The Soul's Longing: An Orthodox Christian Perspective on Biblical Interpretation

by Mary S. Ford

Utilizing all that is valuable in historical-critical and related research, Dr. Mary Ford demonstrates with force and clarity just why biblical hermeneutics needs to return to the perspectives and methods of early Christian interpreters, particularly those of Eastern Church tradition. Since the late Middle Ages, biblical interpretation in Western Christianity has been largely guided by historical-critical methodology. Highly useful for questions of “Introduction” (the “who, what, when, where and why” of biblical writings), it has nevertheless led to a serious “reductionism,” represented most flagrantly today by members of the “Jesus Seminar.” The indispensable link between exegesis and spiritual life has been largely obscured, with the result that concern for the Gospel promise of salvation has been subordinated to scientific inquiry of the text. Her focus is consistently on the basic question, “What does the soul long for?” She answers the question by a careful criticism of non-orthodox trends in interpretation (from Spinoza to contemporary exegetes), and by demonstrating how a hermeneutic inspired by the Church Fathers can be faithful to the text, while leading the reader to discover what it means to be “a child of God.” We are greatly indebted to Professor Ford for achieving her intended to demonstrate that authentic and authoritative biblical interpretation is intimately related to the life of faith. This important book is a treasure that will be of special interest to clergy and students of theology, as well as to lay persons who experience the soul’s deep longing for God. — Fr John Breck

Genres: Spirituality

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2015

Reviews

[DúviAurvandil Ericsson e Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a magnificent work on what the proper approach to the Holy Scriptures should be. And far from being just another book with a new, secret "key" to understanding everything, this is more a total reset of the model of coming to the Bible. It is not "just a book," nor is it an "instruction manual," nor is it a systematic theology, though of course it is full of literary elements, instructions that should definitely be followed if one wants a good life, and absolutely dripping with theology. The proper "key" if there is one, is instead in the person opening This Book to see what it communicates. This person must have a heart of humility, not setting himself above others who can inform him what a passage means; diligence, never giving up on difficult sections, but trusting that God loves him and has it all there for a good reason; asceticism, knowing that he must disentangle himself from love of this world in order to taste the fruit that comes from the heavenly words; and love, his heart must be aflame for relationship with God so that the true purpose of the Scriptures can be manifested in his life.

This, of course, is all explained much more elegantly and thoroughly in The Soul's Longing, with much good support from Church History, the Fathers, and contemporary scholarly support.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like the book. Ford offers exactly what the title says: an Orthodox Christian perspective on biblical interpretation. For me she spent too much time bashing modern biblical methods of scholarly interpretation. Obviously those interpretations have a totally different foundation and perspective than Orthodoxy. We need more works putting forth our views, not just bashing the Christian West. But I think she helps move us in the direction of putting forth an Orthodox understanding of how to do biblical reading and explanation. The risk, which has been there for years is that reacting against Protestant or scholarly interpretations we will declare there is one and only one way to read any one text, which would not be consistent with the Fathers who made many different uses of any one text. Our Tradition is rich and deep but some want to reduce it one narrow interpretation - we become Patristic fundamentalists just like the Protestant fundamentalists we so despise.