In biblical hermeneutics, explain the interpretive principle behind the metaphor that 'the road to a reader’s hometown runs through Jerusalem.' In your explanation, identify what 'Jerusalem' represents, explain why readers should not bypass it, and describe how this process leads to sound modern application.

Answer

'Jerusalem' represents the original historical, cultural, and literary context of the biblical text. Readers must not bypass this original setting because directly applying ancient texts to modern situations without understanding their original meaning leads to distortion and eisegesis. Sound contemporary application ('the reader's hometown') is achieved by first determining what the text meant to its original audience, extracting the timeless theological principles or universal human truths, and then bridging those principles into the reader's current life.