Reading Scripture with the Reformers

by Timothy George

In Reading Scripture with the Reformers, Timothy George takes readers through the exciting events of the sixteenth century, showing how this dynamic period was instigated by a fresh return to the Scriptures. George immerses us in the world of the Reformation, its continuities with the ancient and medieval church, and its dramatic upheavals and controversies. Most of all, he uncovers the significant way that the Bible shaped the minds and hearts of the reformers. This book shows how the key figures of the Reformation read and interpreted Scripture, and how their thought was shaped by what they read. We are invited to see what the church today can learn from the fathers of the Reformation, and how these figures offer a model of reading, praying and living out the Scriptures.

Genres: Theology, Church History, History, Christian, Nonfiction, Biblical Studies, Philosophy

268 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.


Timothy George is Dean at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also editor, together with his wife Denise, of the Library of Baptist Classics series. He previously was an associate professor of church history and historical theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews

[Jason Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I loved this book. So much rich Reformation history shaped so as to tell us the story of the triumph of God's word in this era. Scholarly, objective, and easy to read, I hope many will read and benefit from this work.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, helpful, and easy to read.

[Justin Lonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the American individualist mindset, it is easy for us to approach the Scriptures as a tabula rasa, thinking that an open Bible and an open heart is all we need to understand God fully. While this idea flows from the Reformation principle of the priesthood of the believer, it is incomplete and can be dangerous because it downplays the impact of culture on our interpretation of biblical truths. Even the reformers themselves knew that the Church, while not authoritative, was vital as a guide to keep individuals from reading Scripture in a vacuum and distorting its meaning

This is the theme of Timothy George’s engaging history, Reading Scripture with the Reformers. Over eight chapters, he explores the Reformation as a “revolution of a book”, examining how the rediscovery of ancient writings and biblical scholarship spurred the translation of the Bible into the vernacular languages and brought much of the populace back to the fountain of revelation.

George devotes the first chapter of the book to a concise overview of the influence of biblical criticism and modernism and the resulting need for a historical and cultural perspective in studying Scripture. Chapter two follows with a summary of the development of printing and the revival of ancient literary scholarship that helped make the Reformation as a mass cultural event possible. Chapter 4 examines the tension between Scripture and tradition that marked the 16th Century and shows how the reformers stated their case of Scripture as the ultimate authority.

Over the rest of the book, he discusses the contributions and influence of Erasmus (chapter 3), Luther (chapters 5 and 6), Zwingli and the Swiss Reformers (chapter 7), and Calvin (chapter 8). Each section here looks at both the scholarly and active roles each individual played, and shows how their “style” influenced their followers and the Church as a whole.

George brings a theologian’s eye for grand detail to his study, and the result is thoroughly academic and yet immensely readable. He weaves the stories of the reformers and the story of the Scripture itself (as it was copied and disseminated over the centuries) into a steady narrative that keeps readers turning the pages. History can be quite intriguing, and George makes the most of his opportunity to inspire others to learn about themselves by looking into the past.

[Matt Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book.

This is a small Reformation history with biographical sketches of some of the main players - Luther, Calvin, Zwingli. Specifically, it focuses on the Scripture itself as the force behind the Reformation.

The opening chapter on the Reformers relationship with the Bible and the closing chapter on the Reformed emphasis on preaching are particularly good.

"From the reformers we learn that the true purpose of biblical scholarship is not to show how relevant the Bible is to the modern world, but rather how irrelevant the modern and postmodern world - and we as person enmeshed in it - have become in our self-centered preoccupations and sinful rebellion against the God who spoke and still speaks by His Spirit through His chosen prophets and apostles."

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice introduction to the Reformation. An introduction to the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series which are currently still having volumes published. Though it was supposed to give reasons why we should read the Reformers words, I believe it never really did succeed in that. It focused on individuals and events, not that I won't read the commentaries but it definitely didn't convince me why it would be necessary. But nonetheless it boils down to many of these guys were mental giants and they deserve to be read and what better way than in a series of commentaries collecting together their own words.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book. A fascinating look at the Reformers and their Bible. This is monumental task that George has accomplished. Full of historical insights from the emergence of the printing press, the affect of Erasmus and the rise of the humanities, how the early church fathers and tradition influenced the reformers, and fire-blazing life of Luther. Full of juicy quotes and antidotes.

I highly recommend the book, even if it's an era and topic that you're familiar with. George helps us put together pieces that haven't been put together, at least at this level.

[Craig Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there is one thing that could be said to be true across many divides is a timeless desire for renewal to something foundational within a people, group or ideology. Renewal to basic foundations and principles often times creates revival among the participants and results in the spread of the message. This is true for Christianity. Often times the thread of renewal that runs throughout Christian revival (not just evangelistic revival) is a return to sacred Scripture.

