Summarizing the Original Meaning

Reformed Theological Seminary

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Summarizing the Original Meaning

Lesson 1 Lecture 3

March 1, 2003 • Dr. Richard L. Pratt

"One meaning - many summaries". Explain this hermeneutical slogan and indicate its importance.

What three major strategies has the Holy Spirit led the church toward OT interpretation? Distinguish them from each other.

Explain how Gen 12:10-20 may be viewed thematically, historically, and literarily.

The Relevance of the OT

March 1, 2003 • Dr. Richard L. Pratt

Why does the OT seem irrelevant to modern readers? How may we counter the appearance of the OT's irrelevance? How is the OT necessary for believers living in the NT age?

Focus in OT Interpretation

March 1, 2003 • Dr. Richard L. Pratt

Contrast the concerns often found in popular and academic studies of the OT. What are Pratt's distinctions among original meaning, biblical elaborations, legitimate applications and full value? Evaluate these distinctions. Why is it necessary to anchor interpretation to the original meaning?

Genesis: An Overview

March 1, 2003 • Dr. Richard L. Pratt

Contrast critical and evangelical outlooks on the authorship and date of Genesis. How did evangelicals usually treat Genesis as a window for historical analysis? What is Pratt's outline of the book of Genesis? How would these major parts have spoken to the first generation of Israel in the wilderness? What overarching message does a literary analysis of Genesis offer the church today?