When misinterpreting the Bible becomes a habit

Peet J Van Dyk

doi:10.4102/hts.v74i4.4898

Abstract

Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) texts should be interpreted against the background of the magico-mythical cosmology of their time, and the Bible is no exception. Earlier scholars were, however, hesitant to recognise this reality as a result of disagreement over how to define myths and because of the problematic idealistic framework that they followed. This framework viewed biblical religion as superior to other ANE religions and thus devoid of myths and the belief in magic. It is, however, argued that the Bible contains both myths and a belief in magic and shares the overarching ANE cosmology. The incompatibility of the scientific cosmology and the magico-mythical cosmology of the ANE causes special problems for modern readers. To prevent modern readers from habitually falling back on their scientific cosmology, and thereby misinterpreting the Bible, it is suggested that a cosmological approach should form the basic framework for all biblical hermeneutics.

Highlights

IntroductionThe regularity and ease with which modern (post-Renaissance) readers misinterpret ancient texts is often underestimated by classical scholars
The regularity and ease with which modern readers misinterpret ancient texts is often underestimated by classical scholars
Except for the fact that the words Panic and Rout are capitalised by Butler, modern readers could be misled to think that Homer merely referred to a psychological state of mind among the Greek warriors

Summary

Introduction

The regularity and ease with which modern (post-Renaissance) readers misinterpret ancient texts is often underestimated by classical scholars. At the time of Homer, panic and rout on the battlefield were never seen as natural psychological effects from warfare but always as being caused by the presence of these two gods. This interpretation is supported by the fact that Homer describes almost every earthly event during the Trojan War as the result of the interference of the gods (e.g. in the introduction to the Iliad, Homer explains the origin of the Trojan War as resulting from the fact that the god Apollo wanted to take revenge on the Greeks because they slighted his priest Chryses)

Objectives

Conclusion