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From Hermeneutics to Exegesis: The Trajectory of Biblical Interpretation
Interpreting the Bible requires theoretical discernment and practical know-how.
A book that focuses solely on interpretive methods or deals exclusively with the philosophical underpinnings of interpretation fails to provide a full picture of how to read and study Scripture. Beginning with hermeneutics , Matthew Malcolm surveys the history of the discipline, engages with important theological issues, and arrives at a memorable depiction of what happens when fruitful interpretation takes place. After covering these foundational elements, Malcom focuses on exegesis . He helps readers understand the issues at stake in interpreting biblical passages, and provides a straightforward guide to writing an exegesis paper.
Academically solid without being overwhelmingly detailed, this is a reliable guide to the important path from hermeneutics to exegesis.
A book that focuses solely on interpretive methods or deals exclusively with the philosophical underpinnings of interpretation fails to provide a full picture of how to read and study Scripture. Beginning with hermeneutics , Matthew Malcolm surveys the history of the discipline, engages with important theological issues, and arrives at a memorable depiction of what happens when fruitful interpretation takes place. After covering these foundational elements, Malcom focuses on exegesis . He helps readers understand the issues at stake in interpreting biblical passages, and provides a straightforward guide to writing an exegesis paper.
Academically solid without being overwhelmingly detailed, this is a reliable guide to the important path from hermeneutics to exegesis.
192 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2018
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28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 16, 2020
Really enjoyed it at first, at the beginning he had this wonderful discussion of Mark 4 and Mark 8:
"notice that Jesus only expected this reaction from those with heads held high—the self-positioned “outsiders.” Verse 11 begins, “He answered them [his disciples], ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables so that . . .’” Jesus went on to show that he expected his disciples, unlike these outsiders, to understand the parables—because they were following the One the parables reveal. Mark 4:13 reads, “Then he said to them: ‘Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables?’” This parable—like the church doorway—appears the same to everyone. But it is designed to have a very different impact on those who approach it as “insiders” versus those who read it as "outsiders.” The insiders are expected to be able to interpret and understand it, resulting in new riches of appreciation for their Lord. But for the “stiffnecked” outsiders, the parable will confuse and confound the knowledge of Jesus they appear to possess. Mark 4:24–25 says, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and more will be added to you. For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” It would seem that according to Jesus, reaching understanding— arriving at a right interpretation—is not simply a matter of decoding grammar and syntax. Some of those who did this right and were personally familiar with Jesus’s first-century cultural context still found themselves hopelessly lost."
But then there was thing after thing that put a bad taste in my mouth, for example:
"Realm: I articulated my own self-identification as Christian, and also recognized that I do not self-identify as homosexual. I wrestled with whether “straight” is a useful self-identifying term. I ended up including an honest discussion of my own self-identification in the paper that I presented." 🙄 He suddenly got so squishy and soft in this section.
Also his use of the term "locatedness," yuck.
Though there were a few good morsels scattered throughout, I found myself disliking the taste overall. I would not recommend it.
"notice that Jesus only expected this reaction from those with heads held high—the self-positioned “outsiders.” Verse 11 begins, “He answered them [his disciples], ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables so that . . .’” Jesus went on to show that he expected his disciples, unlike these outsiders, to understand the parables—because they were following the One the parables reveal. Mark 4:13 reads, “Then he said to them: ‘Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables?’” This parable—like the church doorway—appears the same to everyone. But it is designed to have a very different impact on those who approach it as “insiders” versus those who read it as "outsiders.” The insiders are expected to be able to interpret and understand it, resulting in new riches of appreciation for their Lord. But for the “stiffnecked” outsiders, the parable will confuse and confound the knowledge of Jesus they appear to possess. Mark 4:24–25 says, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and more will be added to you. For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” It would seem that according to Jesus, reaching understanding— arriving at a right interpretation—is not simply a matter of decoding grammar and syntax. Some of those who did this right and were personally familiar with Jesus’s first-century cultural context still found themselves hopelessly lost."
But then there was thing after thing that put a bad taste in my mouth, for example:
"Realm: I articulated my own self-identification as Christian, and also recognized that I do not self-identify as homosexual. I wrestled with whether “straight” is a useful self-identifying term. I ended up including an honest discussion of my own self-identification in the paper that I presented." 🙄 He suddenly got so squishy and soft in this section.
Also his use of the term "locatedness," yuck.
Though there were a few good morsels scattered throughout, I found myself disliking the taste overall. I would not recommend it.
January 3, 2023
Malcolm helps us consider the factors and features that are at play when interpreting a text in order that exegesis would be as fruitful as possible. Malcolm is helpful in detailing some of the areas of openness in communication, but he seems to really play that note to death. He also seems to really downplay the role and significance of authorial intent in the equation. He collapses the distinction between the associations/connotations of our speech and our intended meaning (i.e., the intention and the effect of our speech) (p. 65). His use of terms can be very misleading (and frustrating) at times—e.g., he suggests the idea early on that a reader contributes meaning to a text (this is not what it sounds like) (p. 10), later that interpretation of a text is not always tied to a consciously intended meaning, (p. 65). An interesting, somewhat helpful, mostly frustrating read for me.
March 3, 2022
Good introduction, not everything I had hoped for. Still a good read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews