Essays on Theological Interpretation of Scripture

One of my reading projects this year is to work through the entirety of Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of Scripture (Baker Academic, 2005).  Thus far, I have read through Kevin J. Vanhoozer's introductory article on theological interpretation of scripture and all of the articles under the letter A.  At this point I found it necessary to go back and re-read the introductory article to make sure I understood the unique contribution to biblical studies this dictionary is promising to deliver.  I recommend Vanhoozer's article.  I found it to be very helpful and will share highlights in a later post.

Another article that I began reading today and will attempt to finish tonight is one that Andy Nasselli kindly posted on The Gospel Coalition blog: D. A. Carson's evaluation of Theological Interpretation of Scripture.  Andy posted a PDF version of this article along with a distinctly Nassellian-style outlined summary.

Thanks to a post by Rod Decker on February 7, 2012 on his NT Resources Blog, I also found a review of Carson's essay written by Brent Parker for The Credo Magazine blog (2/7/12).

Carson's essay has been published in Theological Commentary: Evangelical Perspectives, edited by R. Michael Allen (T&T Clark Int'l, 2011).  This is my first introduction to this new book.  It looks very interesting and carries some great endorsements, especially from my friend Mark Gignilliat.

R. Michael Allen is Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, Knox Theological Seminary, Fort Lauderdale, USA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1: Theological Commentary Michael Allen

2: Genesis 1 Ryan S. Peterson

3: Exodus 3 Michael Allen

4: Psalm 22: Forsakenness and the God Who Sings Kelly M. Kapic

5: Proverbs 8: Hearing Lady Wisdom's Offer Again Daniel J. Treier

6: Ezekiel 14: "I, The Lord, Have Deceived That Prophet": Divine Deception, Inception, and Communicative Action Kevin J. Vanhoozer

7: Mark 12: God's Lordly Son and Trinitarian Christology Scott R. Swain

8: John 1: Preexistent Logos and God the Son Henri Blocher

9: Ephesians 4:1-16: The Ascension, the Church, and the Spoils of War Michael Horton

10: Colossians 3: Deification, Theosis, Participation, or Union with Christ? Andrew McGowan

11: What is Theological Commentary? An Old Testament Perspective Walter L. Moberly

12: Theological Interpretation of Scripture: Yes, But... D. A. Carson

ENDORSEMENTS:

'This excellent collection brings together some fine examples of theological interpretation at work on particular biblical texts, along with some sympathetic assessments of the prospects for reading Scripture theologically. Each of the essays demonstrates exegetical finesse, theological alertness, and sensitivity to the spiritual dimensions of study of Scripture; taken together, they deserve a wide and attentive readership.'

JOHN WEBSTER, UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN, UK

'Whatever resides at the edges of evangelical identity, the Bible is certainly at the center. This fine collection of essays models theological exegesis across the terrain of the canon. It avoids the pitfall of speaking endlessly about method and turns its attention directly to the Scriptures themselves. This collection inspires hope for those who believe our approach to reading Scripture should reflect a Christian confession regarding its nature and role. The concluding essays by Moberly and Carson throw some spice into the pot as well. To the Bible and this volume I say: Take up and read.'

MARK GIGNILLIAT, SAMFORD UNIVERSITY, USA

'The twofold task skilfully undertaken in this volume should inspire all Christians: first, to practise reading Scripture unabashedly as God's self-revelation with Christ Jesus at its center, while benefiting from historical-critical research; second, to do so from within the (ecclesial) act of faith and thus from a dogmatic perspective - in this case, by and large, Reformed dogmatics. Michael Allen is to be commended for his vision of theological renewal.'

MATTHEW LEVERING, UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON, USA

Essays on Theological Interpretation of Scripture

New Volume on the Psalms in the Studies in Theological Interpretation Series

Here's another interesting looking study in the Psalms: Gordon Wenham, The Psalms as Torah: Reading Biblical Song Ethically. Studies in Theological Interpretation. (Baker Academic, 2012).

Contents

Introduction
1. Jewish and Christian Approaches to the Psalms

2. Critical Approaches to the Psalms

3. The Psalter as an Anthology to Be Memorized

4. The Unique Claims of Prayed Ethics

5. The Concept of the Law in the Psalms

6. Laws in the Psalter

7. Narrative Law in the Psalter

8. Virtues and Vices in the Psalter

9. Appeals for Divine Intervention

10. The Ethic of the Psalms and the New Testament

Conclusion

Indexes

"An important contribution to both ethics and our insightful reading of the Psalms."--Patrick D. Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary

Have any of our you read any of the volumes in this series? What are your impressions?


I also found this related title by Wenham: Story as Torah: Reading Old Testament Narrative Ethically (Baker Academic, 2004).


Added to the wish list!

