Which statement illustrates a hermeneutical misstep to avoid?

• A. Interpreting a verse in its original historical context.
• B. Reading a modern political agenda into a biblical verse.
• C. Considering the literary genre and authorial intent.
• D. Seeking multiple scholarly perspectives.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is to interpret biblical texts without letting present-day beliefs or agendas distort what the text would have meant in its original setting. Good hermeneutics means exegesis: drawing out the author’s meaning by looking at historical context, the literary genre, and what the author intended to communicate within that text and its place in Scripture. Reading a modern political agenda into a biblical verse demonstrates a misstep because it imports current concerns and biases rather than following the text’s own clues about meaning. This approach shifts the focus away from what the passage would have conveyed to its original audience and purpose, and that distorts interpretation. In contrast, interpreting in light of the original historical setting, paying attention to genre and authorial intent, and consulting multiple scholarly perspectives all help guard against letting present concerns override the text’s actual message.