Since I’m kinda nerdy, I’ve started listening to Dr. Stein’s lecture series on hermeneutics again while I throw a few pots each day. This morning, in the lectures I heard, he covered the distinctions between meaning, implication, and significance. Depending on who is teaching the class on hermeneutics, I’m sure you could end up with different terms and different definitions of those terms, but I will share with you what I’ve learned from Dr. Stein.
Meaning he described as “the pattern of meaning the author consciously willed to convey by the words he used.”
Implications he described as “those meanings in a text of which the author was unaware but nevertheless legitimately fall within the pattern of meaning he willed.” Upon further discussion of the word, I also learned from Dr. Stein that these are exclusively determined by the author and that we, as students of the word, discover them. But they must follow the pattern or the paradigm of meaning to be an implication.
Significance he described as “how a reader responds to the meaning of a text, an act of the will.” On this particular term he spent a few minutes explaining in different ways to ensure his class understood what he was saying. Significance requires the student to arrive at the principle in interpretation (the author decided this when he wrote it), discover implications (the author also decided this when he wrote it but he may not have known he meant it like when Paul says don’t be drunk with wine and he wasn’t aware that whiskey was in the future), and then we the students are the masters of significance. How do we respond to the text once we’ve understood the meaning and its implications?
Within our efforts at determining the significance, we have choices. Yes or no. There is a decision of what we will do. Obedience or disobedience? These are questions not of the mind but of the heart.
In previous Bites, I’ve called this application, but I think the term significance leads me to clearer thinking about what the objective is. To maintain consistency, I will keep our list of ‘observation, interpretation, and application’ the same since we know what that means, but I will make sure we incorporate these new terms as well.
Isn’t learning fun? Even if it takes me a while to learn concepts, I do enjoy the process. (I’ve needed to listen to this lecture series so many times that I’ve lost count. Still learning…)
Summarization
Looking over these definitions, before we can determine significance, we have to arrive at the meaning. We’ve been interpreting Ephesians 2:1-10 now for a while so I spent some time reviewing those articles before we got together here. Summarizing is a good way to ensure that we have arrived at a level of understanding of the meaning. Making sure we are summarizing what is actually in the Bible, I will include our passage here.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1–10 (ESV)
You can come up with your own summary as an exercise to determine your own level of understanding, I’ll wait for you and then I’ll share what I came up with.
<Bee-boppy wait music, including maracas.>
Ok, my summary goes like this:
The recipients were spiritually dead but because of his character and nature, God made them alive to show to the future who he is for it was by grace that they were saved. As saved people, they were created in true righteousness and holiness and could do works God had previously planned for them.
What summary did you come up with? I would love to read it. You could leave it in the comments below. I’m not skilled at summarizing yet, so reading yours would be helpful. I tried a number of renditions and that was the best of the lot.
As we know, interpretation is about arriving at the meaning the author intended. Now that we are moved into the stage of application or significance, we can respond to the text. We can answer the question “why is the biblical author telling me this?” Please remember that in order to have heart conviction and a change from the inside, it requires action on the part of the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t yet appealed to him for his activity in your study, I encourage you to do so.
In this passage, I don’t see clear commands, so my first step is going to insert myself in my summary. We’ve learned in previous Bites that my local church could have been in the rotation of churches where Paul wanted his letter to be read. Remember from Bite 5? The oldest manuscripts had a blank where later manuscripts had “to the Ephesians”. As a believer in a local church, in the discipline of determining significance, I can trade out they and them with I and me.
The recipients were I was spiritually dead but because of his character and nature, God made them me alive to show to the future who he is for it was by grace that they were I was saved. As part of a saved people, they were I was created in true righteousness and holiness and could can do works God had has previously planned for them me.
In my excitement for thinking of this new technique, I had to share what I just wrote with Jeremy. I read it out loud. Would you take a moment and insert yourself into your summary and then read it out loud.