This renewed focus on Scripture is the subject of Timothy George’s new book Reading Scripture with the Reformers. In conjunction with IVP Timothy George has edited the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series which seeks provide the reader with a vast wealth of rich commentary on Scripture from the Reformation era. Reading Scripture with the Reformers provides the historical context in which these commentary selections are taken from as the Reformers exposited Scripture anew for their time and the future life of the church.

Spurring of Renewal

Like with any revival, there are always ingredients to a renewed focus on Scripture of which the Reformation is no exception. While the invention of the printing press and the return to the original languages of Scripture and the classics provided a fertile ground for Scriptural renewal, George highlights three areas of recurring tension that, in coming to head, became the tipping point for the Reformation. First, there was the relationship between Scripture and tradition. This is one of the most well know issues when discussing the Reformers contentions with the ruling Catholic Church of the time. Second, there was the desire on the part of many reformation church leaders to make the Scriptures available in the language of the common person. It was the desire of these men that even the most unlearned of people could read the Bible on their own. Finally, there was the issue of how the Bible was used in the life and worship of the church. “For the Bible was meant to be not only read, studied, translated, memorized, and meditated on. It was also to be embodied in preaching, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, singing, praying, and service in the world.” (p. 14)

Foundations of Renewal

If there is ever a discipline Evangelicals needs to be renewed in is the intentional habit of reading the works of those who have gone before us. We need to, as George strongly suggests, reject the idea of “the imperialism of the present.” (p. 23) The notion that what we learn and know in the present is superior to what was learned and known in the past. That we have nothing to learn from the past and that historical and theological ignorance is bliss. This mindset stems from a narrow view of sola scriptura. For it is one thing to say Scripture is our only final authority but it is another thing to say it is the only authority the church has in regards to Scripture.
With this in mind, George lays out five principles that guide our reading and understanding of Scripture which were also guides for the Reformers: (1) the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God, (2) the Bible is rightly read in light of the rule of faith, (3) faithful interpretation of Scripture requires a trinitarian hermeneutic, (4) the Bible is front and center in the worship of the church and (5) the study of the Bible is a means of grace (p. 31-36). What the reader will see throughout the book is how these five guidelines for reading and interpreting Scripture worked themselves throughout the Reformation understanding of Scripture. And further, that when we step back and observe the big picture of the church and biblical interpretation we will see that

"The reformers read, translated and interpreted the Bible as part of an extended centuries-old conversation between the holy pages of God’s Word and the company of God’s people. While in many cases they broke with the received interpretations of the fathers and the scholastics who came before them, theirs was nonetheless a churchly hermeneutic." (p. 40)

A History of Renewal

What follows throughout the book is an in-depth tour of the movers and movements that shaped the Reformation as the reformers sought to bring Scripture once again to the center of the churches attention amidst all other voices that became a clanging symbol of distraction and distortion to its truth.

Amidst all of the names and dates mentioned in the book (and there are a lot) one sees that there was a true spiritual renewal of the primacy of the voice of Scripture in the life, worship and interpretation of the church.

Though each chapter is dedicated to seeing the development of scriptural renewal in the Reformation, there are several common threads that emerge. First, there is the two-sided coin analogy when it comes to the people of the reformation. One the one hand there were many laypeople (some who were largely uneducated) who had a notable impact on the reformation. Many laypeople realized the need to educate Christians on Scripture and sought to help get the Bible and various support material in their language. Also, men were not the only ones behind this lay-led arm of the reformation. Women like Argula von Grumbach were vocal supporters of Luther and others (p. 48-49).

Second, on the other hand, the reformation might not have happened if it were not for the highly trained and educated men of the time. Theological education was needed to challenge the tangled Catholic theology the reformation sought to refute. Linguistic education was needed to exegete the Scriptures in the original languages and to translate them into the vernacular languages of the various uneducated Christians.

Third, there was the always present struggle between the role of Scripture and tradition. This was one of the defining features that birthed the reformation. The reformers were not looking to toss tradition but rather give Scripture its proper voice over tradition. In chapter four, Whose Bible? Which Tradition?, George provides a helpful summary of the reformation understanding the two as expressed at the Diet of Speyer in 1529 (p. 118-24)

Fourth, perhaps the most fascinating chapter of the whole book is seven, Along the Rhine, which locates the people, places and events of the reformation along the Rhine River. It was amazing to see how geographical location played a role in certain events and how a river can be used to tell the history of one of the greatest movements in Christianity.

Finally, any discussion of the reformation would not be complete without mentioning Martin Luther. Though there are two chapters dedicated to Luther, he his influence is mentioned and felt throughout the entire book. It might not be a stretch to say that a history of the reformation and Luther are one in the same in many respects. Luther’s reformation influence is so deep that George begins chapter six, Lutheran Ways, by asking the question, “Would the reformation have happened without Luther?” (p. 171) While George does not come out and say no, I feel that is the tacit answer – and probably rightly so.

