Scripture's Knowing: A Companion to Biblical Epistemology

by Dru Johnson

Scripture's Knowing is a guide to the emerging field of philosophical study of Scripture, specifically about knowing. Assuming that the Scriptures speak verbosely and persistently about knowing, what do the biblical authors have to say? How do they conceptualize ideas like truth and knowledge? Most importantly, how do we come to confidently know anything at all? Scripture's Knowing follows the discourse on knowledge through key biblical texts and shows the similarity of biblical knowing with the scientific enterprise. The findings are linked to the role of ritual in knowing and implications for theologians and churches today.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, Biblical Studies, Christian, Religion

Unknown Binding

About the author

Dru Johnson (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is Templeton Senior Research Fellow and director of the Abrahamic Theistic Origins Project at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford. He is also a visiting professor at Hope College, director of the Center for Hebraic Thought, editor of the Routledge Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Biblical Criticism series, and cohost of the OnScript podcast. His books include Biblical Philosophy and Human Rites: The Power of Rituals, Habits, and Sacraments. Johnson splits his time between Holland, Michigan, and Oxford, England.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began Johnson's book with a lot of hope for the argument, but quickly became a bit disappointed, yet as I read further, the argument was redeemed. The theory of knowledge espoused by Johnson in this little book is very inductive and descriptive, which led to my initial disappointment, because it does not look for a "first order" conception of knowledge from which his investigation begins. Later Johnson quickly dismisses attempts to locate "first order" conceptions of knowledge as modernist fantasies, and instead makes his compelling case. In short: Knowledge--at least as the Bible frames it--is obtained through rigorous, often embodied practice, which is led by an authoritative and trustworthy expert. The texts utilized well demonstrate his case in this regard. Where he is particularly compelling is his argument that scientific knowledge--the modern White Whale--is obtained through the same means. The final chapter advocates for educators and leaders to take this understanding of knowledge acquisition to better church and academy. I enjoyed the book, and viewed it as a brief introduction to Johnson's other works on the topic, which I will be reading in short order.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book which strives to outline and explore a little how the Bible represents and engages what it means to know. In a sense, this book serves as a quick little dive into Biblical Epistemology.

I really enjoyed the book. It definitely is created more as an introduction to Johnson's thought. He points towards some really excellent sources, and the foundation of his thought is excellent (I love that he utilizes a Polanyian approach to epistemology, and that he draws connections with Esther Meek's work). Less academic and more a summary of Johnson's thought, it is nonetheless helpful and insightful.

I would recommend this book to any pastor or church leader. In fact, I think many teachers would really benefit from working through the thoughts he has in here, especially in the last chapter which touches on authenticating authority, specifically in a classroom (among other things). I found it really insightful and helpful. The writing is not so deep that you have to have a background in philosophy to understand it, and Johnson assumes a slightly sarcastic tone in places that I found refreshing. Overall, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!

[Jonathan Ammon · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy-to-read presentation of Dru Johnson's novel approach to biblical epistemology in which he argues for coming to knowledge by trusting authorities. There is much that is interesting here. Johnson bases much of his work on Polanyi's epistemology, but does not demonstrate much connection or interact with other epistemological approaches. In some places his exegesis is also somewhat novel. I confess I dislike his authoritarian and non-analytic approach to epistemology and think other theories of acquiring knowledge map onto and make sense of the biblical data much better and more simply. There's also an authoritarian streak in how he presents the information, stating that some questions are absurd or wrong to ask. This is the kind of thing that students will deconstruct later. That said, this is the kind of work combining philosophical and biblical theology that I am excited about.

[Wagner Floriani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some sections were better than others. Not properly a book about epistemology, more of an evaluation or case for developing an epistemology from a biblical construct.

Perceptive insights into various biblical texts, and the discussion on rituals was enough to make the reading extremely rewarding to me.

[Wayne Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this little book on Biblical Epistemology. It's in the ritual...always in the ritual.

[Reid Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obedience produces knowledge according to Scripture, better put by Packer in Knowing God.

[Scott Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and Beneficial Read

Dru Johnson’s book Scripture’s Knowing is an enjoyable read. He makes the sometimes difficult world of epistemology more accessible and useful in helping helping us to be better readers of Scripture (and ultimately better disciples). In order to be deeper disciples of Jesus, we need more than just information. As Johnson notes, “we must embody guided processes in order to know” specifically as it relates to growing in wisdom and discernment. This book reinforces the need for meaningful rituals and spiritual disciplines. I’ll leave with my most concise summary: Skillfully seeing and listening guide us in collective knowing.