Did that impact you the way it did me? If you’re a believer in Jesus, and you ignored me just now by not reading it out loud, please go back and try it. Let the truth of this stir your heart.
Significance
Since, as Dr. Stein said, I’m the master of significance, I’m going to pull out the “I” statements so I can see them clearly.
- I was spiritually dead but God made me alive.
- For it was by grace that I was saved.
- I was created.
- I can walk in the life God had planned.
Always concerned in our exploration that we are tethered closely to scripture, let’s compare these summary statements with actual scripture. Are they accurate?
| Scripture | Summary |
| And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1) | I was spiritually dead but God made me alive. |
| by grace you have been saved (Eph 2:5) | For it was by grace that I was saved. |
| For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:10) | I was created. |
| created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10) | I can walk in the life God had planned. |
Based on the pattern of meaning that we found when interpreting, it looks like my summary statements with I and me substituted are within the boundaries. Oh, I think these could be implications since they are true statements and Paul didn’t know I personally was going to exist. I’m like whiskey in my above example when we were talking definitions. Hah.
Establishing that we are within the paradigm of meaning, now comes the part that always makes me uncomfortable. (Why though?) Actually determining out loud that “I will” like our friend Dr. Zuck has instructed us previously. Remember that I’m doing this application practice right in front of you. I may be clumsy, but we will learn this together.
The first statement I have is “I was spiritually dead but God made me alive.” Since this is about my mind responding to the text, give me a moment to chew on this.
Considering the sense that Logos brought to our attention in Bite 28 as characterized by lack of spiritual life or vigor; being completely indifferent toward the things of God, I feel compassion and sorrow over folks for whom this is still true. This describes all pre-believers, one of which I once was.
As one example, when I hear people misrepresenting God’s character, my wrath or indignation is not the appropriate response. God’s response to me was to make me alive, raise me, and seat me in the heavenly places. If God’s response to me was riches of his grace in kindness, why in the world would my response be different?
| I resolve to show compassion for people who are characterized by lack of spiritual life. I choose to remember that where they are, I once was and I was made alive rather than berated or impuned. Since I cannot make alive, I will pray for them and speak to them how God has been active in my life. |
To ensure this is not a mere intellectual exercise, I am thinking of situations in my world where I can decide to live out this resolve today. I want my heart to be different because I’ve been with my God.
The next one is “For it was by grace that I was saved.” Pausing to consider this, I go back to the article where I studied that beautiful statement, “For by grace you have been saved.” Not by my works, justification and salvation are gifts, salvation is according to God’s will and his mercy…there just is no room for swagger. There is no room for boasting, just like Paul said.
| I recognize that the only currency I had to offer God for my salvation was my sin. My only boast will be in the cross of Christ. |
This significance is again about how I interact with the pre-believers in my world. It isn’t because I’m smart that God chose me. If I start to think I had something positive to contribute to my redemption besides my stains, I need to revisit that list we compiled in Bite 32. Why did God choose me? Because of who God is. Why does God choose anyone? Because of who God is. I will rest in that and at the same time do a happy dance.
I was created. In the sense of created in general, yes, but Paul tells us that as believers we are also created in salvation. Remembering how we arrived at Paul’s meaning, we can think about phrases associated with creation: in Christ, after likeness of God in true holiness and righteousness, according the image of the creator. I am what he has made.
Do we look like Christ? Do we look like the Father? Do we change at salvation? By faith, all of these questions can be answered yes. Do we look like that all the time in this life? Um, I don’t. Regardless of what I do though, positionally these are all true.
For example, can you picture the son of a wealthy business owner? His father died and left him with the multi-million dollar company of which he is now owner. Passionate about other pursuits, he does not behave in a manner keeping with the position of being an owner. It doesn’t change that he is the owner; he was just bad at it. Didn’t change his position though. (All analogies break down, I realize. Just consider my analogy in its simplest terms.)
