The challenges of biblical interpretation in a constantly changing world

Abstract

Biblical interpretation plays a central role in the Christian tradition. Interpretive action determines the witness and the way the Christian Church interacts in the world. The purpose of this article is to present a historical account of the development of biblical interpretation in a changing world. It develops the approach by consulting documents, books and articles, which address the theme of biblical-theological hermeneutics at different moments in the history of the Christian Church. It highlights relevant aspects for reflection on biblical interpretation and the impacts for the relationship of the Church with its time and context. This analysis aims to identify how cultural, social, scientific, and philosophical issues influence the way the Church reads and interprets Scripture. The reflection and development of methods of Biblical interpretation gain relevance and receive even greater attention in the theological sphere, amidst the challenges imposed by modernity and scientism. The results indicate that, from this context, biblical-theological hermeneutics engages fundamentally in the effort to establish the appropriate relationship among the author, the biblical text, and the interpreter. Understanding this relationship is the challenge to theology and to the Christian Church itself.