Die hermeneutiek van die belydenisskrifte

Abstract

The hermeneutics of the reformed confessions. The purpose of this article, in the first place, is to honour the work that Prof Gert (Jorrie) Jordaan has done over several decades, especiallyin the field of hermeneutics. Secondly, the article wants to make a contribution regardinganother aspect of hermeneutics, namely the hermeneutics of the reformed confessions. A closerelationship exists between Scripture and the confessions. The confessions is a summary or‘authoritative commentary’ on the core truths of the doctrine in Scripture. They are ecclesiastical documents, authoritative and binding on officials and church members of churches in the reformed tradition. They are commentaries or interpretations, but also need to be interpreted. Due to their unique character and function, the hermeneutics of the confessions is of utmostimportance. The article formulates ten guidelines that are, in the view of the author, essentialfor the contemporary interpretation of the confessions.