Seeing Christ in All of Scripture: Hermeneutics at Westminster Theological Seminary

by Peter A. Lillback (Editor)

Interpreting the Bible can be a challenge. Seeing Christ in All of Scripture is designed to help people understand the beautiful, Christ-centered structure of the Bible. This concise compilation of essays provides a unique and practical tool for personal or group Bible study.

This book is packed with readable yet rich content. The book's four contributing authors, all faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary, have a total of five doctorate degrees, over 140 years of experience teaching the Bible, and over 145 years of experience ministering the gospel.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Nonfiction, Scripture, Religion

87 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Peter A. Lillback is an American theologian who serves as President and Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He is also President of the Providence Forum and a senior editor at Unio cum Christo. Ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he holds credentials as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. Lillback earned degrees from Cedarville University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He is the author of George Washington’s Sacred Fire.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some good stuff here, but the volume is ridiculously over-hyped in the multiple pages of recommendations before you get to the text. I think the authors need to clarify the difference more between mild and hard-core versions of Biblical Theology (they do to some extent, but I think they need to do more to distance themselves from BT-run mad).

[Greg Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this group of short essays but the best part for me was reading Machen’s Purpose and Plan for Westminster.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, solid and easy to read/understand. This was written for hermeneutics at WTS, but if you're looking for Christ-centered, basic look at biblical interpretation - this is a good place to start.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book gives a brief overview of Biblical interpretation at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. It is that interpretive tradition - redemptive-historical - in which I was trained and in which I delight.
It is a position that came under fire and caused some problems at the seminary several years ago. IMHO those problems have been dealt with, much to the happiness of many alumnae.
The essays by Poythress, Duiguid, and Beale are new, but in the old tradition. (Poythrees was a contemporary at WTS)
The essay by Gaffin brought me back to the classroom with him teaching New Testament Biblical Theology. I still have and use to class notes, particularly the exegesis of Luke 24.
This brief tome filled my heart with gladness.
As for the essay by Machen (d. 1937), as Dr. Van Til was fond of saying, "We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before so we can see a little further over the horizon."

[Sean Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in a introductory manner but without any helpful "setup" for someone wanting to become familiar with the topic. Additionally, if it was intended to truly address the concerns with the recent controversy, it could have been more clear and detailed on those points. As it is, it is stuck in between being a decent introduction to redemptive-historical hermeneutics (which I must assume there is a better place to direct people), and a helpful guide to addressing the recent controversy at Westminster (which it does not adequately address for someone truly struggling to understand the issue).

[C.H. Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great to see Westminster Theological Seminary staking out clear positions on biblical hermeneutics. There was a drift going on even when I was there in the late 90's that I believe has been corrected. This little volume is a collection of essays arguing for a Christocentric reading of both the Old and New Testaments, affirming that the biblical authors were not merely "men of their times" but also inerrantly inspired by the Holy Spirit.

[Josh Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid little book on Christocentric hermeneutics. This will likely be the book I send people to for studying hermeneutics. It's short, solid, and affordable.

[Evandro Junior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gostei. Traz um panorama sobre a prática hermenêutica do Westminster Theological Seminary. Os autores trabalham as questões a partir da continuidade entre os Testamentos. Nessa linha, apresentam aos leitores um entendimento sobre tipologia, hermenêutica cristocêntrica, uso do AT no NT, relação entre a Teologia Bíblica e Sistemática, além dos apêndices com alguns pontos polêmicos. Sabemos que este e outros seminários reformados (USA) estiverem atualmente envolvidos em não pequena controvérsia. Motivo: a relação entre a hermenêutica (esp. recentes tratamentos do uso do AT no NT) e os desdobramentos desta na doutrina da inerrância bíblica. A polêmica Hermenêutica Cristotélica (proposta por Peter Enns) X Hermenêutica Cristocêntrica/Abordagem Canônica Modifcada (G.K. Beale) foram assuntos de debates acalourados, respondidos em artigos, livros e muita produção teológica. Embora este livro não cite nominalmente ninguém, o assunto é discutido. Dentre todos os excelentes capítulos, destaco logo o capítulo 1, "Biblical Hermeneutics", do Dr. Vern S. Poythress. Vale a pela ler o livro. Recomendo.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great refresher on Christ-centered hermeneutics. As a daily practitioner, nearly ten years removed from the academy, it was refreshing to revisit something academic.

