Hermeneutic Methods and Biblical Interpretation: Implications for Sustainable Peace in the Northeast, Nigeria
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Date
2022
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John Archers
Abstract
The Bible is a compendium of books. Each book that makes up the entire Bible is powerful on its own and the combinations of these singular books in the canon make the Bible a great resource for change, growth and development. Because of its versatility, there is no other single literature that is widely published, interpreted and spread in different languages and tongues like the Bible. It is both infallible and inerrant, but these qualities can only be vividly expressed by the expertise and professionalism of the Bible interpreter. Depending on the soundness of the exegete, the Bible can be interpreted to deal with errors and confront societal problems and it could as well be interpreted wrongly to cause strife and tension in the society. Hence, the peace the Bible portrays, and on the other hand, the chaos it can be made to generate all depends on the interpreter as well as the hermeneutic method he/she chooses to make use of at every point in time. In this work, the author critically examines the influence of Hermeneutic methods on Biblical interpretation and its implications for the sustainable peace of the Northeast, Nigeria, which is being ravaged by insurgency and insecurity. Historical and phenomenological methodologies were employed by the author in the work. It is observed that a right hermeneutical method of the Bible and application by the interpreter to the context of the North East has greatly influenced the communities and the region and their dwellers. It is recommended that interpreters of the Bible should be diligent in their task and Christians should continue to show love and be Christ-like no matter what the situation is.