Reading the Sacred Text An Introduction in Biblical Studies

by Shillington, V. George

• ISBN13: 9780567088246
• ISBN10: 0567088243
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-12-15
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T & T Clark

Summary

A comprehensive manual for anyone wishing to become competent in reading and understanding the Scriptures of the Judeo-Christian tradition.The chapters of this book introduce the reader to all aspects of biblical studies. They guide the reader through the maze, from 'Venturing In' to 'Negotiated Reading'. There are sections on, for example, considering the self-consciousness of the reader/interpreter, the interaction of the tradition with the text of Scripture through the ages, the various literary genres together with the principal forms within the larger biblical documents, ways of reading the text in the modern and post-modern periods, how the academic reading of Scripture and the church reading interact, the relation between competent reading of the sacred text and the preparation and delivery of the sermon, the place of dialogue in the interpretive process.The conclusion sums up the discussion throughout the book and focuses the issues for a competent reading of the Bible and related writings.Student-friendly features include, at the end of each chapter:--An Objective, summarizing the content and objective of the chapter12-14 lead questions with act as in-depth study exercises--Full bibliography and suggestions for further reading>

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	viii
Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(8)
Part I: Venturing into Biblical Studies	9	(72)
A Place to Start	12	(16)
Method Making Methods	28	(17)
Aspects of Meaning	45	(18)
Language, Speech and Text	63	(18)
Part II: Respecting the Traditions Reasonably	81	(122)
Writing the Biblical Texts	84	(26)
These Books as a Rule	110	(27)
Behind the Printed Text	137	(36)
In Other Words	173	(30)
Part III: Reading the Scriptures Responsibly	203	(94)
The Inter-Act of Reading	206	(13)
Modern Ways of Reading the Ancient Scriptures	219	(25)
Other Ways of Reading the Same Scriptures	244	(32)
Negotiated Reading	276	(16)
Conclusion	292	(5)
Bibliography	297	(17)
Scripture References	314	(3)
Author Indexes:	317	(4)
In Discussion	317	(1)
In Notes	318	(3)
Subject Index	321