Scripture and Its Interpretation ch 12: Protestant Biblical Interpretation

American exceptionalism
Click the card to flip 👆
1 / 33
Terms in this set (33)
American exceptionalism
A belief that the United States holds a special place in the divine plan and is therefore superior to other nations by virtue of its vocation of spreading freedom and democracy.
apocalyptic
Shorthand term (and the subject of much scholarly dispute), used by some for a worldview ("apocalypticism") and by many for a type of literature ("apocalyptic literature") that reflects a belief in good and evil cosmic powers as well as hope in God's coming intervention to transform the present age of evil/sin into the age of justice/peace.
authority
A source of truth or practical guidance for a community of interpreters, such as Scripture, the theological tradition, official leaders, reason, human experience, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
canon within the canon
The concept of the existence of books that play a more central role within the formal canon, or of a central, governing theme or principle (such as "justification by faith," "liberation," or "spiritual conflict") that functions as a means of determining the value, meaning, or authority of the biblical canon as a whole or its various parts.
Christendom
(1) A culture that appears to be dominated by Christians and heavily influenced by Christian values, with or without the support of an established (state) church; (2) the worldwide Christian church(es).
colonialism
The practice of a nation extending its power and control over other, dependent territory, including its people and resources, for the powerful state's own benefit.
conversion of the imagination
A phrase coined by Richard Hays that refers to the ability of Scripture to encourage fresh reflection and insight in new situations.
cruciformity
Cross-shaped existence, referring to the way of the cross or Christlike self-giving, weakness, and suffering.
dispensationalism
A popular Christian eschatological belief system focusing on the book of Revelation and proposing that history is divided into distinct eras called "dispensations."
ecclesial
From the Greek word for assembly, gathering, or community, ekklēsia; of or related to the church and its confessions, interpretive traditions, and liturgical (worship) life.
ecumenismFrom the Greek word oikoumenē, signifying the entire inhabited world; cooperative relations and activity among Christian churches to express or further the unity of the Christian church.eschatologyThe theology, doctrine, or study of the "last things" and ultimate matters: God's purposes fully and finally realized in history in the resurrection of the dead, the kingdom of God, and the new creation as the age of universal justice and peace.evangelical(1) Referring to Christian (usually Protestant) individuals and bodies characterized over the last century by an emphasis on biblical authority, theological orthodoxy, and personal conversion to Christ as well as (a) gradual and cautious acceptance of biblical criticism; (b) a variety of social and political agendas, from conservative to progressive; and (c) interdenominational cooperation primarily with Christians of similar conviction; (2) in some contexts, a form of the word means "Protestant" or "Lutheran."exegesisThe act of "leading out" of the text a meaning based on the careful literary, historical, and/or theological analysis and interpretation of a text; in contrast to eisegesis ("reading into"), though it is generally recognized that no interpretation is without bias.fundamentalismReferring to individuals and churches (usually Protestant) characterized by (1) adherence to the so-called fundamentals of Christian doctrine (the virgin birth, the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, and so forth); (2) general rejection of biblical criticism and espousal of very "literal" interpretations of the biblical text; (3) support for very conservative theological, social, and political agendas; and (4) a separatist approach to interchurch cooperation.generous orthodoxyAn approach to Christian faith and life that affirms the historic creeds and practices of Christianity with a spirit of openness to others and to differences of interpretation within the large Christian family.hermeneutic(s) of suspicionA sort of "guilty-until-proven-innocent" approach to the biblical text because of its alleged patriarchal, oppressive, or otherwise problematic nature or influence; in contrast to a hermeneutic of trust.hermeneutic of trustAn approach to the Bible characterized by trust in its ability to be a place of encountering God and the divine word; in contrast to a hermeneutic of suspicion.inerrancyThe quality of being without error, commonly used to signify either Scripture's alleged lack of any sort of error, including historical and scientific error (sometimes called "verbal inerrancy"), or its lack of religious/theological error alone.lectionaryA collection of passages from all parts of the Bible, organized around a liturgical calendar for use in public liturgy/worship.living exegesisAn idiom signifying the ultimate goal of biblical interpretation as the person's or community's embodying the Scripture in daily life.mainline churchesProtestant churches and traditions characterized by (1) general acceptance of biblical criticism; (2) moderate to liberal theological, social, and political agendas; and (3) ecumenical dialogue and cooperation with similar bodies and with mainstream Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy.missional hermeneuticsAn interpretive approach that emphasizes engaging Scripture to discern and participate in the missio Dei.polyvalenceThe quality of possessing multiple meanings or possible interpretations.prosperity gospelA popular theology that claims God will grant material blessings to those who follow the divine plan articulated by those offering the message, which often includes generous giving to the messenger's ministry.raptureA modern dispensationalist Christian term for the escape of believers to heaven, an idea allegedly found in the Synoptic Gospels, 1 Thessalonians, and Revelation.regula fideiLatin for rule of faith.rule of faithA summary account of basic Christian teachings eventually represented in the Apostles' Creed (and similar texts) that serves as a standard of orthodoxy and a theological framework for scriptural interpretation.sola ScripturaThe Protestant Reformation principle of "Scripture alone" as the authority for Christian faith and practice.surplus of meaningThe quality of a text's having meaning(s) beyond that intended by the author or understood by the original audience.theological interpretationThe interpretive approach that emphasizes (a) the interpreters' ecclesial location; (b) commitment to the church's confessions, traditions, and liturgical life; and (c) the prioritizing of theological concerns over other concerns—all with the goal of enhancing faithful living and worshiping before God by bringing theological concerns to bear on scriptural interpretation, and vice versa.Wesleyan quadrilateralAn image summarizing the four-dimensional theological method ascribed to the successors of John Wesley that views Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience as the four guides for doing theology.hermeneuticA general interpretive philosophy, theory, approach, or strategy.