Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology (Invitation to Theological Studies Series) Hardcover – November 7, 2011

"Wow! An awesome book! What a lot of useful things to begin working into my own interpretive practices!" Those were my first thoughts as finished reading Invitation to Biblical Interpretation, by Andreas Kostenberger and Richard D. Patterson. Their book is sub-titled Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature and Theology and they have put together a comprehensive guide to help navigate the path of Biblical interpretation, so that the person preparing to preach can do so thoroughly and for one overarching purpose: the faithful proclamation of God's word.The authors' thesis is that proper study of a Biblical text in preparation for preaching involves studying the text from three different perspectives. They are the historical setting of the text, its individual literary characteristics, and the theology it expresses. In the first chapter they provide an overview of their thesis and an introduction to their method. This includes a comparative discussion of other models of exegesis, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of those models, as well as the historical settings that they arose in. Then they embark on a systematic discussion of their proposed method.Part 1 explores the importance of the "context of scripture", i.e. history. In order to properly probe a Biblical text we need to understand and consider the historical-cultural setting in which it was written, so that we can accurately discern how an ancient text can speak vibrantly into our time and culture.Part 2 deals with the "focus of scripture", i.e. scripture as literature. This part comprises the bulk of the book, being subdivided into units of canon, genre and language. They dig deeply into each of these literary units, exploring the differences between both parts of the canon, the importance of understanding the text as a type of literature (i.e. narrative, poetry, prophecy, et.al.), and then addressing matters of language (i.e. determining specific textual units, word studies, common fallacies, et.al.).Part 3 considers the "goal of scripture", i.e. the theology it teaches. While this part of the book is only one chapter it is the first of two chapters that bring everything together. The authors have a strong belief that theology should be derived from the Bible, rather than imposed on it. They believe that pastors, preachers and professors need to dig into scripture and be willing to be taught by it, rather than boxing scripture into a pre-conceived framework. This does not mean that only theology which is explicitly taught is what the church should hold to, but that all of the doctrine and teaching of the church should be built on a Biblical foundation.The book's final chapter addresses application and proclamation of what has been learned through conscientious study. The intent of our study is to bring God's word to life in the world and the authors discuss various ways in which this may be done.This book has a number of strengths. The first is the logical and coherent way the authors have laid out what they intend to teach within the pages. As I read I felt that each chapter and each section fit within a whole. Second is that each chapter contains a summary, review questions and suggested assignments. While the book may have been written primarily as a classroom textbook those features make it easy to learn from in a situation as my own, where I am pursuing additional study independently.The third strength is that each chapter in the Literature section includes a sample exegesis of what has been taught within the chapter. This did a lot for me to illuminate the chapter's teaching. Fourth is the extensive footnoting that the authors have included. While they have compiled a comprehensive way to approach the practice of hermeneutics, their footnotes make it easy to explore any particular subordinate aspect in greater depth.And lastly, the appendix contains extensive suggestions for the biblical student in building their own library. This includes multiple suggestions for each category of general resource and reference work, as well as several suggestions of commentary for each book of the Bible.My own seminary training in hermeneutics was a bit fragmented, coming through classes in language, theology and preaching. I liked the way in which the authors have chosen to teach hermeneutics as its own integrated discipline, and particularly their intent to make it not merely an academic subject but one that serves a greater purpose.The last chapter closes saying "God's Word has real authority and power, but only to the extent that it is faithfully and properly interpreted and proclaimed. To this end, may this book make a small contribution, for the good of God's people and for God's greater glory" (800). To which I say "Amen!"

