Bonhoeffer as Biblical Interpreter: Reading Scripture in 1930s Germany

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By oscillating between Dietrich Bonhoeffers explicit hermeneutical reflections and his actual practice of interpreting biblical texts, Jameson E. Ross shows that Bonhoeffers interpretive acts consist of a theologically self-reflective hermeneutic in which Scripture is for interpretation, underscoring how essential the interpreter's Spirit-given freedom, actions, theology, context and needs are for reading Scripture. Offering a fresh vision for methodological discussions in theology, this book is a valuable resource for graduate and postgraduate students and researchers on modern theology, political theology and ethics, and biblical exegesis.

Reviews

This is a work of meticulous scholarship, superb clarity, and compelling insight. It traces not only what Bonhoeffer says about the Bible, but what he does with the text as he reads it displaying what it means for Bonhoeffer to read in the Spirit, and for the sake of others. -- Mike Higton, Durham University, UK
Any reader of Bonhoeffers mature work will notice how readily he appeals to and engages with the biblical texts. Jameson Ross here offers an exemplary analysis of the subtle interpretative moves that lead Bonhoeffer from text to comment, together with the theological and contextual concerns that motivate them. -- Francis Watson, Durham University, UK
Moving beyond broad claims about the role of the Bible in Bonhoeffers theology, Bonhoeffer as Biblical Interpreter offers a window into how Bonhoeffer actually read biblical texts during a critical period of his life. Through his close reading of key texts, Ross draws a whole range of cautious but perceptive insights into the specific contours of Bonhoeffers biblical interpretation. This book is a delightful resource for Bonhoeffer scholars and those seeking a more grounded approach to understanding how a theological figure views Scripture. -- Marc Cortez, Wheaton College, USA

Author Bio

Jameson E. Ross received his PhD from Durham University, UK.