Social & Historical Approaches to the Bible


Book Description

The Bible was not written and received in a historical vacuum--in fact, the social and historical context of the Bible illuminates key understandings that may have been otherwise missed. Biblical scholars use many different approaches to uncover this context, each engaging various aspects of the social and historical world of the Bible--from religious ritual to scribal practice to historical event. In Social & Historical Approaches to the Bible, you will learn how these methods developed and see how they have been used. You will be introduced to the strengths and weaknesses of each method, so you may understand its benefits as well as see its limitations. Many of these approaches are still in use by biblical scholars today, though often much changed from their earliest form as ideas were revised in light of the challenges and questions posed by further research.







The Reality of God and Historical Method


Book Description

Samuel Adams engages the classic problem of the relation between faith and history from the perspective of apocalyptic theology in critical dialogue with the work of N. T. Wright. He argues that historical and theological scholars must take into consideration, at a methodological level, the reality of God that has invaded history in Jesus Christ.




Studying the Historical Jesus


Book Description

An informed, scholarly approach to the study of the historical Jesus that takes the Gospels seriously as a source of historical information.




The Death of Scripture and the Rise of Biblical Studies


Book Description

The Death of Scripture and the Rise of Biblical Studies examines the creation of the academic Bible. Beginning with the fragmentation of biblical interpretation in the centuries after the Reformation, Michael Legaspi shows how the weakening of scriptural authority in the Western churches altered the role of biblical interpretation. Focusing on renowned German scholar Johann David Michaelis (1717-1791), Legaspi explores the ways in which critics reconceived the role of the Bible. This book offers a new account of the origins of biblical studies, illuminating the relation of the Bible to churchly readers, theological interpreters, academic critics, and people in between. It explains why, in an age of religious resurgence, modern biblical criticism may no longer be in a position to serve as the Bible's disciplinary gatekeeper.




The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation


Book Description

This guide to the state of biblical studies features 20 chapters written by scholars from North America and Britain, and represents both traditional and contemporary points of view.




The End of the Historical-Critical Method


Book Description

The historical-critical method of biblical interpretation has dominated theological thinking for over two centuries. It has been the subject of much controversy, including the turmoil in American Lutheranism. But now the historical-critical method has Òcome to a dead end.Ó So says Dr. Gerhard Maier, author of the original version of this work. Maier points out that the emphasis in the historical-critical method has consistently been on the critical rather than the historical. He goes on to delineate the Òhistorical-biblicalÓ method he feels will be needed in the future. Such a method takes history seriously but allows for God's supernatural intervention in human affairs. Here Edwin Leverenz and Rudolph Norden present the English translation of Maier's manuscript, while Eugene Klug's preface places the study into the setting of today's theological debate. The End of the Historical Critical-Method is ÒmustÓ reading for theologians. Yet it also serves as a help to all who have been searching for guidance in combating rationalism in the approach to theology.







Biblical Hermeneutics


Book Description




Invitation to Biblical Interpretation, 2nd ed.


Book Description

An authoritative guide to accurately interpreting and applying God's Word In this second edition of Invitation to Biblical Interpretation, Andreas Kostenberger leads the reader step-by-step through the process of interpreting and applying God's Word. The primary principle is the hermeneutical triad, which consists of history, literature, and theology. Readers are equipped to explore the historical background of a biblical passage, analyze its literary genre and features, and derive its theological meaning in light of the biblical canon. Numerous examples are provided throughout to illustrate the concepts. A concluding chapter provides direction on practical application, preaching, and helpful tools for Bible study. Additional features include key words and definitions at the end of each chapter, study questions, and practical exercises for applying the material. An appendix lists numerous resources for Bible study, including recommended commentaries for every book of the Bible. The second edition updates these resources, as well as the sources cited throughout, and includes a revised chapter on the Old Testament canon. Instructors, students, pastors, and anyone who desires to interpret Scripture accurately will find this volume to be an indispensable addition to their library.