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Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters
- Donald K. McKim, ed.
- 643 pages | 1998
The Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters is a unique reference work that recognizes that the history of Christian theology is fundamentally the history of the church's interpretation of the Bible. In this volume, contributors from both historical and biblical studies meet and create a reference book that will be valuable for all students and teachers of theology, church history and biblical studies. The methods, perspectives and seminal works of major biblical interpreters are placed in historical perspective and assessed by scholars who are experts in their subjects. Over one hundred biblical interpreters have been selected for their individual contributions or their representation of approaches to biblical interpretation.
This is an instructive, thought-provoking, generous-minded, reliable, absorbing, illuminating and imaginative work, often elegant, entertaining, incisive and provocative. It covers a remarkable galaxy of names, and it is written by people from a wide range of backgrounds, many of them world experts on their subject. Why did no one think of writing it before?
—John Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary
This handbook is organized by historical periods, from the second century to the late twentieth century, with each period introduced by an overview essay and followed by articles on the major interpreters of the period. A final section is devoted to twentieth-century North American interpreters. Valuable bibliographies include the significant works of each interpreter as well as studies of the interpreter and important studies of each period under review.
Author Interview
Read the full interview here.
IVP: One scholar, in giving a warm endorsement of this book, asked "Why did no one think of doing it before?" That's a question for others to answer, but what made you think of it?
Donald McKim: I remember that my teacher at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Ford Lewis Battles, the great Calvin scholar, used to say that in one sense the history of theology and of the church is the history of the church's interpretation of the Bible. And as I moved along and did work in systematic theology and the doctrine of Scripture, it became apparent to me that the people who formed the basis for a lot of what the systematicians did were the exegetes, those who interpreted the biblical material. So a natural outgrowth of my interests was the biographical approach as a way of focusing with clarity on the essential trends and elements that entered into systematic formulations.
IVP: How would you summarize the value of students, pastors and theologians having a clear understanding of the history of biblical interpretation?
McKim: For one thing it shows the variety of ways the Holy Spirit has illuminated the biblical text. That is, in terms of different methods of approaching the text, in terms of different conclusions that have been drawn, and how those conclusions play into the various doctrinal formulations. It also shows us that our own interpretations, those we think are so clear and obvious, need to be held in a dialogue with other interpreters who have gone before us. At some points these others may reinforce our views, while at other points they will call them into question. The history of the interpretation of the Bible should give us some proper humility with regard to our own views.
IVP: The textbook possibilities for this book seem to be multiple. How do you see it being used?
McKim: It can have a lot of use in biblical studies since both Old Testament and New Testament interpreters are represented. In introducing biblical studies to students, it could very well be a resource text so that students can become acquainted with some of the major figures in interpretation. For example, if you are doing a course in Old Testament you would be able to read about recent figures such as Brueggemann or Von Rad or Eichrodt. Or in New Testament you have people like Cullmann or Dodd or G. B. Caird. As well in courses on biblical theology where you looking at major themes in Scripture, you would be able to see how some interpreters have helped us comprehend some of those biblical themes. Certainly a course on the history of biblical interpretation could well use this as a textbook because it is laid out specifically for historical study. And in systematic theology courses—where you deal with some of the major theological figures, all the way from the early church and figures like Chrysostom and Augustine to the Reformers and up to the present day with people like Karl Barth and so on--this book will help to supplement what students normally read, providing them with analysis of how these people actually worked with biblical materials themselves. So I think this book can be helpful in a wide range of courses in seminaries.
For doctoral students it will be crucial and indispensable, certainly in biblical studies. The bibliographies are an excellent help—both pointing toward the primary works of the interpreters and offering important summaries of their contributions. It should also be a valuable resource for their future work. They will want to return to this book often.
All in all, for students, for pastors, for professional scholars and for theological and other libraries, this volume should be very useful.
Praise for the Print Edition
Biblical interpretation becomes impoverished if the history of the reception of texts is ignored, since each reading shapes subsequent expectations and thereby the agenda which interpreters bring to the text. This reference work provides easy access to material which is otherwise scattered and time consuming to track down. With helpful bibliographies, it provides a valuable tool for students of the Bible and of hermeneutics. Virtually all articles are useful, and some by well-known specialists on their subject are outstanding.
—Anthony C. Thiselton, professor of Christian Theology and head of department, University of Nottingham
Donald McKim has assembled a team of experts to write sympathetic yet critical descriptions and assessments of the major figures in biblical interpretation from the early church to the present day. The articles are full enough to be informative but not so detailed or technical as to be beyond the reach of the undergraduate reader. Together with the survey articles on specific periods, this collection of over one hundred articles on individual scholars offers an unrivaled overview of the history of biblical scholarship in all of its developments and vicissitudes. It is not only a valuable resource for the student; it is also intensely interesting.
—I. Howard Marshall, university of Aberdeen
This volume provides a thorough introduction to most of the major figures in the history of exegesis. It is a useful resource both as a work of reference and as a guide to further reading.
—Anthony N.S. Lane, director of research and senior lecturer in Christian doctrine, London Bible College
About the Author
Donald K. McKim is Academic and Reference Editor for Westminster John Knox Press in Tennessee. He is the author and editor of a number of books including the Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith, The Cambridge Companion to John Calvin, Calvin and the Bible and The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms.
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Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers
- Christopher A. Hall
- 225 pages | 1998
Many Christians today long to become reacquainted with their ancient ancestors in the faith. They see a deeper worship and devotion in the prayers and hymns of the early church. And they believe that the writings of the early church can shed new light on their understanding of Scripture.
But where and how do we begin? Our first encounter with the writings of the church fathers may seem like visiting a far country where the language, assumptions, concerns and conclusions are completely unfamiliar to us.
In Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, Christopher Hall helps us through this cultural confusion, introducing us to the early church, its unique world, and the sights and sounds of Scripture that are highlighted for them. As Hall points out, the ancient fathers hear music in Scripture where we remain tone-deaf. Despite their occasional eccentricities, theirs is a hearing refined through long listening in song, worship, teaching, meditation and oral reading. And like true masters they challenge and correct our modern assumptions as they invite us to tune our ears to hear the divine melodies of the Bible.
Reading Scripture… provide[s] a much-needed corrective to Protestant ignorance and suspicion of tradition, combating the claim that somehow being traditionless is achievable and advantageous. Hall… [is] to be commended for letting the Fathers, these ‘long-forgotten relatives,’ speak to a wider audience.
—Bibliotheca Sacra
Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers is an exceptional guide. Hall provides a warm, winsome, informative and indispensable introduction to who these leaders and scholars were, how they read and interpreted Scripture, and how we might read Scripture with them for all its worth.
About the Author
Christopher A. Hall is dean of the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University (St. Davids, Pennsylvania), where he has been teaching in the biblical and theological studies program. He is also associate editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture.
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