Narratives are the concrete manifestation of an author’s subjectivity. They function as that person’s voice, and should be treated with the same respect that is granted to all voices. In Interpreting New Testament Narratives, Eric Douglass develops this ethical perspective, so that narratives are treated as communication, and the author’s voice is regarded as a valued perspective. Employing a cross-disciplinary approach, Douglass shows how readers engage narratives as mental simulations, creating a temporary possible world that readers enter and experience. To recover communication, readers locate the events of this world in the culture of the intended audience, and translate this meaning into the modern reader’s worldview. Using a staged reading design, this initial reading is followed by readings of critique.

McKnight critiques various interpretive methods and suggests how students with some knowledge of Greek can benefit from different analyses.

The SCM Study Guide to "New Testament Interpretation", together with its companion volume on "New Testament Books", offers an up-to-date, accessible introduction to this fast-changing area of theological study. Aimed at level one students, it encourages interaction with the New Testament texts and provides pointers for further reading and learning. It covers the main areas tackled in introductory New Testament courses, such as the contents and diversity of the New Testament, how the texts came to be written and collected, their relationship to Jesus of Nazareth, and the nature of the canon. In particular, it introduces the main interpretative approaches used by scholars in an accessible way, avoiding unnecessary jargon, and helping the student apply them to specific New Testament passages, so is full of practical examples and accessible learning techniques for the beginner.

"INTERPRETING THE BIBLE: Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics" is a seminal book crafted by Edward D. Andrews to guide students, ministers, and anyone interested in understanding the Bible more deeply. This book is unique in its approach, as it not only delves into the principles of biblical interpretation inherent in the Bible but also paves the way for readers to interpret, teach, and preach God's Word with profound insight. Understanding the Bible goes beyond surface reading—it requires a careful analysis of its genres, historical context, and language. This book serves as a foundational guide for such an examination, requiring no prior understanding of biblical languages or hermeneutics, yet empowering the reader with a working knowledge of biblical interpretation. "Biblical Hermeneutics," as Andrews elucidates, is both a science and an art, forming a crucial component of theological sciences. This truth is particularly salient for conservative Protestantism, which holds the Bible as the sole authoritative voice of God to mankind. In "INTERPRETING THE BIBLE: Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics," Andrews sheds light on the multifaceted nature of biblical interpretation. He instructs readers on how to discern the various biblical genres and understand the original meanings intended by the Bible authors from a conservative grammatical-historical perspective. But more than that, he guides readers on how to apply these timeless truths to their own lives. This book is more than a guide; it's an invitation to journey deeper into the realms of biblical understanding. It is a must-read for anyone who seeks to broaden their comprehension of the Bible, interpret its sacred teachings accurately, and apply its profound wisdom to everyday life.

A vital Bible resource used in classrooms and churches worldwide now revised and updated. 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, now in a revised second edition, probes the most pressing problems encountered by churchgoers and beginning Bible students when they try to read and understand the Bible. Using feedback received from pastors, professors, and Bible teachers, New Testament professor Robert L. Plummer includes updated information about Bible translations, biblical interpretation, and Bible study technology and streamlines previous portions to make room for a handful of new issues. This second edition, updated regarding Bible translations, biblical interpretation trends, and Bible-related technology, will continue to serve professors, pastors, and Bible study leaders as a go-to guide or textbook. New Testament scholar Robert L. Plummer covers historical, interpretive, practical, and theological matters such as: Were the ancient manuscripts of the Bible transmitted accurately? Why can't people agree on what the Bible means? How do we interpret the Psalms? How can I use the Bible in daily devotions? Does the Bible teach that God wants Christians to be healthy and wealthy? 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible provides crucial assistance for students ready to engage with biblical scholarship and for teachers eager to lead Bible studies with confidence.

How should Christians read the Old Testament today? Answers to this question gravitate between two poles. On the one hand, some pay little attention to the gap between the Old Testament and today, reading the Old Testament like a devotional allegory that points the Christian directly to Jesus. On the other hand, there are folks who prioritize an Old Testament passage's original context to such an extent that it is by no means clear if and how a given Old Testament text might bear witness to Christ and address the church. This volume is a tribute to Willem A. VanGemeren, an ecclesial scholar who operated amidst the tension between understanding texts in their original context and their theological witness to Christ and the church. The contributors in this volume share a conviction that Christians must read the Old Testament with a theological concern for how it bears witness to Christ and nourishes the church, while not undermining the basic principles of exegesis. Two questions drive these essays as they address the topic of reading the Old Testament theologically. Christology. If the Old Testament bears witness to Christ, how do we move from an Old Testament text, theme, or book to Christ? Ecclesiology. If the Old Testament is meant to nourish the church, how do scriptures originally given to Israel address the church today? The volume unfolds by first considering exegetical habits that are essential for interpreting the Old Testament theologically. Then several essays wrestle with how topics from select Old Testament books can be read theologically. Finally, it concludes by addressing several communal matters that arise when reading the Old Testament theologically.

How would you describe the Old Testament? Offensive, violent, patriarchal, archaic; difficult, boring, obsolete? Many Christians don’t bother with it anymore. Yet these ancient books were in Jesus’ lifeblood, and they provided the thought-world of those early followers who wrote about him in what became the New Testament. This book challenges those stereotypes of Israel’s Scriptures by exploring their significance in the apostolic writings and by demonstrating the importance of whole books for nuanced interpretation. It takes readers on a tour through four key books before considering the wider issues of interpretation that readers must consider in order to hear God’s Spirit speaking afresh to a range of contemporary concerns, including racism and the environment.