Task 3: Employ an application-processing framework
Essence of the task
With this task we are expected to make an evaluation of each point that our passage affirms in order to understand with great clarity how they apply to our contemporary audience. It is possibly the most important task of all in interpreting what God wants to say to our listeners through the passage we are teaching.
Detailed description
If the previous task (Thursday, Task 2), encouraged us to think about what kind of development a particular statement requires in order to present it with clarity, conviction, and relevance to our congregation, this task aims at deepening our understanding of how to contextualize those statements so that they really say what they need to say for a specific contemporary audience.
Without entering into an exhaustive analysis, we will evaluate the points identified from various perspectives in order to gain greater clarity on the nature of the contemporary relevance of each point. At the same time, this will force us to make contact with frameworks of reflection that are broader than our own text and will help prevent us from asserting ideas without regard to other important considerations. Some of these would be how it fits with important theological categories, different spheres of life and, of course, whether there are nuances to be taken into account in terms of cultural differences.
To Do
Essentially, what I would recommend would be to think about each of the important points you have identified and analyze them from each of the perspectives I will mention below. Take note of any important observations you may have in this regard, along with any relevant Bible passages that may shed further light or provide important nuances to your conclusions.
I propose three frameworks for evaluation.
1-Evaluate from a theological perspective.
While this may sound sophisticated, it really isn’t. It simply requires you to think about each point to be interpreted and applied from a theological perspective. For example, Blomberg and Markley in their book on the practice of exegesis (A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis, Baker Academic) suggest some fairly simple steps for reflection (pp. 275-276).
- List the categories of systematic theology about which the passage being studied says something.
- Formulate what the text contributes to our understanding of each of the doctrines it addresses.
- If apparent contradictions with other biblical passages arise, re-evaluate your understanding of the text and, if necessary, of the other passages.
- Look for a representative sample of how others have resolved the apparent contradiction.
- Modify your own systematic theological synthesis in light of your best solution to the problem.
2- Evaluate from an experiential perspective.
Gordon Fee, in his famous book, New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors, after recommending a biblical-theological analysis (similar to point 1, above) focuses on the experiential aspect of application (p. 121). I will summarize his points as follows:
- List the life issues that the passage addresses.
- Clarify the nature and field of application of these matters.
- Do these points apply to everyone equally, or are they primarily addressed to certain groups or people? For example, believers or unbelievers? church or nation? parents or children? etc.
3-Evaluate from a cultural perspective.
Drawing again on Blomberg and Markley’s book (p. 276), we see that it is important to think about what may or may not change as centuries pass and cultures change.
- Determine to the best of your ability the application(s) originally intended by the text.
- If a changed contemporary contextual situation renders the same application(s) impossible or uncertain, identify the transcultural principles upon which each application is based.
- Look for contemporary applications, different from the transcultural principles, that achieve the same objectives as the original applications.
There would be other possible ways to structure this reflection and we could certainly add a much longer list of questions that would help us to outline better one aspect or another. However, these three evaluation optics are probably more than enough to help us to go deeper into the application that corresponds to each of our sermon’s main points. It is not a question of burdening ourselves with endless evaluation. It is about arriving with clarity at successful contextual applications. Perhaps, as time goes by, you will come up with your own questions that will help you do this in an accurate and efficient way.
Once you have completed this task, your document will have these elements defined for each major point.
- A clear expression of the point to be interpreted.
- A reflection on the kind of explanation, verification, or application that this point will need.
- Statements on the theological and experiential relevance that each point has with reference to your listeners, taking into account the cultural differences that may exist between the contemporary and the original audience.
To Keep in Mind
Some commentaries give special thought to the contemporary application of the passages they discuss. As with anything, some times they may strike you as being more accurate and other times less so. As a minimum, however, they generally offer many ideas worth considering and some very insightful reflections.
What’s more, certain commentaries specifically address the issues we address above, in clearly delineated sections. For example, The NIV Application Commentary by Zondervan, in addition to the fact that many of the individual commentaries are recognized as among the best in English on a particular biblical book, all follow a clear pattern in their development: (1.) Original Meaning, (2.) Bridging Contexts, and (3.) Contemporary Significance.
There are other commentaries that, while not organizing the entire commentary in this way, make an effort to include a section highlighting issues of application for each pericope. For example, the commentaries by William Hendriksen and Simon Kistemaker (series, New Testament Commentary, Baker Book House) have sections entitled, «Practical Considerations in…».
Then, to give another example, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series includes a section entitled, «Theology in Application» for each pericope. By and large, these applications are extremely well done. They offer extended though on the contemporary significance of the main points developed in the portion under study. After now translating over ten volumes in the series into Spanish, I can affirm that the these provide an excellent model of the kind of work any Bible student should do as the outcome of their exegetical work.
The Old Testament version of the same commentary series has a similar section at the end of each portion studied, but helpfully divides it into two categories: Canonical and Practical Significance. About these, the series introduction states, «The commentary on each unit will conclude by building bridges between the world of the biblical author and other biblical authors and with reflections on the contribution made by this unit to the development of broader issues in biblical theology—particularly on how later OT and NT authors have adapted and reused the motifs in question. The discussion will also include brief reflections on the significance of the message of the passage for readers today.»
Every preacher or teacher should become well acquainted with the particular aids that the resources in his or her library can offer and make the most of each of them. However, nothing can replace personal reflection on these matters, because in the end, no commentator knows what is currently happening in your congregation and no commentator can absolve you of the responsibility you have to interpret and apply the biblical text for your congregation.