Beyond the Bible: Moving from Scripture to Theology

Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology

by I. Howard Marshall

Applying scriptural insight to contemporary issues is one of the most important, yet most difficult, tasks that the church faces. The Bible, though written long ago, can speak authoritatively to contemporary ethical, doctrinal, and practical issues. Respected author I. Howard Marshall offers guidance for this perennial task in Beyond the Bible.

Using a "principled approach," Marshall moves from Scripture itself to contemporary understanding and application of Scripture. He examines how principles can be established from Scripture, whether explicitly or implicitly, and explores how the continuing development of insight can provide us with guidelines for the ongoing task of developing and applying Christian theology. Responses from Kevin Vanhoozer and Stanley Porter are included.

Students and scholars of the Bible and theology will be interested in this latest work from I. Howard Marshall, and it offers an accessible approach to a perennial topic of concern that pastors, church leaders, and interested laity will appreciate.

Beyond the Bible is the first book of the Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology series. Produced in partnership with Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, this series gathers leading authorities to succinctly assess the major issues faced by the twenty-first century church and present their findings in a way that is rewarding to scholars yet accessible to students, pastors and laity. Readers will gain a fresh understanding of important issues that will enable them to take part meaningfully in discussion and debate. Series editors are Craig A. Evans and Lee Martin McDonald. Forthcoming series volumes will include contributions from J. D. G. Dunn, John J. Collins, and Craig Evans.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

Ian Howard Marshall (12 January 1934 – 12 December 2015) was a Scottish New Testament scholar.[1] He was Professor Emeritus of New Testament Exegesis at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He was formerly the chair of the Tyndale Fellowship for Biblical and Theological Research; he was also president of the British New Testament Society and chair of the Fellowship of European Evangelical Theologians. Marshall identified as an Evangelical Methodist. He was the author of numerous publications, including 2005 Gold Medallion Book Award winner New Testament Theology.[2] He died of pancreatic cancer in 2015.[3]

Reviews

[Zach Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marshall gives a great overview of development from the OT to the NT, from Jesus to the apostles, and within the apostolic period itself. Doing this justifies the need to formulate a principled approach to doctrinal/ethical development.

However, I’m still skeptical of Marshall’s proposal. On the one hand, it allows us to clearly condemn things like slavery that a strict biblicism has a hard time condemning. On the other hand, it’s not clear to me where to stop the train. Marshall wants to allow women into full church leadership, but I’m not quite sure what his method is for justifying that decision. Is it because Paul’s writings on the subject were bound to a specific cultural context (as he seems to indicate in one place)? In that case, some strict biblicists could get behind the idea. Or is Marshall’s egalitarianism based on a mind formed by the gospel (as he seems to indicate elsewhere)? If so, why not approve homosexual marriage (a move Marshall doesn’t want to make)?

I’m really sympathetic to what he’s trying to do here. Maybe I’ll come around to it some day. But despite what he says, I don’t find any clear principles in this book from which to establish a consistent theology.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great primer on continual doctrinal development from Scripture. The first three chapters are taken from the Hayward Lectures at Acadia Divinity School given by Marshall. The last two chapters are responses provided by respected theologians Kevin Vanhoozer and Stanley Porter. While far from exhaustive, this book establishes both a biblically faithful and intellectually satisfying starting point for hermeneutics and contemporary issues. The leading question that concerns Marshall is: "Can we go on developing doctrine beyond what we find has already happened in Scripture?" (p 55). Marshall's answer, along with his interlocutors, is "Yes." Not only can we, but we must if theology is to remain relevant to modern concerns. This does not mean, however, that the Bible becomes putty in the hands of its nearest expositor, able to twist and contort to the desire of its every handler. Instead, Marshall aims for a "principled" approach for taking theology further than its canonical development as gleaned from Scripture's own example. In essence, Marshall believes that the Scriptures themselves provide the evidence of doctrinal development, as well as a general framework within which to do so ourselves. In response to his proposal, Vanhoozer and Porter are both stimulating and slightly critical. However, I found Vanhoozer's supplements particularly helpful, mainly as it concerned his view that doctrine is not meant solely for knowledge accumulation but rather as a trajectory towards God's wisdom for us in Christ. This includes fostering the "patterns of judgment" that the Scriptures unfold, which then empower modern disciples to make similar "judgments" although in different situations. Highly recommended.

[Радостин Марчев · Rating 5 out of 5]

Независимо от сравнително по-ниската обща оценка давам на тази книга 5 звезди. Това, разбира се, не означава, че съм съгласен с всичко казано в нея. Причината е най-вече понеже авторът накратко дава добра представа за настоящата позиция в полето на евангелската херменевтика, слага пръста там където е необходимо и задава правилните въпроси. Оттук нататък решението, което предлага може да бъде оспорвано, ревизирано и допълвано - това е естествено и необходимо. Всъщност точно това правят двамата други автори (също значими имена) - Кевин Ванхузер и Стенли Портър - като влизат в твърде конструктивен диалог с проф. Маршал. Макар на моменти моето собствено ниво да правеше трудно да следя мисълта на някои автори (особено в по-детайлното разглеждане на приложението на филосфията на Витгенщайн към херменевтиката от страна на Портър) книгата беше истинско удоволствие. Забележително е колко много добри идеи могат да се изкажат на едва 100 стр.

[R.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful outline from three major evangelical scholars about how to move from Scripture to theological application using hermeneutics. Published in 2004, it will provide me useful bibliography in my PhD work, too.

One note: All three authors (one by implication, two explicitly) attempt to exclude LGBTQ - positive theological outcomes from proper evangelical hermeneutics. I don't think it can be done.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful for thinking through the issue.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marshall argues that we can somewhat follow the apostles' Theological style of interpretation of Scripture