Hermeneutical Methods: The Bible and Its Multiple Interpretive Perspectives

Biblical reading methods present different ways of interpreting the Scriptures in the light of an objective perspective. The vast majority of studies with this approach use the historical-critical method.

In academic circles, some hermeneutical methods have emerged that bring ideological presuppositions to the biblical text, such as psychological critical reading, feminist criticism, and sociological criticism.

Strongly influenced by Friedrich Schleiermacher, considered the father of modern hermeneutics, these methods seek to understand the historical-cultural context and the subjectivity of the author in order to approach their original thought.

Nevertheless, critical reading seeks an interpretation based on the reality in which it is situated, with the aim of updating the biblical message according to the tendency of the method used. The method of accessing the author’s thought is not discarded; however, this is not the final objective of the reading.

From a sociological critical reading, for example, it becomes apparent that the lens of all Scripture is to understand the social context in its economic, political, and ideological aspects in order to extract lessons that meet the demands of a particular social class. That is, biblical interpretation is carried out according to the reader’s reality.

The Gospel of Luke is a crucial example of the use of the sociological method, as it is considered the “Gospel of the Poor.” In it, the emphasis is on Jesus’ message in favor of the less fortunate and of judgment against the powerful and wealthy of this world. Liberation Theology, widely used in the Latin American context, explores the theme of social inequality, defends the rights of the poor, and proposes an egalitarian and solidary movement.

This view, however, does not have a plausible acceptance in evangelical circles and is often confused with communism, both in its ideology and its politics. Furthermore, the Bible is much more than a simple manual of sociology and activism; it is the Word of God. Although it contains teachings on social equality and charity toward the marginalized, the Bible should not and cannot be reduced to its social context alone.

In the end, there are many ways to read the Word of God and extract lessons from it that favor certain ideological or political classes. However, none of them is complete in itself. As much as the Bible presents messages that illuminate a particular social class, it is, above all, the Word of God: the good news of salvation in Christ Jesus.