Meaning: Is There a Single, Literal Meaning of a Biblical Text That the Interpreter Can Discover?

Authors

  • Viktor KIRYANOV Works at Church Ministry Institute as a teacher., Ukraine

Keywords:

Literal meaning of a Biblical text, interpreter discover, concerning the meaning of the text, theological circles concerning the subject of meaning

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to look critically at different opinions circulating today concerning the meaning of the text. There are always debates in theological circles concerning the subject of meaning. If a meaning exists, how is it found? If a meaning exists, is there just one meaning or many? Three main approaches to defining the meaning of the text are examined: the reader-oriented approach, the writer-oriented approach, and the text-oriented approach. Arguments for and against each approach are given, with the author’s opinion at the end.

Author Biography

Viktor KIRYANOV, Works at Church Ministry Institute as a teacher.

Viktor Kiryanov was born in 1973 in Rivne (Western Ukraine) to a family of unbelievers. He was baptized in 1991 while a firstyear student at the Institute of Water Management Engineers, from which he graduated in 1995 as a mechanical engineer. He graduated from Odes sa Theological Seminary in 1999 as a Bachelor of Theology. Presently he lives in Odessa and works at Church Ministry Institute as a teacher, interpreter, and member of the administrative body. He is also studying in the Master’s Program at International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague. His theological interests are in the area of New Testament studies.

References

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How to Cite

KIRYANOV, Viktor. 2016. “Meaning: Is There a Single, Literal Meaning of a Biblical Text That the Interpreter Can Discover?”. Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology, no. 2 (June):50-64. http://reflections.eeit-edu.info/article/view/89619.