hermeneutic view in early Christianity?

Question

i have to do a project and i am a little confuse with the hermeneutic view Christianity. If someone could please help me i would appreciated.

Answer 1

The word itself hermeneutic / Hermetic is relating to Hermes. Hermes was a greek god, and his role was to interpret the gods words (text). Hermeneutic christianity is basically deciphering text in a philosophical point of view instead of a literal translation. As many christians pick and take excerpts and scripture, and translate it literally to make a point - the other scripture that they do not either want to follow or cannot follow, they use the hermeneutic method - taking it philosophically instead. Hermetic Philosophy is also a good search term - Hermes Trismestigus was a philosopher from whom Moses borrowed text to write and construct Genesis. Since the text in HT is just about identical to genesis. One could wonder more since in the book Acts of the Bible, it is said that "moses borrowed the wisdom from the egyptians" and it is widely known that moses has been interpreted as to writing Genesis. And the HT was read and practiced in Egypt during those times.

Now, when converting masses from one religion to the next, it is more easily done by incororating some of the old time religious beliefs into the new religious beliefs. Much as you see today with paganism - yule (christmas), ostara (easter) etc...

Basically, the hermeneutic way of life by far predates christianity. It focused on the way of life, the meaning of life, how to handle life, morals, etc.. (Old Testament teachings) Christianity also focuses on these things, but under the words of Jesus Christ (as recounted in the New Testement). And to be christian means to follow the words of Christ, though in turn those ideas were around long beforehand.

So , try the search / key words:
Hermes, Hermes Trismestigus, Hermeticism, hermeticism vs christianity.

Answer 2

It's Thomas Aquinas time!

Basically, hermeneutics refers to people putting forth ideas and theories on a text; this is done all over the place now and usually referred to as criticism or literary theory, but hermeneutics usually means the Bible. What you're going to want to look at is the older theologians--Aquinas is one of the best for pure hermeneutics, but there are many more.

Remember: What separates hermeneutics from doctrine is that it's analysis of the text itself, not the theology therein.

Answer 3

Poor you! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeneutics gives a definition and also some links to hermeneutics at various stages of the Church's development. http://users.auth.gr/~pv/The%20Authority.htm is also quite a useful link. Try doing a Google search and see what comes up which may be useful for your purposes.

Answer 4

What time period is "early" in your project? Jesus himself could not find enough foundation of faith in Israel to sustain his primary ministry (plan A was blood lineage) and thus had to go for the alternative (plan B was blood letting) and prepare to be accepted only gradually and reluctantly by Saul - who became Paul - and other cultures of the world.

My response may provoke many others but just imagine if Jesus had been able to go to China before going to Rome...