Soteriology, not epistemology, is the best entrance to theological hermeneutics and to the doctrine of Scripture. The triune God uses Scripture to make the community of believers live in Christ. We hear the words of Scripture in the light of Easter and Pentecost. We understand Scripture from faith in Christ and with the mind of Christ. At the same time, we come to know Christ in Scripture and we receive the mind of Christ by reading Scripture. We remain in Christ by remaining in the Word. Understanding Scripture and Christlikeness mutually reinforce each other. Living a Christian life with God and our neighbor in God’s world will deepen our understanding of Scripture. This book explores the complex relationships between Jesus Christ, participation in Christ, theological hermeneutics, and the doctrine of Scripture. It shows the necessity of a holistic approach of life, knowledge, understanding, and renewal.

For the pastor or serious layperson, the realm of biblical interpretation can be a confusing maze of personalities, communities, methods, and theories. This maze can often result in obscuring the main goal of interpreting Scripture: hearing and knowing God better. The Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible is a groundbreaking reference tool that introduces readers to key names, theories, and concepts in the field of biblical interpretation. It discusses these approaches and evaluates their helpfulness in enabling Christians to hear what God is saying to the church through Scripture. The contributors come from a variety of backgrounds, and the dictionary covers a broad range of topics with both clarity and depth.

The Bible was the lifeblood of virtually every aspect of the life of the early churches. This Handbook explores a wide array of themes related to the reception, canonization, interpretation, uses, and legacies of the Bible in early Christianity.

The demand for integrity—genuine spirituality, exemplary character, and competent skills—among ministry leaders has never been greater. This book introduces students and beginning practitioners to the theological and practical elements that make for healthy leadership and leaders in Christian ministry. How ministry leaders understand who God is and who they themselves are governs every aspect of their work and well-being, and how they understand the nature of the church and their role as ministry leaders forms their sense of purpose and identity. This book is written from the perspective of ministry leadership in Christian traditions with congregational polity, but there is much that applies to ministry leadership in all Christian traditions. The text introduces terms, ideas, and skills foundational for getting started in ministry leadership and for more advanced study in each area. Most importantly, the book integrates biblical, historical, and theological reflection with the description of practical skills, demonstrating how students themselves can think theologically about ministry leadership. Thinking clearly about context, calling, and character provides the perspective from which to understand the essential practices of ministry leadership and to conduct them with integrity.

Soteriology, not epistemology, is the best entrance to theological hermeneutics and to the doctrine of Scripture. The triune God uses Scripture to make the community of believers live in Christ. We hear the words of Scripture in the light of Easter and Pentecost. We understand Scripture from faith in Christ and with the mind of Christ. At the same time, we come to know Christ in Scripture and we receive the mind of Christ by reading Scripture. We remain in Christ by remaining in the Word. Understanding Scripture and Christlikeness mutually reinforce each other. Living a Christian life with God and our neighbor in God’s world will deepen our understanding of Scripture. This book explores the complex relationships between Jesus Christ, participation in Christ, theological hermeneutics, and the doctrine of Scripture. It shows the necessity of a holistic approach of life, knowledge, understanding, and renewal.

Time-proven principles of biblical interpretation such as historical setting, grammatical setting, and contextual setting are discussed.

Biblical hermeneutics is the science of interpreting the Bible. The aim of this book is to explain and illustrate the various principles of Bible interpretation that must be followed if one is to understand the teachings of God's Word correctly. Such a study is pivotal to anyone who studies the Bible. Unless consistent principles of interpreting its passages are followed the truth of God becomes blurred and confused. Determining what the Bible means must precede all application of its words to the lives of its readers and hearers. Dr. S. Franklin Logsdon, Bible teacher and evangelist, says of this book: "These principles of Bible study by Dr. J. Edwin Hartill have been tested and proved in his own personal teaching for many years. They are succinct, pointed, practical, original, understandable -- simple keys to unlock the storehouse of Scripture to things both old and new. This publication makes a distinct contribution to Bible lovers in their search for increased knowledge of divine truth. It is a privilege and an honor to commend it to God's people." Using a graphic combination of text, charts, and outlines, Dr. Hartill states, "I trust that as you study these principles, your understanding of the Word and your love for its truth may deepen, so that you may more ably pass it on to others." Included are chapters on: - The Dispensational Principle - The Covenantal Principle - The Ethnic Division Principle - The Discrimination Principle - The Predictive Principle - The Application Principle - The Typical Principle - The Principle of Human Willingness in Illumination - The First Mention Principle - The Progressive Mention Principle - The Full Mention Principle - The Context Principle - The Agreement Principle - The Direct Statement Principle - The Gap Principle - The Three-fold Principle - The Election Principle - The Repetition Principle - The Synthetic Principle - The Principle of Illustrative Mention - The Double Reference Principle - The Christo-Centric Principle - The Numerical Principle