I read this book for the second time last week. I liked it even better the second time. I will give 4 reasons I think this is a must read in the field of Hermeneutics.1. It provides a great overview of the landscape of evangelical interpretation. I used the book to help me review for an exam. The book helped provide an overview of every major topic including the history of interpretation, the value of Second Temple literature, Biblical theology, Old Testament in the New, and literary analysis. While it doesn't provide the most in depth analysis of any one topic, it is does provide a helpful review of the essentials, making a great starting place for anyone who wants to develop a more broad understanding of the field (there are also helpful vocabulary guides in the back of each chapter for anyone who is relatively new to Biblical hermeneutics.)My only critique regarding the quality of the review is that it does not spend enough time reviewing the more modern reader-response hermeneutic. I understand that the authors do not adhere to this theory, and they do a great job of positing an authorial intent hermeneutic in its places. However, considering that part of the purpose of this book is to introduce us to the general field, I would have appreciated a review of major characters from this perspective and a brief refutation of their premise.2. Though the book provides a great overview of many topics, it is not primarily a review. Instead the book posits a well rounded practical, guide for actual Biblical interpretation. The author's "hermeneutical triad" provides a balanced approach to interpretation. Further, the authors do a great job of not only positing a "hermeneutical triad," but demonstrating how it can be executed in specific situations.3. Perhaps the greatest strength of this book, especially for someone who has already begun to explore the field, is its bibliography. The authors footnote extensively from almost every major source related to the topic of Biblical interpretation. Their mastery of the scholarly works in the field is truly impressive. Further, a very accessible, well organized bibliography is provided in the back of the book to help students dig deeper in specific topics related to hermeneutics.4. Another feature that I highly appreciate is how easy the book is to read. Sentences are clear. Terms are well defined. Examples are generally concrete. This is the type of book that you can read fairly quickly because you don't have to stop and think about what each sentence means. It makes the book a joy, and a breeze, to read.

There was a lot of good in this book, but I also felt that there were some dangerous assumptions made that are not biblical, but are rather part of a school of thought (i.e., man's bias). These assumptions would be dangerous to anyone who has not thoroughly studied the Bible already and is not already familiar with biblical truth. The stress that is placed on historical and cultural context can take away at times from the brevity of specified sins (pg. 117). The author of this book stresses the importance of extra-biblical sources for truly understanding Scripture, which is ridiculous from a sensible point of view... as if God's Word needed anything to clarify it! What then of all of the hundreds of generations of people who did not have such resources? (pg. 131, 136) He gives his own purpose for the OT law (pg. 164), when Jesus Himself tells us the purpose of the law in Matt. 22. He says the book of Exodus misspoke about the Red Sea (pg. 169-170). He even tries to correct or make "more accurate" the very words of Christ! (pg. 210) The most disturbing point of all, though, was the author's condescension to the average layperson's ability to understand Scripture. (pgs. 117, 119-120, 126, 134, 159, 161...just the first 200 pages, I gave up keeping track after that!) If he was more familiar with the Bible he is interpreting, he would know that the Bible says that the Holy Spirit and God's Word are able to teach any of us more than what our teachers know, Psalms 119:99. It is His word and His teaching that gives us wisdom and understanding....try reading Proverbs, especially the first few chapters. Again, I think that this book is dangerous, in that it sneaks in little bits of superseding intellectualism over the purer words of God's truth.