My favorite part was the orientation to the distinction some are creating between a “Christocentric” biblical theology and a “Christotelic” biblical theology.

The Christotelic approach, presumably as a reaction to a Christocentric reading of the Old Testament, creates a distinction between the human intentions and historical situation of the OT authors (first reading) and the later understood meaning of the NT authors (second reading). This is to prevent people from “reading the NT into the OT,” or “seeing Jesus where the original authors didn’t see him.”

However, Jesus’ own reading of the OT and the NT’s use of the OT clearly implies an organic unity between the old ad the new that the Christotelic approach undermines. Christ was there as the intention of the divine author the whole time, whether or not the OT authors fully understood it. There’s a difference between reading the NT into the OT, and reading the OT in light of the NT. We can avoid the former and do the latter.

[Sarah Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a short book on hermeneutics this is a great one. I have never read anything on the study of hermeneutics or had any formal training in it and I found this book very helpful.

Each chapter is written by a different professor at Westminster Theological Seminary and the chapters cover Biblical Hermeneutics, Old Testament Hermeneutics, New Testament Hermeneutics and Systematic Theology and Hermeneutics. There are also three appendices.

In general, this book reads well and is relatively easy to understand. The fourth chapter on Systematic Theology and Hermeneutics was the exception, I had a very difficult time understanding this chapter. The author Richard B. Gaffin Jr. is clearly brilliant, but he doesn't write in a way that the layperson can easily understand and follow. He also wrote the third appendices which I also found very difficult to understand.

That criticism aside, the introduction, first three chapters, and the first appendices are very well written and I learned a lot about hermeneutics and the Bible as a whole.

[Omri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is an excellent summary of the defining marks of Westminster Theological Seminary. Anyone seeking to better understand what makes the seminary tick would do well to read this book.

Unfortunately, WTS’s redemptive-historical hermeneutical method and its exaltation of the Westminster Standards as a theological, authoritative framework stifle the student’s ability to form convictions based on the clarity of Scripture alone.

I began reading this book as a part of my research on the perspicuity (clarity) of Scripture. I was both amazed and grieved to discover how Westminster Theological Seminary views the Westminster longer and shorter catechisms/Standards. Though they acknowledge them to be fallible, the school considers them a valid interpretive framework and starting point for theology. Such a view undermines Scripture’s teaching on it own clarity as well as the historically Reformed Protestant position on the doctrine held by Zwingli, Luther, Calvin and others.

[Tengxiang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a statement on Hermeneutic principles at Westminster. While I thought it might lay more focus on clarifying the earlier Chritotelic and Christocentric controversy, it may fail you in that regard. There is another summary document for clarification you can find online easily and I heard the best article on this is from Lane Tipton in Essays in “Honor of Vern Poythress” titled “Christocentrism and Christotelism: The Spirit, Redemptive History, and the Gospel.”
So this short book is a collection of four essays laying out key points in how interpretation of the whole Bible, OT, NT should be done and What does Systematic theology have to do with Hermeneutics from a reformed perspective at WTS. It by no means serves as an intro book to Hermeneutics, but reconfirmed the Westminster way of teaching its students to preach Christ from the whole Bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament and I love how they do it.

[Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Interpreting the Bible can be a challenge. Seeing Christ in All of Scripture is designed to help people understand the beautiful, Christ-centered structure of the Bible. This concise compilation of essays provides a unique and practical tool for personal or group Bible study. This book is packed with readable yet rich content. The book's four contributing authors, all faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary, have a total of five doctorate degrees, over 140 years of experience teaching the Bible, and over 145 years of experience ministering the gospel." - from the Amazon blurb

[Douglas Gates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have used more in-text citations and prooftexts. Not sure how the WCF can be revised (WCF 31.4, p. 66 in this book) if the seminary "affirm that a voting faculty member is not permitted to teach or insinuate something contrary to any element in the system of doctrine, even if the faculty member judges that what he is going to teach is based on Scripture (faculty pledge)." (p.67). Meh. Doesn't really apply to me anyway.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, though it reads like only half of an ongoing conversation with one dialogue partner silent. I think this is addressed to an internal dispute. Still helpful in what it affirms, even though it is general.

[Ricky Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good small book of some sort essays on biblical hermeneutic principals. Chapter 4 is helpful in understanding how biblical and systematic theology work together to provide a clearer interpretation of scripture. In in all, it was a good book!

