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Studies in Theological Interpretation
Prophecy and Hermeneutics: Toward a New Introduction to the Prophets
A fresh wave of studies on the prophets has appeared in recent years. Old Testament scholar Christopher R. Seitz has written "Prophecy and Hermeneutics" as a way of revisiting, from the ground floor up, what gave rise to studies of the prophets in our modern period. In addition, Seitz clearly shows that a new conceptuality of prophecy, hermeneutics, history, and time is needed--one that is appropriate to current views on Isaiah and the Twelve. Scholars, students, professors, and theological libraries will find this an essential foundational resource.
264 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2007
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About the author
Christopher R. Seitz
38 books13 followersChristopher R. Seitz (PhD, Yale University) is senior research professor of biblical interpretation at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario. He previously taught at the University of St. Andrews and Yale University. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including The Character of Christian Scripture, Prophecy and Hermeneutics, The Goodly Fellowship of the Prophets, and commentaries on Isaiah 1-39 and 40-66. Seitz is also an ordained Episcopal priest.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 17, 2013
(3 and a half stars)
Prophecy and Hermeneutics represents an informative and worthwhile read. It does however feel slightly awkwardly paced. There are some very interesting and compelling ideas regarding Seitz's conviction for how to properly approach a hermeneutical understanding of the prophetic literature (and the prophets themselves) in an age where the new historical-critical methods struggle to adapt some of the foundations of the old. But it all seems casually strewn about as the author attempts to narrow in on some of his more passionate areas (including his expansive respect for von Rad). It comes off as feeling like a sort of side bar in a much larger discourse. I have not had the benefit of reading anything else by Seitz.
The tension, or the central issue that Seitz is addressing largely has to do with a shift in assumptions, or what we allow ourselves to assume regarding the nature of prophecy as a forward looking practice. The shift from the old to the new historical-critical methods has managed to complicate, or at the very least muddy attempts to deal adequately with the prophet as the person, the prophetic books as a whole (understood as the twelve in respect to the completed canon), and the theological intention of either-or. The prophets (and the books of the prophets) are represented as both simple and complex, minimalist and conclusive. What makes things difficult is the increasing move to attempt to isolate each individual prophet (and their book) from the canon as a whole, and likewise the cut and paste that seems to be demanded by properly finding a historical context. Moving from the massively visual Isaiah to the major and minor prophetic roles, one is left with a considerable challenge in retaining the popular notion of prophecy as both a present and forward looking practice as we find parts and pieces of the books falling in to post-exilic settings and being attributed to editors and authors and second and third Isaiahs, ect, ect. What gets lost and muddied along the way is the intention of the twelve as a cohesive unit and specific theological treatment. And what follows is a strained perception of the prophetic movement towards Christ as fulfillment. I suppose the question is, has the OT prophetic literature lost its power and place as a forward looking and God ordained movement toward the NT proclamation? And if so, what does that do to the canon, or scripture, as a whole (and our Christian theological premise).
Seitz argues that the trend is moving back towards a credible and necessary place of the Twelve as an appropriate theological statement that can allow for both the individual prophet to be recognized, and as well to allow the final editing process to reflect a much larger and expansive movement. He argues that the added insight of the new perspective has opened the door for the old perspective's ideas to move that much further. The problem, in his eyes, is that proper hermeneutics has for too long (in respect to dealing with the prophets) been fearful of coming back to a view of the twelve as an intentional and important (and truthful) theological movement of the greater picture and story of God and man. In this light we have equal responsibilities regarding our understanding of prophecy as backward looking (towards the larger picture), present speaking (to the context of the prophet as person), and forward looking (to God's truth landing and taking root in historical communities). A large part of the hermeneutical process is recognizing that there is the prophet as the person, but more than that we find the Baruchs and the pre-exilic, exilic and post exilic communities, and editorial processes all playing a part in understanding the place and roll of the prophetic voice. As we understand this we can gain a greater appreciation for how the testimony of the people spoke continually of God's action in the world and in their lives throughout history, and that the nature of prophecy was to testify not only to what God had done and what He was doing, but what God was going to do.
This is undoubtedly an important subject. It lies at the heart of the challenge that scripture faces in a new age of understanding. And yet what becomes clear as we engage with Seitz (an obviously educated and researched teacher/professor/theologian) is that scripture deserves much more respect than we often times consider even as Christians. It is hard to walk away from this read without a new found respect for how God's activity has moved forward in time. It gives one hope, and it inspires one to go back and read, specifically the books of Amos and Hosea and Jeremiah and Isaiah again with the tools he offers. It may be scattered but there is still lots to take home from "Prophecy and Hermeneutics".