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Studies in Theological Interpretation

New! Psalms as Torah Reading Biblical Song Ethically Series: Studies in Theological Interpretation by Gordon J. Wenham ISBN: 978-0-8010-3168-7 Price: $22.99 Format: Paperback Publication date: Feb. 12 | Division: Baker Academic VIEW AT AMAZON Character of Christian Scripture, The The Significance of a Two-Testament Bible Series: Studies in Theological Interpretation by Christopher R. Seitz ISBN: 978-0-8010-3948-5 Price: $22.99 Format: Paperback Publication date: Oct. 11 | Division: Baker Academic VIEW AT AMAZON Virtuous Reader, The Old Testament Narrative and Interpretive Virtue Series: Studies in Theological Interpretation by Richard S. Briggs ISBN: 978-0-8010-3843-3 Price: $27.00 Format: Paperback Publication date: Jan. 10 | Division: Baker Academic VIEW AT AMAZON Body, Soul, and Human Life The Nature of Humanity in the Bible Series: Studies in Theological Interpretation by Joel B. Green ISBN: 978-0-8010-3595-1 Price: $24.00 Format: Paperback Publication date: Jun. 08 | Division: Baker Academic VIEW AT AMAZON Prophecy and Hermeneutics Toward a New Introduction to the Prophets Series: Studies in Theological Interpretation by Christopher R. Seitz ISBN: 978-0-8010-3258-5 Price: $23.00 Format: Paperback Publication date: Jul. 07 | Division: Baker Academic VIEW AT AMAZON Seeing the Word Refocusing New Testament Study Series: Studies in Theological Interpretation by Markus Bockmuehl ISBN: 978-0-8010-2761-1 Price: $27.00 Format: Paperback Publication date: Aug. 06 | Division: Baker Academic VIEW AT AMAZON

New Volume on the Psalms in the Studies in Theological Interpretation Series

Gupta Reviews Joel Green's Practicing Theological Interpretation

I am grateful for Nijay Gupta's brief review of Joel Green's Practicing Theological Interpretation. I have added this book to my Amazon wishlist.

Practicing Theological Interpretation: Engaging Biblical Texts for Faith and Formation
(Theological Explorations for the Church Catholic)
Joel B. Green
Baker Academic, 2012
Paperback
160 pages

1. Living Faithfully in Exile: Who Reads the Bible Well?
2. Neglecting Widows and Serving the Word? "History" and Theological Interpretation
3. Scripture and Classical Christology: The "Rule of Faith" and Theological Interpretation
4. John Wesley, Wesleyans, and Theological Interpretation: Learning from a Premodern Interpreter


I am reading through the Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible and am profiting from it.  Joel Green is also a contributor to this dictionary, having written the following articles: Commentaries, Context, Dictionaries and Encyclopedias; and Narrative Theology.  I am not out of the As yet, so I'll come to Green's articles after a while.

Another work along these lines that I would recommend is Daniel Treier's Introducing Theological Interpretation of Scripture: Recovering a Christian Practice (Baker Academic, 2008).

Gupta Reviews Joel Green's Practicing Theological Interpretation

Miroslav Volf on The Return to Scriptures

Let me share with you a few more interesting statements from Miroslav Volf's Captive to the Word of God: Engaging the Scriptures for Contemporary Theological Reflection (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010).  This book is a collection of essays which is intended to be a contribution to the recent renewal of Theological Interpretation of Scriptures (often abbreviated TIS).  In the first essay (chapter 1), Volf briefly sketches out "the set of convictions about the Bible and its interpretation that guides his reading of the Scriptures.  I found this to be fascinating on a number of levels.  The major point of amazement to me is the idea that many modern biblical and systematic theologians are recognizing the need to return to the Scriptures.  Here's how he develops this topic:

Reflecting on his career as a theologian, Jürgen Moltmann, one of the most imaginative and influential theologians of the second part of the twentieth century, told me a decade or so ago that if he were to start over again, he would interpret the Scriptures in a much more sustained way.  Why?  Scripture is the ultimate source of theology's vigor, he said.  He was right. (p. 12)

A couple of pages later, Volf writes,

In my judgment, the return of biblical scholars to the theological reading of the Scriptures, and the return of systematic theologians to sustained engagement with the scriptural texts - in a phrase, the return of both to theological readings of the Bible - is the most significant theological development in the last two decades. (p. 14, emphasis original)

In a later post I would like to highlight the key aspects of Volf's doctrine of the Scrptures, but let me close with a few more statements on the necessity of grounding theology in the Bible.

Take the Scriptures away, and sooner or later you will "un-church" the Church. (p. 10)

...a merely historical reading of biblical texts is in danger of turning into a self-referential study of inconsequential cultural artifacts from the distant past of a then insignificant corner of the world. (p. 11)

The work of biblical scholars as historians is significant precisely to the degree that the texts which they approach as historians are alive today. (p. 11)

...for systematic theology to abandon the Bible is for it to cut off the branch on which it is sitting.... Moreover, if it abandons the Bible, Christian theology will no longer engage the document that lies at the heart of the life of Christian communities, the texts on which these communities depend for existence, identity, and vitality.  The result will be a culturally and socially barren theology that hovers above concrete communities of faith - or maybe falls to the ground beside them - unable to shape either these communities or the wider culture. (pp. 11-12) 

Miroslav Volf on The Return to Scriptures