The Theological Interpretation of Scripture: Recent Contributions By Stephen E. Fowl, Christopher R. Seitz and Francis Watson

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-196
Author(s):  
S.A. Cummins

In the midst of the massive enterprise that is contemporary biblical scholar ship there has emerged in recent years an interest in recovering and rede ploying a distinctly theological approach to biblical interpretation. By way of introduction to certain significant aspects of this undertaking, this issue- orientated article considers the contribution of three important partici pants: Stephen E. Fowl, Christopher R. Seitz and Francis Watson. Matters under review include defining theological interpretation, its critique of cer tain historical-critical approaches, its attempts to work within a trinitarian framework, its concern to integrate the Old Testament more fully into a two-testament account of Scripture, and its interest in the role of the inter preting Christian community. In this way the article acknowledges and invites further engagement with an important and invigorating development within biblical and theological studies.

Author(s):  
Will Kynes

The introduction sets this study in the context of the three recent critical approaches it combines: (1) “metacritical” studies of biblical criticism that identify and critically analyze the “historically effected consciousness” that inspired a particular approach to biblical interpretation; (2) “biographies” of texts that examine their origins and effects; and (3) “end- of” books, which, following the lead of Fukuyama’s “The End of History?” (1989), argue, among other things, that old concepts may fade away as perceptions change. The role of genre methodology in perpetuating the Wisdom Literature category and now in challenging it is introduced. Finally, terminological distinctions are made between the Wisdom Literature category and Wisdom as a genre, the Wisdom Schools associated with it, and wisdom as a concept.


1980 ◽  
Vol 73 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 311-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birger A. Pearson

Interpretation of the OT is a many-faceted thing in gnostic literature. The old view that Gnosticism implies a rejection of the OT has had to be considerably modified in the light of new discoveries. The Nag Hammadi texts have shown that the Gnostics made far more use of the OT than could have been expected on the basis of older premises. R. McL. Wilson, in a recent article, has pointed out that no less than seventeen OT books are quoted in the gnostic writings collected in Werner Foerster's anthology. To be sure, Genesis—especially the first chapters—is by far the most-quoted OT book. And it is obvious that the use made by the Gnostics of Genesis and other OT writings is hardly conventional, to say the least. Even so, it is of no use to scholarship simply to be satisfied with calling attention to the “perversity” of gnostic OT interpretation. For it is important to observe the manifold ways in which the OT is utilized in gnostic, especially Christian gnostic, texts. One can then attain a proper understanding of the role of biblical interpretation in the development of Gnosticism, as well as early Christian theology in general.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-266
Author(s):  
Reni Dikawati ◽  
Sariyatun Sariyatun ◽  
Warto Warto

Javanese Christianity construction is not only built on the basis of biblical interpretation. Discourse and knowledge contained in literary texts show the existence of acceptance capacity, communication patterns and adjustments to the cultural context, as well as the important role of the agency. Dharmogandul manuscript is a text that is part of the construction of ideas, values, ideas, about Christianity that is understood by Javanese people. This study aims to examine the dynamics of the Dharmogandul fiber texts and discourses with genealogy approaches, connect and compare with the thoughts of Kiai Ibrahim Tunggul Wulung as a real life context, as well as psychological figures that provide worldview to the Christian community in Tegalombo, Pati. Exploring Dharmogandul fiber genealogy shows that the text originated from the concept of religiosity, in the historical development there was a shift in the meaning of Dharmogandul fiber in syncretic direction, until it became attached and became part of the comparison of formalistic religion. The results of the study showed some contradictions and comparisons in accommodating the discourse of meeting several religions in the Dharmogandul fiber with the real conditions of the Tegalombo Christian community. [Kontruksi Kristen Kejawen tidak hanya dibangun atas dasar penafsiran kitabiah. Wacana dan pengetahuan yang termuat dalam teks sastra menunjukkan adanya kapasitas penerimaan, pola komunikasi, dan penyesuaian konteks kultur, serta peran penting agency. Serat Dharmogandul merupakan salah satu teks yang menjadi bagian dari kontruksi ide, nilai dan gagasan mengenai kekristenan yang dipahami masyarakat Jawa.  Penelitian  ini bertujuan  menelaah dinamika teks dan wacana serat Dharmogandul dengan pendekatan geneologi serta menghubungkan dan membandingkannya dengan pemikiran Kiai Ibrahim Tunggul Wulung sebagai real life context, sekaligus figur psikologis yang memberikan worldview terhadap komunitas Kristen di Tegalombo, Pati. Jelajah geneologi serat Dharmogandul menunjukkan bahwa teks berawal dari konsep religiusitas kemudian bergesr ke arah sinkretis lalu menjadi bagian dari perbandingan agama formal. Hasil penelitian menujukkan pertentangan dan perbandingan dalam mengakomodasi wacana perjumpaan beberapa agama dalam serat Dharmogandul dengan kondisi riil komunitas Kristen Tegalombo.]