[Ray Umphrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scripture’s Knowing is a helpful insofar as it traces the concept of knowing through a selection of biblical narrative. There is helpful material here for the reader’s consideration. The later chapters on ritual and science are not convincing and the conclusion offers little in way of practical application.

[Terry W. West · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Condensed Version of Biblical Knwing

I enjoyed reading this shorter much more condensed work though I had already read Biblical Knowing. Dr. Johnson stated things in this work that were just as helpful as I found in Biblical Knowing. Even if you have read his other work this one is still very worth a read as a refresher.

[Ryan Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

Dru is a clear, concise, and compelling thinker in the tradition of Polanyi. Pick this up if you're interested in epistemology and Scripture. Fans of Esther Meek's work will find lots of scriptural engagement here that's missing from her work!

[Matt Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The apostrophe is misleading. The title should really be Scripture IS Knowing, rather than the knowing that belongs to Scripture. Even that is a stretch. The small lessons on Scripture are a backdrop to the epistemology of knowledge.

[Nicholas Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. While it’s a quick read, it would prove helpful to reread it because he packs a lot into a small book. The title doesn’t make it sound as if it would be all that practical, but I think it will be immensely practical in pastoral ministry.

[Josiah Peachey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful introduction to a biblically (in)formed epistemology or way of knowing. Johnson calls us to attend to the means of knowing that the Scriptures demonstrate and illuminate.

[Chim · Rating 3 out of 5]

指出圣经嘅认识论系通过先知正确嘅指导先能获得启示，呼应信望爱，要不然就会走向蛇嘅错误指引

[Zach Hedges · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dru Johnson, professor of biblical studies at the King’s College of New York City, has written widely on the subject of biblical epistemology. However, this small volume condenses that larger body of work into an easily-digestible form that has an eye toward practical application in the church, rather than simply academic or even theological investigation.
Johnson’s primary concern is to challenge the way that scholars (and particularly Christian ones) have traditionally thought about epistemological processes. Over against our modern conception of “knowledge” as sheer collections of information or “data” to be uploaded or downloaded or transferred at will, Johnson wants to construct an epistemology that is rooted in what he believes is the model of the Bible itself: an active process, aimed at a particular outcome (a personal transformation), which is guided by “an authoritative teacher who directs us to perform actions that dispose us to see something new.”
Toward this end, Johnson begins from exegetical ground zero, surveying the various words and terms that are used in both the Old and New Testaments to connote ideas of knowing (truth, belief, faith, trust, listening, seeing, sexual intimacy, etc.) The takeaway is that biblical knowing is inherently personal, involving both a knower and a guide who teaches him to know.
The next three chapters (probably the majority of the book) are spent constructing a sort of biblical theology of knowing, examining key texts that clearly outline the epistemological process that Johnson has described. From Genesis, the stories of the creation of woman and the temptation of the serpent contrast with one another to establish a paradigm for knowing generally: it always occurs at the direction of an authoritative voice, and the only question is whose voice that will be. The pattern continues in the exodus narrative, where the point of the story of the ten plagues in Egypt is to show Israel, by means of the definitive interpretation of Moses, that YHWH is her God, over against the false gods of Egypt. Incidentally, the pharaoh also functions here as an example of erroneous knowing—witnessing God’s acts and yet failing to interpret them rightly or respond to them properly. Finally, in the gospels, Mark portrays the disciples as generally incompetent knowers who largely fail to understand the authoritative teaching of Jesus despite their privileged position, while Luke offers more hope by concluding his account with the story of the two travelers whose “eyes were opened” after encountering the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus.
Johnson spends the final chapters elaborating on the notion of ritual as key to knowing (authoritative instruction whose purpose to show something), comparing biblical epistemology to the widely accepted modern scientific method, and then drawing out some practical implications for leaders in the church.
While the analysis of key biblical passages is helpful and stimulating for thinking about biblical epistemology generally, Johnson’s efforts to fit this model with an unconventional definition of ritual and to present it as a counterpart to scientific inquiry feel strained at best.

[Tyler Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an MA in theology and an MA in philosophy, how has I not come across this book earlier?!?

[Mark Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Biblical knowing I had a clue as to what this additional book would contain. Johnson nicely extends his work on epistemology in his volume, which traces knowing across the Bible. Excellent.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.