[Gustavo Jaramillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and concise book to know the hermeneutics at WTS. As well as their goals and how they plan to achieve them.

I liked to understand the difference between Christotelic and Christocentric interpretation of Scripture.

This book showed me how serious is WTS about Scripture.

[Laurent Dv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to reformed biblical theology, from a vossian perspective (Geehardus Vos). Very accessible, understanble by anyone.

[WH · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a good sign when the appendices are more worth reading than the body of the book, in my opinion. Were it not for Gaffin's essay at the end, I might have rated this even lower.

[James Bunyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best bit is Machen’s address on the opening of Westminster College, which is included as an appendix.

[Stephen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer on redemptive-historical hermeneutics. Dr. Beale is characteristically strong.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written for the Westminister fan club it appears. Well done, but as I don’t have ties to the university or strong interests in it I really wasn’t the intended audience.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is short, indeed even with the appendixes its barely over 100 pages. Its a series of very short essays states what WTS and in fact Reformed theology thinks of Christ in Scripture. That is, namely, that the OT leads up to Christ, and the NT reflects on Christ.

Seeing Christ in all of Scripture is an accurate title. This little book… booklet? Treatise? Reminds us of what permeates through what we think of when we read someone with WTS credentials. This is written to potential WTS students promising to them that a degree there is a degree in Bible. It is taught through a thorough understanding of Systematic and Biblical Theology. The goal of WTS hermeneutics is to read the OT in light of the NT.

[Tanwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a "how-to" book in doing Christ centred hermeneutics, but this is a high-level overview on guiding truths for biblical interpretation. In other words, it's a "why" book not a "how-to" book. 

This book is short and evenly divided into 4 chapters: Biblica hermeneutics, Old Testament Hermeneutics, New Testament Hermeneutics, and Systematic Theology. All with Christ in the centre. Since this is compiled from materials from Westminster Theological Seminary, this book is highly technical. 

It's hard to recommend this book. Because there are better books on this topic out there. But reading another book on Christ-centered hermeneutics is better than not at all. 

3 out of 5

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who wants to understand redemptive-historical interpretation and the recent faculty shake-up at Westminster East should read this book. It's suggestive and mercifully brief. I found just one string of Bible references in a footnote very helpful (I fear we too often overlook lists of proof texts). The main chapters are easily digestible but there's also meat in the appendices. Gresham Machen's address on the seminary's purpose and plan is included and it's a classic on it's own. It's all good but I think you need to read here how the Bible norms it's own interpretation, how the theological disciplines interact, and how to handle cultural relativism in Biblical interpretation.

[Brian Nicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of essays defending the redemptive-historical hermeneutical method as superior to all others. The first chapter by Vern Polythress felt unfinished. The others felt underdeveloped and almost rushed to the publisher. There is a sense that their theological perspective dictates their hermeneutical approach rather than simply allowing Scripture to speak for itself. The danger is taking the approach too far and foisting interpretation on a passage that simply isn't there. Overall, it contains a good introduction to this method that seeks to "see Christ in all of Scripture."

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine. Quite basic look at hermeneutics. Contributions from Poythress, Duguid, Beale, and Gaffin. The two Gaffin entries were, as usual, the best. This book was to be a defense of christocentrism, but really it's simply a primer on reading the OT and NT (which, of course, should be christocentric!).

I really don't much more to add. The book was occasioned by intramural squabbles with Clair Davis and Peter Enns, and the authors here clearly have the high ground.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never would’ve read this on my own, but it came recommended by a friend who purposefully loaned me her copy because she thought I’d appreciate it. It certainly has some good points and addresses some important aspects of hermeneutics even if you’re not a Westminster seminarian (and I’m definitely not). It’s a relatively concise book but definitely leans heavier on the academic side which isn’t my personal preference.

[Ryan Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some organization gave away a free e-book version of this back in mid 2016. This book explains how to interpret the bible from the reformed perspective. It explains the how the types and shadows of the old testament point forward to Christ, how to interpret various books the bible based on what type of literature they are, and how we use scripture to interpret scripture.

[John Rakshith Prabhakar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Window into Westminster!

I liked the book for its conciseness and scholarly essays on WTS's hermeneutics, with enough history to give context for the seminary's vision and mission. Highly recommended for those considering seminary, and for those in ministry who have 2 hours to spare for short, enjoyable theological essays!