Author(s):  
Jens Zimmermann

Chapter 7 demonstrates the importance of biblical interpretation to Bonhoeffer’s Christian humanism. Beginning with the Barthian inspiration for a theological reading of scripture as the book of the church, Bonhoeffer develops a biblical hermeneutic for transformative, humanist reading of the Bible that incorporates historical critical tools in seeking out God’s address in concrete life situations. After describing Bonhoeffer’s incarnational approach to the biblical text, and his criticism of verbal inspiration, the middle portion of this chapter describes Bonhoeffer’s theological interpretation of the Old Testament, pointing out striking parallels to patristic interpretation, including the Bible’s sacramental role for Christformation. The same sacramental ontology that governs his general hermeneutics and ethics also help explain Bonhoeffer’s often misunderstood notions of non-religious interpretation of biblical concepts, non-religious Christianity, and a world come of age. The remainder of the chapter clarifies the meaning and humanist implications of these ideas, showing their congruence with Bonhoeffer’s increasing appreciation of the Old Testament’s importance for a this-worldly Christianity that celebrates God’s presence in the midst of life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-72
Author(s):  
STUART VOGEL

AbstractIn the nineteenth century, the translators of the Bible in to Chinese were heavily dependent on their “native assistants” or “Chinese co-translators”. The importance of the contributions of these co-translators has long been underestimated. In Fujian, the missionaries adopted a co-translator model which allowed the assistant to take an equal and full role in the task of translation. The intention was that the local Christian community should take over full responsibility for all aspects of Christian ministry and mission. The translation process included the adoption of an easy-to-learn system of Romanisation of the Southern Min vernacular so that the resulting translation was accurate and easily read and understood. This essay looks at these developments in Fujian and on Taiwan, notably the co-operation between Reverend Iû Sūn-ióng, (楊士養牧師) and Reverend Thomas Barclay. In contrast, during the translation of the 1919 version of the Mandarin Bible, the “native assistants” played a lesser role in the production of the final work. Nevertheless, while few Chinese co-translators emerged as a creative force during the translation process, they may have contributed to the written style of the translation, if not the theological interpretation of the Bible in Chinese.


Author(s):  
Gerald O’Collins, SJ

This book anchors its study of inspiration firmly in the Scriptures themselves, and examines both the inspired nature of the Bible and its inspiring impact. It begins by evaluating classical views of biblical inspiration expounded by Karl Barth and Raymond Collins. It then takes up the inspired origin of the Old Testament, where earlier books helped to inspire later books, before moving to the New Testament, which throughout shows the inspiring impact of the inherited Scriptures—both in direct quotations and in many echoes. The work then moves to the Bible’s inspiring influence on Christian worship, preaching, teaching, the visual arts, literature, and life. After a chapter that clarifies the interrelationship between divine revelation, tradition, and inspiration, two chapters expound ten characteristics of biblical inspiration, with special emphasis on the inspiring quality of the Bible. The book explains a major consequence of inspiration, biblical truth, and the grounds on which Christians ‘canonized’ the Scriptures. After spelling out three approaches to biblical interpretation (the authorial intention, the role of readers, and the primacy of the text itself), the work ends by setting out ten principles for engaging theologically with the Scriptures. An epilogue highlights two achievements of the book. By carefully distinguishing (but not separating) inspiration from divine revelation and biblical truth, it can deliver readers from false problems. The book also underlines the inspiring effects of the Scriptures as part of the Holy Spirit’s work of inspiration.


