Fine-tuning the Hermeneutical Spiral

Seminary Commons

A hermeneutical spiral model illustrates the temporal process of inductive and deductive reasoning for interpretation. The Hermeneutical Spiral by Osborne describes a conical spiral that stretches from the ancient text to the modern world of the listener. Unfortunately, this model implies a trade-off of biblical authority for increasing relevance as it moves away from Scripture. To avoid this problem a viable hermeneutical model must allow Scripture to norm the whole process (Sola Scriptura). In addition, the worlds of meaning unpacked from the text (Tota Scriptura), the worlds of meaning of the interpreter (Prima Scriptura), and the fusion of those worlds of meaning (Viva Scriptura) should be incorporated if possible. I propose a cylindrical three-tiered (micro, meso, macro) hermeneutical spiral model with a central long axis of Scripture that norms all the loops. The axis of the text radiates worlds of meaning (in, behind, in front of, above and below the text) which encounter the interpreter’s worlds of meaning as he/she travels along a spiral path. Fusion of the two worlds’ horizons requires semi-permeable boundaries (dialogue of questions and answers) to allow interpenetrative understanding. Jharony Fernandez-