When we are bad at being believers (remember Paul told the Colossians in chapter 3 to put their sinful practices to death!), our position has not changed even though we do not look like our Father. How does that move your heart? If that stirs your heart at all, write down the significance. Make it an action like Dr. Zuck advises.
| Made after the likeness of God in true holiness and righteousness, when I do not behave in accordance with my position in Christ, I will observe it. I will bring it into the light in front of my Dad (he already knows). I will repent. I will be renewed in knowledge that I have been already forgiven and walk forward in accordance with my position in Christ. |
The last one I have noted in this Bite is “I can walk in the life God had planned.” Although the list from Bite 34 for walk was mighty, our effort to find significance does not require us to address every point. Not at this moment. Remembering counsel from Dr. Zuck, application is about being specific and active. I am going to bring that list here and muse for a moment–my Dad is smiling and looking lovingly in my eyes, I want to hear what his heart’s desire is for me.
- Walk in a manner worthy of the calling (Eph 4:1)
- In humility
- In gentleness
- With patience
- Maintaining unity in the Spirit
- Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Col 1:10)
- Pleasing the Lord by doing good work
- Pleasing the Lord by growing in knowledge of God
- Walk in Christ (Col 2:6)
- Be rooted in him
- Be built up in him
- Be established in the faith
- Listen to what Paul said
- Abound in thanksgiving
As you cogitated over this list, I hope that our Dad spoke to your heart like he spoke to mine. I picture him cupping my chin in his hands and hearing the softness of his voice calling me to a walk that will ultimately bring me joy.
With a sigh of “yes, Lord,” I will share what I hear God pinpointing for me right now. Live action application here, a little revealing of my soul.
True and gritty confession: I am afraid of women in church. In my natural state, I will walk by most women and barely look at them. (I warned you, live action. True heart revealing. It’s ugly, my friend. Bringing the darkness to the light, remember?) How I got to this place does not need to be discussed here, what matters is what I’m called to do with it. Ultimate joy is what my Dad wants for me. Ugh. It’s hard.
Is walking by women and not even looking at them humble? No, because God created me after his image so I have value and something to offer those ladies. Humility is having a right view of one’s self.
Is walking by women and not even looking at them gentle? No, whether we consider this word as Hellenistic meekness (NET Bible gives insight that this is the “merciful execution of justice on behalf of those who have no voice by those who are in a position of authority”1) or “gentleness of attitude and behavior, in contrast with harshness in one’s dealings with others”2, I am not being gentle.
As I go down this list, I realize that I am actually doing my walk very badly in this area. Have you ever noticed that fear is hard? My Dad has kindness toward me even as I am walking badly. I will be active in applying what I’ve already found as significance earlier as one who is created.
| As I walk by women in church I do not know, I will look one of them in the eye and smile at them. |
God does not despise baby steps. God has not chosen and saved me because I am strong or good or all “together” but because he is. Holding his hand this Sunday, I will face my fear knowing all that he has taught me in his word and I will take a baby step. Will you pray for me?
Wrap Up
Jeepers. For me, that was intense. Thank you for walking through that with me.
As we finish up this passage, our Bible Study Bite has already been stated, but I want us to be reminded. Whether you like the term application or significance or whatever, the activity we are engaging in is this, How are we as readers responding to the meaning of a text?
In our time together, you have seen that I’m concerted in my effort to arrive at the author’s meaning before I ever insert myself into the text. But once we have discovered the meaning and implications, not responding to the meaning is keeping the text at arm’s length. Paul’s goal was channeling change through the Holy Spirit in his hearers. Those hearers had an easier time because they were in his culture. In a different time and place, we have a hurdle of putting ourselves in their sandals before we can actually get into response.
But respond we must. As students of the word, it is our destination. Any other goal results in simple and, in reality, pointless head knowledge. I hope that together we are growing and developing skills to arrive at the meaning of the text and then responding.
Next time we will get to determine what our next passage is and start our process again.
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- Biblical Studies Press. (2005). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press.
- Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 748). New York: United Bible Societies.