2020 ◽  
pp. 47-70
Author(s):  
Илья Александрович Хангиреев

Данная статья посвящена роли документальной гипотезы в богословии выдающегося немецкого лютеранского богослова и библеиста прошлого века Герхарда фон Рада (1901-1971 гг.). Прежде всего, даётся краткая история документальной гипотезы и основные воззрения предшественников фон Рада (Ю. Велльгаузен, Г. Гункель, А. Альт). Далее приводится обзор и критический анализ основных сочинений фон Рада, имеющих отношение к данной гипотезе: его первой «программной» статьи «Формально-историческая проблема Шестикнижия», комментариев на книги Бытия и Второзакония и первого тома фундаментального труда «Богословие Ветхого Завета». Поскольку объём данных произведений весьма велик, а объём статьи ограничен, здесь разбираются только наиболее важные, яркие и спорные тезисы фон Рада. Затем даётся общая оценка его творчества при одновременном сопоставлении с традиционным православным подходом. В приложении к статье содержится таблица разбиения текста Пятикнижия по источникам, согласно фон Раду, которая может быть полезна при сравнении его воззрений с идеями других представителей документальной гипотезы. Автор статьи приходит к выводу, что фон Рад действительно был выдающимся библеистом и богословом своего времени, активно использовал выводы документальной гипотезы, при этом сам почти не был в ней новатором по сравнению с предшественниками. В целом результаты его научного творчества представляются интересными и важными для исследователей Ветхого Завета, однако во многом спорными как с точки зрения других современных библеистов, так и с позиции православной библеистики. The paper is devoted to the role of the documentary hypothesis in the theology of Lutheran theologian and biblical scholar Gerhard von Rad (1901-1971). The article is preceded by a brief history of the documentary hypothesis and the main views of the predecessors of von Rad, such as J. Wellhausen, H. Gunkel, and A. Alt. The introduction is followed by a review and critical analysis of the main works of von Rad related to this hypothesis (his first programmatic opus «The Form-Critical Problem of the Hexateuch», commentaries on the books of Genesis and Deuteronomy, and the first volume of his fundamental work «Theology of the Old Testament»). Due to the large volume of his works and the limited volume of the paper, only the most important, vivid, and controversial theses of von Rad are analyzed. The author makes a general assessment of von Rad’s works and compares his thoughts with the traditional Orthodox approach. This analysis points to the conclusion that von Rad was an outstanding biblical scholar and prominent theologian of his time, but was not an innovator of the documentary hypothesis, and just followed his predecessors. Despite being controversial, von Rad’s treatises may provide interesting material for modern Old Testament scholars. The article is accompanied by an appendix - a table of von Rad’s layout of the text of the Pentateuch according to its sources, which may be useful in comparing his views with the ideas of other representatives of the documentary hypothesis.


1988 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael LaFargue

This paper is about the relevance of Jacques Derrida's thought to biblical interpretation. It focuses specifically on the question of determinacy: whether there is something definite and determinate which is the object of textual interpretation, or whether texts are subject to an infinite number of incompatible, but equally valid, readings.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-38
Author(s):  
Jonathan Octavianus

As every epoch there are there a transition time, on Old Testament like Moses with Joshua, Joshua selected by God an supported fully by Moses, Conversely Moses have liberally to be changed. Like Elijah to Elisha too.Pattern on New Testament there are an examples of transition time too, like Jesus Christ to His Disciples, an transition from Paul to his successor Timothy. This is a heart and soul a big leader, and shall all leadership owners shepherd in church, Christian institution, etc.Which most be remembered in transition of leadership, that people of God leadership, about who will lead, who continue leadership, like a principle in biblical, hence a role of God, is determinant an anoint man which be selected the absolute God choice and constitute all other, but a succession router leader is which have been selected His own. An can be anointed in front of believers.


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