Why do contemporary Christians seem to routinely talk past one another amid contentious theological debates? In this illuminating study, Sean M. W. McGuire argues that interpreters' lack of self-critical reflection on the process of interpretation and compounding cultural factors are problematizing interpretive practice. Thus, to work through difficult topics, Christians need to develop the ability to reflect on the complexity informing how they interpret Scripture, and how they see others interpreting Scripture, so that they can coherently and constructively discuss their interpretations with others. Grounding the study in the discipline of practical theology, McGuire utilizes the cultural theory of metamodernism and the hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900-2002), together with a proposed revision of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, to develop a paradigm for observing and describing differences in biblical interpretive practice. Using current debates regarding sexuality as an illustrative example, the project reveals the complexity underlying contemporary interpretive practice, showing that amid this complexity the prioritization (or lack thereof) of theological reflection sources prompts certain interpretive conclusions. Perceiving the multivalent nature of interpretation, readers will be equipped to think carefully and critically about how they come to their biblical interpretive conclusions and how those conclusions inform transformed living in Christ.

The Bible has had an immeasurable influence on Western culture, touching on virtually every aspect of our lives. It is one of the great wellsprings of Western religious, ethical, and philosophical traditions. It has been an endless source of inspiration to artists, from classic works such as Michaelangelo's Last Judgment, Handel's Messiah, or Milton's Paradise Lost, to modern works such as Thomas Mann's Joseph and His Brothers or Martin Scorsese's controversial Last Temptation of Christ. For countless generations, it has been a comfort in suffering, a place to reflect on the mysteries of birth, death, and immortality. Its stories and characters are an integral part of the repertoire of every educated adult, forming an enduring bond that spans thousands of years and embraces a vast community of believers and nonbelievers. The Oxford Companion to the Bible provides an authoritative one-volume reference to the people, places, events, books, institutions, religious belief, and secular influence of the Bible. Written by more than 250 scholars from some 20 nations and embracing a wide variety of perspectives, the Companion offers over seven hundred entries, ranging from brief identifications--who is Dives? where is Pisgah?--to extensive interpretive essays on topics such as the influence of the Bible on music or law. Ranging far beyond the scope of a traditional Bible dictionary, the Companion features, in addition to its many informative, factual entries, an abundance of interpretive essays. Here are extended entries on religious concepts from immortality, sin, and grace, to baptism, ethics, and the Holy Spirit. The contributors also explore biblical views of modern issues such as homosexuality, marriage, and anti-Semitism, and the impact of the Bible on the secular world (including a four-part article on the Bible's influence on literature). Of course, the Companion can also serve as a handy reference, the first place to turn to find factual information on the Bible. Readers will find fascinating, informative articles on all the books of the Bible--including the Apocrypha and many other ancient texts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, and the Mishrah. Virtually every figure who walked across the biblical stage is identified here, ranging from Rebekah, Rachel, and Mary, to Joseph, Barabbas, and Jesus. The Companion also offers entries that shed light on daily life in ancient Israel and the earliest Christian communities, with fascinating articles on feasts and festivals, clothing, medicine, units of time, houses, and furniture. Finally, there are twenty-eight pages of full-color maps, providing an accurate, detailed portrait of the biblical world. A vast compendium of information related to scriptures, here is an ideal complement to the Bible, an essential volume for every home and library, the first place to turn for information on the central book of Western culture.