & Stuart, 2003). Consider that the recipients themselves were actually immersed in the conditions and culture that gave birth to the need for this letter. Evaluating the literary context is essential when attempting to carve out and answer the why and what questions. What does the content state? What is the point? One must think in units of writing (paragraphs) to glean the main points and to understand what they are addressing and what answers are provided (Fee & Stuart, 2003).

In chapter four of Fee and Stuart’s book, they discuss the common responses when reading epistles. Most of the hermeneutical difficulties are the results of the lack of consistency when applying the principles. The reader tends to color the interpretation with theological predispositions, traditions, cultural norms and human problems (Fee & Stuart, 2003). The authors present two rules to consider:

• A text cannot mean what it could have never meant originally.

• When we have common situations or particulars- God’s Word must be applied to the present day issue in exactly the same manner it is applied to the 1st century issue.

The four basic hermeneutical problems faced in interpreting epistles are as follows:

1. Extended Applications. This is a question of allowing application of the principle of the text