Prophecy and Hermeneutics represents an informative and worthwhile read. It does however feel slightly awkwardly paced. There are some very interesting and compelling ideas regarding Seitz's conviction for how to properly approach a hermeneutical understanding of the prophetic literature (and the prophets themselves) in an age where the new historical-critical methods struggle to adapt some of the foundations of the old. But it all seems casually strewn about as the author attempts to narrow in on some of his more passionate areas (including his expansive respect for von Rad). It comes off as feeling like a sort of side bar in a much larger discourse. I have not had the benefit of reading anything else by Seitz.
The tension, or the central issue that Seitz is addressing largely has to do with a shift in assumptions, or what we allow ourselves to assume regarding the nature of prophecy as a forward looking practice. The shift from the old to the new historical-critical methods has managed to complicate, or at the very least muddy attempts to deal adequately with the prophet as the person, the prophetic books as a whole (understood as the twelve in respect to the completed canon), and the theological intention of either-or. The prophets (and the books of the prophets) are represented as both simple and complex, minimalist and conclusive. What makes things difficult is the increasing move to attempt to isolate each individual prophet (and their book) from the canon as a whole, and likewise the cut and paste that seems to be demanded by properly finding a historical context. Moving from the massively visual Isaiah to the major and minor prophetic roles, one is left with a considerable challenge in retaining the popular notion of prophecy as both a present and forward looking practice as we find parts and pieces of the books falling in to post-exilic settings and being attributed to editors and authors and second and third Isaiahs, ect, ect. What gets lost and muddied along the way is the intention of the twelve as a cohesive unit and specific theological treatment. And what follows is a strained perception of the prophetic movement towards Christ as fulfillment. I suppose the question is, has the OT prophetic literature lost its power and place as a forward looking and God ordained movement toward the NT proclamation? And if so, what does that do to the canon, or scripture, as a whole (and our Christian theological premise).
Seitz argues that the trend is moving back towards a credible and necessary place of the Twelve as an appropriate theological statement that can allow for both the individual prophet to be recognized, and as well to allow the final editing process to reflect a much larger and expansive movement. He argues that the added insight of the new perspective has opened the door for the old perspective's ideas to move that much further. The problem, in his eyes, is that proper hermeneutics has for too long (in respect to dealing with the prophets) been fearful of coming back to a view of the twelve as an intentional and important (and truthful) theological movement of the greater picture and story of God and man. In this light we have equal responsibilities regarding our understanding of prophecy as backward looking (towards the larger picture), present speaking (to the context of the prophet as person), and forward looking (to God's truth landing and taking root in historical communities). A large part of the hermeneutical process is recognizing that there is the prophet as the person, but more than that we find the Baruchs and the pre-exilic, exilic and post exilic communities, and editorial processes all playing a part in understanding the place and roll of the prophetic voice. As we understand this we can gain a greater appreciation for how the testimony of the people spoke continually of God's action in the world and in their lives throughout history, and that the nature of prophecy was to testify not only to what God had done and what He was doing, but what God was going to do.
This is undoubtedly an important subject. It lies at the heart of the challenge that scripture faces in a new age of understanding. And yet what becomes clear as we engage with Seitz (an obviously educated and researched teacher/professor/theologian) is that scripture deserves much more respect than we often times consider even as Christians. It is hard to walk away from this read without a new found respect for how God's activity has moved forward in time. It gives one hope, and it inspires one to go back and read, specifically the books of Amos and Hosea and Jeremiah and Isaiah again with the tools he offers. It may be scattered but there is still lots to take home from "Prophecy and Hermeneutics".
March 7, 2012
Seitz could have presented and summarized his argument in one chapter. What's the grand conclusion? That we read the Twelve Minor prophets in their canonical context and limit some of the assumptions and techniques of the historical-critical method. I could have come up with this myself. This book is for the academy and its conclusions wont come as a surprise to anyone who is conservative in terms of the canon and biblical text. Also, this was perhaps one of the worst written books, in terms of style, of any book I have ever read. Seitz needs to learn either how to edit or how to write stylistically.
June 26, 2012
Some provocative thinking on the hermeneutical implications of the canonical shape of the twelve minor prophets, and some helpful dialogue with von Rad's work. But it reads like what it is: a loosely-bound collection of chapters written on disparate occasions with some common concerns but not as well integrated as I would have hoped.
Definitely worth the read.
Definitely worth the read.
Want to read
February 23, 2010I'm never going to finish this...
April 23, 2014
Interesting ideas in approaching the Minor Prophets, but this probably could have been written much more succinctly and focused.
September 16, 2017
If you are into a final form assessment of the prophets, this book is for you.
March 12, 2013
Though it's in a certain sense a 250-page introduction to his subsequent volume, 'The Character of Christian Scripture,' it's a very engaging and not insignificant work, if at times clumsily written.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews