40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible

by Plummer, Robert L.

• ISBN13: 9780825434983
• ISBN10: 082543498X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-04-22
• Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional

Summary

The second in the series organized around common FAQs, 40Questions about Interpreting the Bibletackles the major questions thatstudents, pastors and professors ask about the hermeneutics of reading thebible (i.e. understanding the bible).

Author Biography

Robert L. Plummer (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. A Bible scholar with a missionary heart, he has written Paul's Understanding of the Church's Mission and many journal articles. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Institute for Biblical Research. Benjamin L. Merkle (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of New Testament Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of numerous journal articles.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 9
Introduction	p. 11
Abbreviations	p. 13
Getting Started: Text, Canon, and Translation
What Is the Bible?	p. 17
How Is the Bible Organized?	p. 23
Who Wrote the Bible-Humans or God?	p. 31
Does the Bible Contain Error?	p. 37
Were the Ancient Manuscripts of the Bible Transmitted Accurately?	p. 47
Who Determined What Books Would Be Included in the Bible?	p. 57
Which Is the Best English Bible Translation?	p. 69
Approaching the Bible Generally
Questions Related to Interpretation
Why Is Biblical Interpretation Important?	p. 79
How Has the Bible Been Interpreted Throughout Church History?	p. 85
What Are Some General Principles for Interpreting the Bible? (1)	p. 95
What Are Some General Principles for Interpreting the Bible? (2)	p. 101
How Can I Improve as an Interpreter of the Bible?	p. 109
What Are Some Helpful Books or Tools for Interpreting the Bible?	p. 117
Questions Related to Meaning
Who Determines the Meaning of a Text?	p. 127
Can a Text Have More Than One Meaning?	p. 135
What Is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Determining Meaning?	p. 143
What Is the Overarching Message of the Bible?	p. 151
Is the Bible Really All About Jesus?	p. 161
Do All the Commands of the Bible Apply Today?	p. 167
Why Can't People Agree on What the Bible Means?	p. 175
Approaching Specific Texts
Shared Genres (Questions Apply Equally to Old and New Testaments)
How Do We Identify Literary Genre-and Why Does It Matter?	p. 185
How Do We Interpret Historical Narratives?	p. 191
How Do We Interpret Prophecy? (General Guidelines)	p. 197
How Do We Interpret Prophecy? (Typology)	p. 205
How Do We Interpret Apocalyptic Literature?	p. 213
How Do We Interpret Exaggerated or Hyperbolic Language?	p. 219
How Do We Interpret Figures of Speech?	p. 227
Primarily Old Testament Genres
How Do We Interpret Proverbs?	p. 235
How Do We Interpret Poetry?	p. 243
How Do We Interpret the Psalms? (Classification of Psalms)	p. 249
How Do We Interpret the Psalms? (Principles of Interpretation)	p. 255
Primarily New Testament Genres
How Do We Interpret Parables? (History of Interpretation)	p. 265
How Do We Interpret Parables? (Principles of Interpretation)	p. 271
How Do We Interpret Letters or Epistles? (Structure and Nature)	p. 279
How Do We Interpret Letters or Epistles? (General Guidelines)	p. 285
Issues in Recent Discussion
What Does the Bible Tell Us About the Future?	p. 293
What Is Biblical Criticism?	p. 299
What Is "Speech Act Theory"?	p. 305
What Is the "Theological Interpretation of Scripture"?	p. 313
What Are Some Other Recent Trends in Biblical Interpretation?	p. 321
Postscript	p. 327
Select Bibliography	p. 329
List of Figures	p. 331
Scripture Index	p. 333
Ancient Sources Index	p. 347
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