Conclusion

Reading Scripture with the Reformers is a tour de force through the reformations renewal of scriptural primacy within the church. The reader is brought to the two-sided reality that the church owes much to the reformers for we stand on their shoulders. And, that we need to continue to listen to the voice of the reformation as it echoes down the halls of church history. The dangers within the church that it sought to correct are always lurking at her doors today. It is the sinfulness of man that will always desire the tradition of man over the faith once delivered to the saints as revealed in Scripture. This return to Scripture was not an end in itself as if to create a church characterized by bibliolatry. Rather, as George concludes, the desired result of the reformation and the church today, is “to point men and women both to the written Word in Scripture and to the living Word Jesus Christ.” (p. 258)

NOTE: I received this book from IVP for free in exchange for an honest review. The words and ideas expressed in this review are my own.

[T.C. Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Overview

Reading Scripture flows quite well. The writing style is neither dry or dull but quite lively, something of a page turner, if you will.

Reading Scripture is part of the story of how the Bible came to have a central role in the 16th century movement for religious reform that we now call the Protestant Reformation. For example, by the time of Luther’s death in 1546, it is estimated that half a million copies of the Bible were in circulation.

Chapter 1: Why Read the Reformers? This is something of a treat for the newcomer on the place given to Scripture by the reformers. And the oft-quoted sola scriptura, which is largely misunderstood today, must be given its proper place as used by the reformers. For example, “the reformers read, translated and interpreted the Bible as part of an extended centuries-old conversation between the holy page of God’s Word and the company of God’s people” (p. 40).

Chapter 2: Ad Fontes. This chapter features several unsung heroes and their struggles to read Scripture and share it with common folks. It also covers the first printing press, the rise of renaissance humanism, the trilingualism, that is, the study of Greek, Hebrew, and Latin, which the biblical humanists required to have complete and reliable texts of the Bible.

Chapter 3: The Erasmian Moment. Yes, Desiderius Erasmus who embodied the ideals of biblical humanism. Reading Scripture with the church fathers, which was something of a stable among the reformers, was part of the ecumenical bequest of Erasmus to the church of the sixteenth century (p. 78). Erasmus gave the reformers The Greek New Testament. It is said that “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched.”

Chapter 4: Whose Bible? Which Tradition? It is in this chapter that the formal principle of sola scriptura is best understood, as it was appropriated by the reformers against Rome. It is here we encounter Luther’s 95 Theses and the Diet of Worms in 1521.

Chapter 5: Doctor Martinius. In this chapter, we meet Luther to exegete and the theologian and the methods he employed and the principal themes in his theology. For Luther, receiving the doctor of theology meant “Then I had to accept the office of doctor and swear a vow to my most beloved Holy Scriptures that I would preach and teach them faithfully and purely” (p. 139).

Chapter 6: Lutheran Ways. Meet Master Philipp, often overshadowed by Luther, but who, according to Timothy George, was “Neither a cipher for Luther nor an echo of Erasmus, he was a leading interpreter of Scripture and a creative formulator of the Reformation tradition” (p. 75). Here Luther becomes the translator, which precipitated a flood of Bibles.

Chapter 7: Along the Rhine. The Reformation has already spread all over Germany and beyond. Meet Cologne, Mainz, Strasbourg, and their Reformation and counter-Reformation efforts. Here we encounter William Tyndale, Bullinger, Bucer, Zell, Calvin, Hubmaier, and others.

Chapter 8: Preach the Word. It is here we discover the priority given to preaching by the reformers–a priority it never had before. It is also here we encounter Zwingli’s Prophecy, which Professor George considers the greatest contribution of the Zurich reformers to the tradition of preaching. Following the pattern established by Zwingli and Bullinger in Zurich, Calvin adopted the discipline of the lectio continua, preaching through books of the Bible expositorily.

A Critique

The title Reading Scripture with the Reformers is a bit misleading. At least, I think so. Here’s why? When I think of “reading Scripture with the reformers,” I’m thinking about how the reformers went about formulating their theology. Perhaps I’m wrong here.

Also, though Calvin was mentioned a few times, especially in Strasbourg, I was expecting a bit more on Calvin. But I supposed Luther’s journey and contribution, especially as a translator, is more compelling. In all fairness to Professor George, Reading Scripture with the Reformers is only part of the story.

At any rate, as a Baptist, who belong to the wider Reformation tradition, I appreciate the journey Professor George takes his readers on, especially in his dealing with the many unsung heroes of the pre-and-16th century Reformation. Professor George’s dealings with Erasmus is something of a historical treat, raising somewhat my appreciation of Erasmus, even though he straddled the fence, playing it safe, and never really casting his lot with the reformers.

