Science and Hermeneutics

Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation #6

by Vern Sheridan Poythress

'Many years ago, upon reading Thomas S. Kuhn's work The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, I was taken aback by the obvious parallels between the subject of that book and the field of biblical exegesis. It seemed strange then -- and more so now after all these years -- that no one had sought to draw out the implications of Kuhn's ideas for better understanding the conflicts that frequently arise over the interpretation of Scripture.' (from the preface) In this new volume of the Foundation of Contemporary Interpretation series, Vern Poythress gives an explanation of the conflicts that often arise between science and the interpretation of scripture. Novices and experts alike will be fascinated by the author's clear and perceptive account of the relationship between science and hermeneutics. Poythress' analysis will - help students of the Bible appreciate the origin and nature of interpretive disputes, - aid students in developing exegetical skills, and - allow students to examine opposing views.

Genres: Theology

Paperback

First published July 1, 1988

About the author

Vern Sheridan Poythress was born in 1946 in Madera, California, where he lived with his parents Ransom H. Poythress and Carola N. Poythress and his older brother Kenneth R. Poythress. After teaching mathematics for a year at Fresno State College (now California State University at Fresno), he became a student at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he earned an M.Div. (1974) and a Th.M. in apologetics (1974). He received an M.Litt. in New Testament from University of Cambridge (1977) and a Th.D. in New Testament from the University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa (1981).

He has been teaching in New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia since 1976. In 1981 he was ordained as a teaching elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Synod, which has now merged with the Presbyterian Church in America.

More information about his teaching at Westminster can be found at the Westminster Seminary website.

Dr. Poythress studied linguistics and Bible translation at the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Norman Oklahoma in 1971 and 1972, and taught linguistics at the Summer Institute of Linguistics in the summers of 1974, 1975, and 1977. He has published books on Christian philosophy of science, theological method, dispensationalism, biblical law, hermeneutics, Bible translation, and Revelation. A list of publications is found on this website.

Dr. Poythress married his wife Diane in 1983, and they have two children, Ransom and Justin. He has side interests in science fiction, string figures, volleyball, and computers.

The family lived on a farm until he was five years old. When he was nine years old he made a public commitment to Christ and was baptized in Chowchilla First Baptist Church, Chowchilla, California. The family later moved to Fresno, California, and he graduated from Bullard High School in Fresno.

He earned a B.S. in mathematics from California Institute of Technology (1966) and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University (1970).

Reviews

[Jack Schutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entering a Vern Poythress phase. No questions at this time.

[Nathan Stine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like philosophy of science as well as biblical theology, this would appeal to you. If not, you’d hate it

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. Poythress explores Thomas Kuhn's work on scientific revolutions as illustrative of the way presuppositions color all our biblical interpretation. The strength of this book is that Poythress simply, yet profoundly, explains why disagreements over texts (his illustration is Roman 7) still occur when all parties are looking at the same passage. Yet he does this without falling into relativism or subjectivism — an achievement of its own! In my opinion one of Poythress' best works.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intersection between Kuhn and Van Til, with some multiperspectivalism thrown in at the end. Recommended if you're interested in that type of thing.

[Jake Ruefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive but really valuable in understanding the presuppositions of understanding… everything!

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of this work is quite a theological Renaissance man (educational background and academic ministry interacting with linguistics, mathematics, science, philosophy and Reformed theology) and was the appropriate contributor to the "Foundation of Contemporary Interpretation" series in which the work is a part of. This book in a discussion about the insight of science (and the model of science) as it relates to the task of theology and hermeneutics. Readers will appreciate his interaction with Thomas Khun's radical thesis concerning revolution of science. Indeed, as a Presuppositionalist, the discussion on Khun's philosophy of Science is quite appropriate. Readers unfamiliar with Khun or Presuppositionalism will be introduced to the idea that every evidence is already theory-laden, and one's worldview and background beliefs will "color" the evidence. Throughout the work, there are discussion of theological method models, and whether or not it could be comparable to scientific models. Of course, there are differences, in that in Poythress insight he sees biblical theology must incorporate very vantage points (perspectives, or analogies) in describing the truths found in Scripture. This is contrast to the current popular model of Science which sees only one large "analogy" or "model". For the nonpresuppositionalists, the book's discussion about Baconian scientific method is worth buying the book in of itself. Although the work was published in 1988, there are still many people who naively assume that the Baconian method of science is the way (both normatively and indicative of current ways of doing science) of going about scientific endeavor. Poythress reveals otherwise, but in a short concise work the details for those who need it might be found in the works of Khun and his predecessors. Readers will also enjoy his discussion about the nature of truth and analogies, given that the task of theology and science inevitably runs into analogies and models. His discussion of disciplinary matrix (current accepted prerequisite beliefs controlling how a specific field of science is done by the community) and exemplars (precommitments that forms a model for further research and refinement) are helpful. For those who have been enriched by multiperspectivalism (or, in Poythress' earlier work which he titled, "Symphonic Theology"), this is another work which explores the deep beauty of God's world and truth, with the inter-relationship of various disciplines and fields of study reinforcing other areas and giving further, deeper insight. The book's title makes it clear the discussion has implication for hermeneutics and science. But it does not end there--this short work touches on issues of theological methods, philosophy of language, science, sociology of knowledge and systematic theology. The end of the book also has an appendix surveying recommended works from other fields outside hermeneutics from Poythress perspective. Certainly, if more works were done like this, it would foster a greater Reformed Renaissance of Christian scholarship in which the participants are in inter-disciplinary dialogue with other brothers and sisters in other academic fields, yet seeing the bigger picture as well. What a way to glorify God if this vision were to come true!

[Радостин Марчев]

Първа книга, която чета от Поитрес. Започна много обещаващо, но след първата четвърт рязко ме разочарова.