Four Views on Moving beyond the Bible to Theology


Book Description

Learn to identify, evaluate, and refine your approach to forming theological conclusions based on the biblical text. The Bible has long served as the standard for Christian practice, yet believers still disagree on how biblical passages should be interpreted and applied. Only when readers fully understand the constructs that inform their process of moving from Scripture to theology--and those of others--can Christians fully evaluate teachings that claim to be "biblical." In this book--part of the Counterpoints series--scholars who affirm an inspired Bible, relevant and authoritative for every era, present models they consider most faithful to Scripture Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.: Principlizing Model Daniel M. Doriani: Redemptive-Historical Model Kevin J. Vanhoozer: Drama-of-Redemption Model William J. Webb: Redemptive-Movement Model Each position receives critiques from the proponents of the other views. Moreover, due to the far-reaching implications this topic holds for biblical studies, theology, and church teaching, this book includes three additional reflections by Christopher J. H. Wright, Mark L. Strauss, and Al Wolters on the theological and practical interpretation of biblical texts. The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.




Beyond the Bible


Book Description

A seasoned interpreter presents a "principled approach," showing how the Bible, though written long ago, can speak authoritatively on contemporary ethical, doctrinal, and practical issues.




Beyond the Bounds


Book Description

"Everyone who believes in God at all believes that He knows what you and I are going to do tomorrow." –C. S. Lewis This understanding of God's foreknowledge has united the church for twenty centuries. But advocates of "open theism" are presenting a different vision of God and a different view of the future. The rise of open theism within evangelicalism has raised a host of questions. Was classical theism decisively tainted by Greek philosophy? How should we understand passages that tell us that God repents? Are essentials of biblical Christianity–like the inerrancy of Scripture, the trustworthiness of God, and the Gospel of Christ–at stake in this debate? Where, when, and why should we draw new boundaries–and is open theism beyond them? Beyond the Bounds brings together a respected team of scholars to examine the latest literature, address these questions, and give guidance to the church in this time of controversy. Contributors include: John Piper Wayne Grudem Michael S. Horton Bruce A. Ware Mark R. Talbot A. B. Caneday Stephen J. Wellum Justin Taylor Paul Kjoss Helseth Chad Brand William C. Davis Russell Fuller "We have prepared this book to address the issue of boundaries and, we pray, bring some remedy to the present and impending pain of embracing open theism as a legitimate Christian vision of God. . . . As a pastor, who longs to be biblical and God-centered and Christ-exalting and eternally helpful to my people, I see open theism as theologically ruinous, dishonoring to God, belittling to Christ, and pastorally hurtful. My prayer is that Christian leaders will come to see it this way, and thus love the church by counting open theism beyond the bounds of orthodox Christian teaching." –From the Foreword by John Piper




Beyond Biblical Theology


Book Description

Reading Heikki Räisänen’s hermeneutics in context, Timo Eskola explores the development of Western New Testament interpretation. Reclaiming a Wredean approach to the Scriptures, Räisänen focuses on tradition and interpretation. He builds on Weberian sociology, adopted through Peter Berger’s theories, and substitutes sacralized culturalism for biblical theology. After examining fourteenth century Quran-criticism and its impact on Reimarus, Eskola discusses the genesis of the revised history-of-religion theory that Räisänen developed when investigating the Quran’s relationship to the Bible. Sociology then becomes a link between standard historicism and poststructuralism as Räisänen reinterprets Berger’s sociology of knowledge. Räisänen’s sacralized culturalism finally becomes the theory from which his magnum opus The Rise of Christian Beliefs has been written.




Beyond Chapter and Verse


Book Description

Do you struggle to connect the dots between the Bible and your life? While Christians instinctively want to apply Scripture, we encounter difficulties that can discourage us and diminish our engagement with God’s Word. Indeed, biblical application has suffered in various ways in the church—everything from neglect to abuse to contempt. Responding to such challenges, Beyond Chapter and Verse provides a biblically based rationale for the practice of application and then proposes a biblically consistent method for application. The book is substantive but accessible, relevant for believers generally as well as preachers. It begins by sketching the broad theological context of Bible application, relating it to the gospel generally and to sanctification specifically. The heart of the study then synthesizes key Old and New Testament passages relative to the process of application. Building on this foundation, the book sets forth a sensible approach for arriving at legitimate applications of Scripture. A rich assortment of positive and negative case studies illustrates the method, motivating believers to apply the Scriptures for themselves.