The basis of this book can be summed up in the following, "The biblical interpreter is faced with three inescapable realities: history, the text (i.e. literature), and theology (divine revelation) ... the hermeneutical triad of history, literature, and theology, which will serve as our compass on our interpretive journey ... only an approach to the study of Scripture that properly balances history, literature, and theology will be adequate for the task...The literary study of Scripture, while a legitimate part of biblical interpretation, must be grounded in historical study and Scripture be seen not merely as human witness or as an autonomous entity but as inspired, historically-grounded divine revelation. Thus we have argued that history, language, and theology form a hermeneutical triad with theology at the apex." (25, 66, 78, 701)In regards to literature we can say that, "Literature, in the ancient Greek and Hebrew languages, immediately reinforces the notion of texts, different from our own, with unique historical and cultural development. These texts not only require translation into an understandable language (English) but also the study of historical-cultural aspects embedded within them since both the biblical languages and other parts of biblical culture and history are inextricably intertwined." (94)In regards to history we can say, "Without the historical-cultural background lying behind a given book of Scripture, its study will often be insufficient and superficial. For this reason it is important that students are familiar with the vast array of primary and secondary sources that are available for the exploration of the historical-cultural background of the Old and New Testaments... If authorial intention is the locus of meaning, then understanding the context within which the author wrote his text is of utmost importance." (117-118)And in regards to theology we can say, "As Kevin Vanhoozer has reminded us, the biblical canon is a coherent whole, a 'theo-drama' ...these truths of humanity’s fall and God’s redemption will guide our interpretive journey through the Old Testament revelation, but an understanding of the canon and canonical interpretation set the proper interpretive framework for our thematic discussion." (151-153The authors then take us through the various genres of Scripture using this model of the hermeneutical triad to interpret a bunch of different passages which in effect teaches us proper application, "It is crucial for the interpreter to place himself or herself as much as possible in the world of the implied reader so that he or she may make the proper transfer of application to the contemporary world." (246)The authors of this book are big on CONTEXT which in the end is the most important aspect to consider when interpreting any given passage of Scripture, "The value of context is that it provides the flow of thought and the accurate meaning of words and delineates correct relationships among units." (386)After dealing with all the genres of Scripture we come to 3 chapters on the topic of language which I thought were quite good. The authors speak about Syntax saying, "Syntax may be defined as the relationships of words to one another. Importantly, the proper textual unit at which meaning is to be discerned is not the individual word, the phrase, or even the sentence, but the larger discourse, that is, the paragraph level and ultimately the entire document of which a given word, phrase, or sentence is a part. This simple insight, amply confirmed by recent linguistic research, has the potential of revolutionizing your study of the biblical text ... hermeneutics should be concerned not merely with word study (semantics), grammar, and syntax but with the larger discourse unit, the fabric out of which biblical texts are spun... If any distinction can be made at all, it may be said that grammar denotes specific features of syntax, such as a certain kind of genitive or participle (form), while syntax refers more broadly to relationships between words in the larger scheme of discourses and sentence structures. A distinction exists also between semantics and syntax. Semantics is concerned with the meaning of individual words (based on the recognition that word meaning is to be discerned in context), while syntax is concerned with the relationship between words." (576)After speaking on syntax they move on to discourse saying that, "Discourse is any complete, self-contained act of communication... Literary genre itself, be it narrative, poetry, or parable, provides an important parameter for the discourse type of a given portion of text... "Biblical interpretation should be conducted on the level of discourse rather than on the sentence or paragraph level ... properly understood and implemented, discourse analysis has the potential to revolutionize the study of Scripture in that it shifts the emphasis from the work of the interpreter in breaking up units from his or her own vantage point to a careful analysis of the features of the biblical text." (571, 578, 594)After discussing syntax and discourse we can arrive at a literary structure of a text or full book of Scripture, "The syntactical relationships sustained between a given unit and the previous and subsequent units (initiatory markers and closure) and the various internal discourse features are vital to a full and accurate understanding of the authorial intention expressed in the biblical text... Identifying the structure of a given biblical passage is often significant for interpretation since the literary layout is one of the authorially intended vehicles for communicating meaning and a particular theological message ... a proper apprehension of the structure, logic, and flow of a given passage will lead to a fruitful exploration of the biblical message in context." (602, 603, 610)The last chapter is on theology where we find a good talk on metaphor, "We clearly have to consider the possibility that metaphor is, not an incidental ornament of Biblical language, but one of its controlling modes of thought ... metaphor preserves the mystery of God’s nature and being, while communicating to us about Him and His love to us ... the interpretation of metaphor is often overlooked. Nevertheless, it is one of the most crucial areas in the whole of hermeneutics since so much biblical theology hangs on metaphors, and metaphor is at the heart of philosophical problems with religious language." (667, 671, 672)This was probably not too helpful as a review but at least it shows what your getting yourself into if you choose to read this almost 700 page book. When it comes to introductions to interpreting the Bible this may be the best book out there right now although "Introduction to Biblical Interpretation" by Craig Blomberg, although older, is also very good. Also, considering the days in which we live where everyone interprets things in whatever which way they want, this book proves to be an excellent combatant against this kind of cultural mindset.

Thick and wordy textbook that is not worth the money.