We recently had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Louis Markos on the Creation Today Show to discuss a topic that might sound intimidating at first– understanding hermeneutics. Dr. Markos is a professor, author, and Christian apologist who has dedicated his life to helping believers think deeply and faithfully about Scripture. With his rich background in literature, theology, and apologetics, he brings incredible clarity to how we can better understand God’s Word—not as a confusing puzzle, but as living truth for our lives today.

When you hear the word hermeneutics, you might think: Herman-what?! It sounds like a strange, complicated term—but it’s actually one of the most important concepts for anyone who wants to read the Bible faithfully.

At its core, hermeneutics is the art and science of understanding the Word of God. It’s not about memorization tricks or solving hidden puzzles. Instead, it’s about discovering the many layers of beauty and truth God has placed within His Word, and interpreting it the way He intended.

Interestingly, the word hermeneutics comes from the name Hermes, the messenger of the gods in pagan mythology. Hermes was thought to be the bearer of the divine word. Over time, Christians borrowed this term to describe the process of interpreting Scripture—opening it, reading it, and drawing out its meaning.

And that’s the key: drawing out, not reading in. Too often, we approach the Bible with our own ideas, preferences, and agendas. Instead of practicing exegesis—pulling truth out of the text—we slip into eisegesis, forcing our own meaning into it.

History shows us the danger of this. C.S. Lewis once noted that every time scholars put together a new study on who Jesus is, He starts to look suspiciously like the scholars or cultural trends of their day. It’s a warning: don’t make Jesus who you want Him to be. Let Him speak for Himself through the Word.

Take Philippians 4:13 as an example: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Many use this as a name-it-and-claim-it verse—proof that God will empower you to accomplish any dream you choose. But in its context, Paul was talking about the strength God gave him to endure suffering and carry out his mission. God empowers us for His purposes, not ours.

Or consider Matthew 7:1: “Judge not.” Taken out of context, people say this means you can never call out sin. But Jesus didn’t forbid righteous judgment. After all, we are called to lovingly confront sin, not ignore it. You can “love the sinner while hating the sin.” That is not hate; that is compassion: speaking truth to those who need to hear it.

We also need to be wise about different genres in Scripture. The Bible contains history, poetry, parables, and prophecy—each written with different styles and purposes. Hyperbole (intentional exaggeration) and figurative speech appear often. For example, when Jesus said we must “hate” our father and mother to follow Him, He wasn’t calling us to literal hatred. He was emphasizing the supremacy of our love and loyalty to Him above all else.

The problem is, we live in a culture full of competing interpretations, where the Bible is often dismissed as irrelevant. People twist Scripture to say what they want it to say: God hates what they hate, loves what they love, and justifies their lifestyle choices. But that flips everything upside down. We’re not meant to use Scripture to avoid accountability. We’re meant to let it shape us, correct us, and draw us closer to God’s truth.

That’s why hermeneutics matters. A proper understanding of the Bible protects us from misusing God’s Word and helps us discover its real power and clarity.

So the next time you hear the word hermeneutics, don’t let it intimidate you. On this episode of the Creation Today Show, Eric Hovind and Dr. Markos explored how proper hermeneutics — the careful, thoughtful interpretation of God’s Word, which helps us understand Scripture as it was meant to be understood. Dr. Markos emphasized that approaching the Bible with humility and discernment allows it to speak truth into our lives, rather than us twisting it to justify our own ideas.

When we apply hermeneutics properly, we start to see not ourselves, but God — His wisdom, His character, and His purposes in creation and in our lives. To hear the full depth of this conversation and how Eric and Dr. Markos unpack these principles, the full episode is a rich resource for anyone wanting to understand God’s Word more faithfully.

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