In the Text
Biblical Hermeneutics
Biblical Theology Bulletin 42, no. 4
The next issue of the Biblical Theology Bulletin includes: David M. Bossman, “The Ebb and Flow of Biblical Interpretation” Joel Edmund Anderson, “Jonah in Mark and Matthew: Creation, Covenant, Christ, and the Kingdom of God” Peter Admirand, “Millstones, Stumbling Blocks, and Dog Scraps: Children in the Gospels” Zeba A. Crook, “Memory and the Historical Jesus” John W. … Continue reading
More from Snodgrass on “A Hermeneutic of Identity”
Apparently, the article that Brian Tucker recently mentioned is part of a series of articles appearing in Bibliotheca Sacra this year, which look like they are providing the written corollaries to Klyne Snodgrass’s earlier lecture series at Dallas Theological Seminary.
Snodgrass on a “Hermeneutics of Identity”
At the beginning of the month, Klyne Snodgrass delivered this year’s W. H. Griffith Thomas Memorial Lectureship at Dallas Theological Seminary. In the lectureship, Snodgrass discussed a “hermeneutics of identity” in four parts: Part 1 (February 2, Theory and Theology) Part 2 (February 3, Gospels) Part 3 (February 4, Paul) Part 4 (February 5, Church … Continue reading
Defining “Theological Interpretation”
This morning, Scot McKnight has an engaging post that addresses some ambiguities present in descriptions of “theological interpretation.” To move toward decreasing these ambiguities, McKnight proposes his own description of what interpreting scripture theologically should mean—namely, “read[ing] individual passages in the Bible through the lens of one’s orthodox, community-shaped, and confessional theology” (italics original). Read … Continue reading
Roland Deines on Halakah and Community Definition
In reading Roland Deines’ essay in Second Temple Judaism (“The Pharisees Between ‘Judaisms’ and ‘Common Judaism’”), I came across the following, astute paragraph: If it is correct that it was particularly halakah that constituted Pharisees as Pharisees, it is also true that it constituted Essenes as Essenes and Sadducees as Sadducees. The same can be … Continue reading
The Interpretation of the New Testament, 1861–1986: Interaction
Neill’s stated purpose for his book was “to provide a narrative [about the interpretation of the New Testament] that can be read without too much trouble by the non-theologian who is anxious to know and is prepared to devote some time to the subject” (ix). This task he seems to have done masterfully well, with … Continue reading
The Interpretation of the New Testament, 1861–1986: Summary
N. T. Wright’s revision of Stephen Neill’s, Interpretation of the New Testament, 1861–1986, attempts a concise, but significantly narratival, survey of various issues in New Testament scholarship during the period in question. To this end, Neill and Wright discuss: (i) the challenge to orthodoxy (1–34); (ii) the New Testament and its relationship to history (35–64); … Continue reading
A Hermeneutic of Love
Communication is hermeneutical; it involves people sending and receiving messages. To make the communication process work, the sender(s) and receiver(s) both have to meet their own particular, communicative responsibilities. Of course, with literature like the New Testament, the people who sent the messages it contains cannot clarify or supplement anything they have already said. So, … Continue reading
Hermeneutical Method, Part 2
A corollary problem to the tension between the old and the new was the tension between the absolute and the relative. No one would have dared relativize the words of the Highest, but some heretical sects thought parts of scripture (notably the Old Testament) were products of a lesser god. This position allowed them safely … Continue reading
Hermeneutical Method, Part 1
The second century saw several, very live issues about hermeneutical method, such as the necessity to actualize scripture (i.e., to interpret scripture in a manner consistent with its supreme importance), the necessity to actualize according to rules (e.g., the rule of faith), and the reality that the actualizations are largely determined by community contexts. Therefore, … Continue reading
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