The Elements Involved in Interpretation

Learning Objectives

• Describe the role of author and audience in interpretation
• Explain the difference between a text’s meaning and its significance
• Explore how an author guides a text’s meaning

Begin this module by viewing the following video 

Introduction

In the previous module we briefly investigated the notion that interpretation is both an art and science, and saw that, from the perspective of the interpreter, there are both internal and external barriers standing in the way of accurate interpretation. In this module we now turn to examine how the original author and audience factor into how a message is constructed with meaning, and how the meaning of a message is different than the significance of a message for the modern interpreter.

Introducing the Terms

Before delving into the issues related to how communication works, it is necessary to introduce a handful of the elements that are involved. Laying these terms out here will help the reader better follow the nuances of the discussion below.

Author/Authors/Editors – When discussing the author below, we will be referring to the original author(s) (editor[s]) of the book of the Bible. In some cases, the identity of the author is clear – such as Paul authoring Romans – but in some cases it is not, such as the book of Esther or Hebrews. Many books of the OT also involved the work of editors to shape their final form – such as the Psalms. It is important to recognize the original author wrote from place in space, time, culture, and redemptive history.

Audience – When we discuss the audience below, we will be referring to the original audience for which the book or letter was intended. Again, sometimes this is quite straightforward – such as Romans being written to the churches in Rome – but in other cases it is not entirely clear who the specific, intended audience was – such as Job. Again, since we can determine it, it is important to understand that the original audience was also situated in a particular place in space, time, culture, and redemptive history.

Interpreter – A reference to the interpreter below has in mind the modern interpreter. That is, anyone who may be reading the Bible from their own position in space and time, and whatever their place in their culture and in redemptive history. It is important to distinguish the interpreter from the original audience, for the author’s message was written to the original audience (e.g. the church in Rome), and the modern interpreter is “listening in” or “reading their mail,” as it were, seeking to glean an understanding of the author’s meaning, so that they can understand the significance of the message for them today.

Meaning – When we refer to meaning, we are referring to that message that the original author intended for his or her audience. That is, it is the original author who encodes a message as she or he intends, and therefore guides the message’s meaning.

Significance – Our discussion of the significance of a message refers to the implication of the message’s meaning for the contemporary interpreter. That is, it is only after understanding the original meaning of a message for the original audience that the modern interpreter can consider what significance or application that meaning has for them in their modern context.

Putting the Pieces Together

Now that we have outlined the major components involved in communication and interpretation, it remains only to introduce the parts of Speech Act Theory. While this is not the only communication theory interpreters use for hermeneutics, it has proven to be a profitable approach.

This theory of communication delineates an author’s message into three components, known as “speech acts” (see Klein, Blomberg, and Hubbard, 2017, pp. 45-47, 244-245; Bartholomew 2001; Walton and Sandy, 2013, pp. 41-48). These include the message’s words (locution), its intent (illocution), and the result or effect the author envisions the message will have on its audience (perlocution). The content (or locution) refers to the actual words, sentences, genre, plot (etc.) that the author constructs to employ his or her message. The intent (or illocution) refers to the author’s goal for choosing the words he or she employed; it is what the author was trying to “do” to the reader. Finally, a message’s envisioned result or outcome (or perlocution) is what the author likely anticipated would take place after the message was heard. An example of these elements will be helpful.

Galatians 5:16 reads, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (NIV). 

The content (or locution) of the verse is the words that make up the sentence that Paul wrote to the Galatians. The intent (or illocution) of these words may have been to convince the original audience that the desires of the flesh are destructive, and that the Spirit can enable them to avoid these. Meanwhile, Paul’s desired outcome (or perlocution) would likely have been to compel the Galatians to indeed walk by the Spirit and avoid gratifying the desires of the flesh. The meaning of Paul’s message includes these three factors.

We are now able to outline a few important points:

1. A message is more than its words. It is words that are employed with a particular goal by the author, and therefore we may say that the author guides the message’s meaning.
2. The full meaning of a message involves both the words utilized and how the author used them.
3. As modern interpreters, we have only the biblical text (and not access to the original author or audience). Therefore, it is from the text’s words (the locution) that we must try to understand the author’s intention where possible, and the effect/result where possible.
4. We often do not know whether a text had its desired effect/result (perlocution). In other words, to use the example above, we do not know if the Galatians were compelled to walk by the Spirit or not.
5. The significance or application of a message can be determined most accurately only when its original meaning is understood. Thus, we must see that a text’s significance may be different for a modern interpreter than it was for the original audience.

References

Bartholmew, C., Greene, C. & Moller, K. (eds.) (2001). After pentecost: Language and biblical interpretation. (Scripture and Hermeneutics Series, V. 2). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Klein, W., Blomberg, C., & Hubbard, R. (2017). Introduction to biblical interpretation: Third edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Walton, J. & Sandy, D. (2013). The lost world of scripture: Ancient literary culture and biblical authority. Downers Grove, IL: IVP.