The Bible and the Crisis of Meaning: Debates on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Many of the most pressing issues in theology and the church today depend greatly on the understanding of the bible. Recent debates on the theological interpretation of scripture have emerged which consider whether the meaning of scripture should concern theologians and church leaders at all. The Bible and the Crisis of Meaning is an account of these debates in examining the concept of meaning in current proposals of theological interpretation. The concept of meaning is educedeither from the supposed nature of the texts and their authors or from the function of the texts in religious communities. Thus, approaches to theological interpretation become debates between ontological and pragmatic strategists. Stephen Fowl and Kevin Vanhoozer have embraced the term "theological interpretation" for their separate projects, but their ideas of what this means and how "meaning" is a part of it, differ greatly. Christopher Spinks describes their respective concepts of meaning and argues for a more holistic concept that allows theological interpreters to understand their craft not so much as a discovery of intentions or the creation of interests but as a conversation in which truth is mediated.

Reviews

Review in International Review of Biblical Studies, vol. 54:2007/08
"The book is well written, based on incredibly wide reading, always lucid." --Sean McEvenue, Theoforum Vol. 39, No. 3, 2008 -- Sean McEvenue, Corcordia University, Montreal
[Recommended] to those deeply invested in researching the recent developments in theological interpretation, or those who have a specific interest in the work of Fowl, Vanhoozer, or in how speech act theory has been applied in biblical interpretation. -- Journal of Reformed Theology 4

Author Bio

Christopher Spinks is Adjunct Assitant Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, USA.