If you’re looking for a solid, historical read on the fight for the Bible and its place during the 16th century Reformation, the contribution of the biblical humanists, and a better understanding of sola scriptura, then I recommend Reading Scripture with the Reformers.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though of a manageable size, Reading Scripture with the Reformers contains innumerable helpful insights. For example, the revered Reformers, unlike most modern evangelicals, valued the writings of early church Fathers and various medieval thinkers in seeking to understand Scripture better. John Calvin, writing many years before the “life of the mind” became a popular concept, noted the value of Scripture to combat the idol-producing tendencies of human thinking. Readers also learn that Luther stressed the use of pictures for the instruction of children and the illiterate as invaluable in communicating Gospel truths. We further discover that, though the self-praising Erasmus deserves some accolades, the Dutch scholar failed to master Hebrew, publish Scripture in a common language, or adequately address the issue of man’s sin. In addition, we find how Zwingli aimed to be more biblical than Luther by pruning worship of ceremonies and other practices unsupported by Scripture.

This text has further, unexpected insights as well. We’re introduced to Petrarch’s concept of the “historical imagination”, which enabled the masses to enter into literature in a radical new way. In addition, readers learn how Lorenzo Valla, in the fifteenth century, paved the way for others to seek more accurate translations of Greek texts. Further, we find that the early reformers valued the role of Jesus’ mother Mary a good deal more than their kinsmen would today. Also, readers discover how the earliest Baptists had a high level of appreciation for the historic Christian creeds. Finally, we learn that modern hermeneutics owes more to the Enlightenment than to the Reformation.

In Reading Scripture with the Reformers, Dr. George has produced an awesome text for anyone serious about their evangelical heritage. In addition to those cited above, numerous other personalities and thoughts are brought forth throughout this work. I simply cannot recommend it enough.

[Nate Claiborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to very helpful for historical study. While it wasn’t quite what I expected when I requested it, George does such a good job weaving together historical narrative that I didn’t mind. For someone looking for an accessible introduction to the 16th century world that focuses on how that world shaped the transmission of the Bible into the common man’s possession, this is it. Likewise, if you want a good snapshot of Martin Luther’s understanding of Scripture and how that affected his role in the Reformation, this is the book for you. It’s certainly not exhaustive, but George uncovers many lesser known figures in his historical survey while still keeping the focus on the main events. Throughout it all, the reader is able to see how the Reformers recovered approaches to reading Scripture that were more in line with the early church and how we might be look back to them in order to understand both groups better.

For a full review, see my blog

[Caleb Hallsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all, it provides a helpful introduction to the hermeneutics of the Reformation.
Not surprisingly, Dr. George includes an interesting breadth of figures and historical details, though he focuses primarily on Erasmus, Zwingli, Calvin, and above all, Luther. Given his historical prominence, I would have appreciated more content on Calvin, who receives only minimal treatment, and I would have benefited from a more systematic presentation, for many sections jump back and forth through time and space. However, I found his opening argument for the reading of Reformation exegesis quite good. Similarly, Dr. George's content on Luther is informative and constructive. Finally, he gives insightful attention to the impact of material events and developments (such as the use of printing, the discovery and translation of manuscripts, and the effects of war).

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging book from cover to cover. George chronicles the early stages of the reformation focusing on the role of Scripture and preaching. Luther takes center-stage, but there is also significant attention given to Bucer and Zwingli, among others. My only complaint (and this is relatively small) is that I would have loved more detail on Calvin. He concludes the book, but his role is relatively small, but tantalizing. It left me wishing for more. Great book, written in an enjoyably easy-to-read fashion. Great illustrations are provided. George concludes the book by tracing the spread of the reformation across Germany and surrounding areas. This was an effective literary device, but the editors should have included a map!

[Robert Fonseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that takes you on a historical journey of the development of the Protestant Movement- from Erasmus to Calvin. The author gives you glimpses into the struggles of translating the bible into the vernacular of the people. He also helps you to understand and feel the struggles these men had within themselves, with the established church and with each other as they tried to faithfully teach, preach and translate the Word of God. This book gave me a deeper appreciation for the bible I now hold in my hand. Great job Professor George!

[David Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a a good discussion of the changes in the reading of scripture during the Reformation. The author does an excellent job of detailing all the actors and influences that changed the way the scripture was read after the Reformation. The author is writing for an audience though that is familiar with the details of the history of the Reformation and the literature both before and after, so he assumes quite a bit of knowledge, which will make the book less likely to be of help to the average Christian reader.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book. Helpful to see the primacy of the word during the beginning of the Reformation.

[Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful overview and guide to "pre-critical" Bible reading.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read us.
Reform us.
Search the Scriptures.