Four Views on Moving Beyond the Bible to Theology


Book Description

Four Views on Moving Beyond the Bible to Theology evaluates interpretive models of applying biblical texts and provides perspectives on questions of moving from Scripture to theology.




Beyond the Obvious


Book Description

...Bible students who have felt that earlier methods of interpreting the Bible, while orthodox and secure, result in rather unfruitful 'abstract meaning' will find exciting and challenging ideas in 'Beyond the Obvious'. Stephen A. Hayner, Peachtree Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth, Columbia Theological Seminary Here is a stimulating, thoroughly evangelical, and orthodox challenge to the dominant evangelical paradigm of biblical interpretation known as the single meaning, authorial intent approach.... I believe the book is an impressive and convincing corrective to the one-sided emphasis of some evangelicals on single meaning authorial intent hermeneutics. Alan F. Johnson, Professor of New Testament and Christian Ethics, Wheaton College The authors offer a timely and vigorous challenge to the hermeneutical status quo among evangelicals.... The book will greatly clarify the issues in the current hermeneutical debate. David Fisher, Senior Minister of Colonial Church, Edina, MN This is a noteworthy and valuable effort for recognizing the implications of culture in hermeneutics. By making the Kingdom of God central, a whole Bible view of mission develops from this hermeneutic, deepening and broadening our understanding of God at work in the world. Donald K. Smith, Division of Intercultural Studies, Western Seminary




Beyond Biblical Theologies


Book Description

English summary: This collected volume presents new approaches to theologies of the entire Bible in international, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational perspective. The authors develop guidelines for theology and religious history, address future-oriented theological problems, not only in the context of the contrasting North American and European approaches, but also view to the different foundations and perspectives of non-canonical writings. In doing so, they also consider paradigmatic texts and themes, as well as general hermeneutic issues. German description: Ziel des vorliegenden Sammelbandes, der die gleichnamige internationale Tagung (2009) am Krupp-Kolleg in Greifswald dokumentiert, ist die Formulierung neuer Perspektiven Biblischer Theologien vor dem Hintergrund bereits vorliegender Ergebnisse. Ausgangspunkte bieten die ersten Summen aus den jeweiligen theologischen Disziplinen: Altes bzw. Neues Testament und Systematische Theologie. Von hier aus behandeln die Einzelbeitrage verschiedene Fragestellungen, die sowohl Kontroversen als auch die Fundamente und Perspektiven auf Quellen jenseits des Kanons berucksichtigen. Die aus unterschiedlichen theologischen Disziplinen beigesteuerten Zugange werden so in ein interdisziplinares Gesprach zwischen Exegese und Systematik eingebunden und eroffnen einen nahezu enzyklopadisch-theologischen Blick auf das Thema Biblische Theologie. Zudem ergeben sich Leitlinien einer internationalen und generationenubergreifenden Diskussion, da sowohl etablierte und anerkannte Wissenschaftler als auch Nachwuchsforscher aus Deutschland, England, den Niederlanden, Schottland, Schweden und den USA beteiligt sind. Die Autorinnen und Autoren befassen sich mit paradigmatischen Zugangen uber Quellen und konkrete Fragestellungen, aber auch mit hermeneutischen Einschatzungen und ubergreifenden Themen in der aktuellen Diskussion. Schwerpunkte markieren, neben einer Psaltertheologie, Fragen der Rezeption biblischer Themen und Texte, der Gultigkeit und kerygmatischen Programmatik gesamtbiblischer Ansatze und insbesondere die Kontroversen zwischen den europaischen, vor allem deutschsprachigen, und nordamerikanischen Diskussionslagen zum Thema. Mit Beitragen von: Hans-Christoph Askani, Heinrich Assel, John Barton, Stefan Beyerle, Tomas Bokedal, Christfried Bottrich, John J. Collins, Michael Coors, Beate Ego, Gosta Hallonsten, Eva Harasta, Joel S. Kaminsky, Corinna Korting, Ulrike Mittmann, Georg Pfleiderer, Enno Edzard Popkes, Anathea Portier-Young, Ferdinand R. Prostmeier, Gregor Reichenbach, Eckart David Schmidt, Stefan Schorch, Rudolf Smend, Philipp Stoellger, Jaques van Ruiten, Petra von Gemunden, Michael Welker.




Beyond the Impasse


Book Description

Can Christians learn from other religions? This book offers a fascinating account of the nature, role, and purposes of religious diversity within God's providential plan.