Biblical Interpretation

by Tiffany, Frederick C.

• ISBN13: 9780687016082
• ISBN10: 0687016088
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781426722127
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-04-01
• Publisher: ABINGDON PRESS
• More Book Details

Summary

Biblical Interpretation: A Roadmap is a guide to discovering and asking the key questions - about biblical texts, about readers of the Bible, and about the interaction of the two - that forms the basis of biblical interpretation today. These questions are organized around three fundamental assumptions that govern the authors' approach to reading the Bible: the biblical texts arise from particular historical, social, and cultural settings: the reader likewise reads from a specific setting; and neither the diversity of the texts nor the multitude of readers stands in isolation one from the other. Tiffany and Ringe here offer an approach to biblical interpretation that takes both the texts and the reading context seriously, guiding and encouraging readers to draw upon the expertise and authority of their own life experiences and contexts. They also recognize that wide-ranging experiences and contexts are necessarily involved in biblical interpretation, showing how critical engagement with those contexts, in all their historical, social, and cultural diversity, is itself an unavoidable and invaluable part of the interpretative process.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	10	(1)
Preface	11	(2)
An Introduction to This Roadmap	13	(1)
Basic Assumptions Underlying the Process of Reading	14	(2)
Learning to ``Love the Questions''	16	(2)
The Design of This Roadmap	18	(7)
PART 1: THE ROADMAP
Locating the Readers and the Reading Context	25	(30)
Beginning the Journey at Home	25	(3)
``Contexts'' of Biblical Interpretation	28	(3)
Contexts Within Contexts: Readings and Counter-Readings	31	(3)
Biblical Interpretation as a Group Project	34	(3)
Selecting the Biblical Text	37	(4)
Factors That Define the Context of a Group	41	(7)
The Role of the Spirit in Interpretation	48	(5)
Taking Stock of Where We Are	53	(2)
Encountering the Biblical Text: Read, Feel, Question, React	55	(12)
First Impressions	55	(1)
Being Attentive to the Biblical Text	56	(5)
Remembering Past and Other Experiences with the Text	61	(5)
Taking Stock of Where We Are	66	(1)
A Close Reading of the Biblical Text: Steps in the Process	67	(22)
Going Forward by Circling Around	68	(1)
On Text and Reality: Words of Caution and Affirmation	69	(3)
Preparing a Translation of the Text	72	(2)
Identifying the Shape of the Text	74	(2)
Comparing with Texts of Similar Material	76	(2)
Refining the Questions	78	(9)
Taking Stock of Where We Are	87	(2)
Reading Contextually: Finding the Passage in Its Place	89	(22)
Considering the Literary Context	90	(5)
Locating the Social Context	95	(13)
Taking Stock of Where We Are	108	(3)
Engaging the Text, Other Readers, and Our Communities	111	(20)
Engaging the Text	111	(4)
Entering into Dialogue with Other Readers	115	(5)
Taking Stock of Where We Are	120	(4)
A Final Word	124	(7)
PART 2: ADDITIONAL SAMPLE TEXTS
Introductory Note to Part 2	129	(2)
Numbers 10:11-12:16	131	(18)
Locating the Readers and the Reading Context	131	(3)
Encountering the Biblical Text: Read, Feel, Question, React	134	(3)
A Close Reading of the Biblical Text: Steps in the Process	137	(6)
Reading Contextually: Finding the Passage in Its Place	143	(1)
Engaging the Text, Other Readers, and Our Communities	144	(5)
Jeremiah 22:24-23:8	149	(16)
Locating the Readers and the Reading Context	149	(4)
Encountering the Biblical Text: Read, Feel, Question, React	153	(1)
A Close Reading of the Biblical Text: Steps in the Process	154	(5)
Reading Contextually: Finding the Passage in Its Place	159	(2)
Engaging the Text, Other Readers, and Our Communities	161	(4)
Psalm 77	165	(16)
Locating the Readers and the Reading Context	165	(2)
Encountering the Biblical Text: Read, Feel, Question, React	167	(2)
A Close Reading of the Biblical Text: Steps in the Process	169	(6)
Reading Contextually: Finding the Passage in Its Place	175	(2)
Engaging the Text, Other Readers, and Our Communities	177	(4)
Mark 3:1-6	181	(12)
Locating the Readers and the Reading Context	181	(2)
Encountering the Biblical Text: Read, Feel, Question, React	183	(1)
A Close Reading of the Biblical Text: Steps in the Process	184	(4)
Reading Contextually: Finding the Passage in Its Place	188	(3)
Engaging the Text, Other Readers, and Our Communities	191	(2)
1 Corinthians 11:17-34	193	(12)
Locating the Readers and the Reading Context	193	(3)
Encountering the Biblical Text: Read, Feel, Question, React	196	(1)
Reading Contextually: Finding the Passage in Its Place	196	(2)
A Close Reading of the Biblical Text: Steps in the Process	198	(2)
Engaging the Text, Other Readers, and Our Communities	200	(5)
PART 3: ISSUES AND RESOURCES IN INTERPRETATION
Some Issues in Biblical Interpretation	205	(20)
Identifying the Issues	205	(1)
Reflections on Our Context and the Questions	206	(7)
Reflections on Other Contexts and the Questions	213	(4)
Reflections on ``Right'' Readings	217	(6)
Concluding Reflections	223	(2)
Selected Resources for Biblical Studies	225	(10)
Bibles	225	(2)
Concordances	227	(1)
Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias	228	(1)
Bible Atlases	228	(1)
Introductions to the Hebrew Bible and to the New Testament	229	(1)
One-Volume Commentaries	230	(1)
Commentary Series	231	(1)
Journals	232	(2)
The Arts	234	(1)
Academic Disciplines of ``Biblical Criticism''	235