A Manifesto for Theological Interpretation

by Craig G. Bartholomew (Editor), Heath A. Thomas (Editor)

Recent decades have witnessed a renaissance of theological interpretation. Craig Bartholomew, coauthor of the bestselling The Drama of Scripture, and Heath Thomas bring together a team of specialists to articulate a multifaceted vision for returning rigorous biblical interpretation to the context of the church. Developed by the internationally recognized Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar, this book is designed to bring clarity and unity to the enterprise of theological interpretation. It positively integrates multiple approaches to interpreting the Bible, combining academic rigor with pastoral sensitivity for professors, students, and church leaders.

Genres: Theology

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

Craig G. Bartholomew (PhD, University of Bristol) is the H. Evan Runner Professor of Philosophy at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario, and the principal of the Paideia Centre for Public Theology. He founded the internationally recognized Scripture and Hermeneutics seminar and is coauthor of Living at the Crossroads and Christian Philosophy.

Reviews

[Eddie LaRow]

Diss reading. Excellent collection of essays.

[Samuel G. Parkison]

Many helpful insights brought to light here. The biggest critique can be summed up simply: it's far too ecumenical. When you try to include everyone in a hermeneutic, you end up including no one. Nearly all of the principles advocated for in this volume can be identical in form (i.e., the language used to describe the principles) but must necessarily differ in actual meaning depending on where one comes from. Terms like "gospel," "canon," and "revelation" must carry different meanings for the different contributors in this volume. This produced a kind of schizophrenia in the tone; at times I felt like I was reading Barth, at others von Balthasaar, and at other times I could hear Schaefer or even Van Til. This volume struck me not as a unified "manifesto," but rather, a hodgepodge of positions--some glorious, others extremely problematic--which all use the same language. I plan to write a more thorough review in due time.

[Todd Miles]

This is certainly the most "user-friendly" monograph on TIS. It is an edited volume so it is uneven in quality and clarity. Many articles are helpful; others, not so much. The different commitments of the Manifesto itself, spelled out at the beginning, is probably the most clear of the chapters. The remaining chapters serve to explain and expand the different commitments.

[Ray Clendenen]

This is a collection of essays on various aspects of the "manifesto." They were all good, but my favorites were #3, "The Ecclesia as Primary Context for the Reception of the Bible" by Robby Holt and Aubrey Spears (my favorite in that it contains many new thoughts for me), #6, "The Canon and Theological Interpretation" by Stephen Dempster, #7, "Biblical Theology and Theological Interpretation," by David Beldman and Jonathan Swales, and #11, "Theological Commentary" by Mark Gignilliat and Jonathan Pennington. Highly recommended.

[Taylor Bradbury]

Persuasive. Various grammatical-historical, historical-critical, and literary/narrative hermeneutics have great insights and serve a purpose. But I’m convinced that what we need more than ever is a recovery of a theological interpretation of scripture. I’m equally convinced that a theological interpretation of scripture can blend well with the other hermeneutics mentioned above, as well as a redemptive-historical lens.

What if what we need is to return to “listening to the Bible as God’s Word addressed to his people”? (48)

[Dougald]

Really enjoyed this work. It expresses where I am as a far as my approach to hermeneutics.

[Charles Musil]

3.5 stars. A mixture of helpful and weak essays that did not always work together (likely a function of being too broad of a tent).