Hermeneutics
For our purposes, the term hermeneutics should be understood as the science of interpreting ancient texts. Before the Protestant Reformation, consideration was seldom given to the meaning intended by the original author of Scripture. Instead, an interpreter relied on church traditions or on his official ecclesiastical position to support his interpretations. The goal of biblical interpretation was often to find support for the individual’s pet beliefs or the church’s official doctrines. As a result, interpreters used hermeneutical techniques such as spiritualization and allegorization, as well as appeals to mystical revelation were used to make biblical passages say what they needed the Scripture to say.
For the past five hundred years, however, the goal of Protestant hermeneutics has been to allow the Bible to speak for itself. Thus, the primary rule in hermeneutics is to use every tool at our disposal to hear the intended message of the original author. This includes reading each passage in its larger literary context and hearing each message against the background of its proper historical context.