Pre-Reformation History of Biblical Hermeneutics: Part I

As people seek to understand Biblical hermeneutics, the first step is to examine the historical pattern – from Biblical times to just a few decades ago. This mini-series on the pre-Reformation history of Biblical hermeneutics will be composed of three parts. Parts I and II will focus on the hermeneutics of a man named Ezra and his fellow Levites. In Part III, the hermeneutics of the later Jewish religious leaders, church fathers, and medieval theologians will be laid out.

It is exciting to start with the example of Ezra, because he was a man who feared God and correctly applied Biblical hermeneutics. The text is straight from the pages of Scripture and its meaning is clear; it also is one of the earliest examples of the existence of hermeneutical rules in relation to studying the Bible.

Nehemiah 8:1 reads:

“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.”

To set the context, Nehemiah was the cup-bearer for Artaxerxes the king – king of the Persian empire (chapter 1). Then, in chapter 2, Artaxerxes grants Nehemiah's request to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. In the next chapter, the wall is repaired and built. In chapters 4-6, the Israelites face new foes, in the form of Sanbalat and Tobiah. They cry out to the Lord for help and strength (6:9), and God allows them to finish the work they begun. Skipping over chapter 7 (the genealogy), there is this verse at the beginning of chapter 8.

All the people gathered together in one accord, and asked Ezra to bring to them the book of the law – Genesis through Deuteronomy. Then, the next two verses are critical.

“(v3) And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. (v4) And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.”

Here lies the first step in studying the Bible – observation. Ezra read to the people from the books of the law from morning until midday (which is convicting in and of itself). There can be no second step of understanding - or a third step of application - if there is no observation. Thus, even though in-depth study is very important, it is also important to be reading God's word often.

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Part I: A Man Named Ezra || Part II: Prayer of the Levites || Part III: Religious Leaders and Medieval Theologians