The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers: Learning to Interpret Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles

by Abner Chou

Publisher:

Kregel

, 2018

Overview

A method of interpretation—a hermeneutic—is indispensable for understanding Scripture, constructing theology, and living the Christian life, but most contemporary hermeneutical systems fail to acknowledge the principles and practices of the biblical writers themselves.

Christians today cannot employ a truly biblical view of the Bible unless they understand why the prophets and apostles interpreted Scripture the way they did. To this end, Abner Chou proposes a “hermeneutic of obedience,” in which believers learn to interpret Scripture the way the biblical authors did—including understanding the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament.

Chou first unfolds the “prophetic hermeneutic” of the Old Testament authors, and demonstrates the continuity of this approach with the “apostolic hermeneutic” of the New Testament authors.

Key Features

• Explores what truly Christian hermeneutics is
• Uses the new Testament’s use of the Old to teach about the nature of hermeneutics and interpretation
• Seeks to vindicate the prophets and apostles as it uses them to shape understanding of God’s Word

Contents

• The Quest for Authorial Logic
• Groundwork for the Quest: Presuppositions and Method
• The Prophetic Hermeneutic: The Prophet as Exegete and Theologian
• The Prophetic Hermeneutic: Did the Prophets Speak Better than They Knew, or Better than We Give Them Credit For?
• The Apostolic Hermeneutic: Continuity with the Prophets
• The Apostolic Hermeneutic: The Theological Fabric of the New Testament
• The Christian Hermeneutic: Reading as They Read and Intended
• Scripture’s Sophistication, First Theologians, and the Hermeneutics of Surrender

Top Highlights

“One factor that supports this is how scholars have recognized the reality of intertextuality in the Old Testament. The word ‘intertextuality’ is a key term in this book and, for my purposes, discusses how the biblical writers allude to other parts of Scripture. It specifically refers to how the inspired authors expounded upon previous revelation in their own writings.⁴⁴ Such activity in the Old Testament argues for the existence of a ‘prophetic hermeneutic.’ The Old Testament writers themselves were exegetes and theologians who understood and correlated their texts with previous revelation. This formed intentional ‘networks of texts’ in the first canon.” (Pages 20–21)

“‘Use’ can refer to how an author interprets the meaning of a text as well as how he applies its significance in a variety of ways.” (Page 33)

“The above evidence shows the prophets were not unintelligent and biblically ignorant people. They were men whose minds were saturated with the Scripture which flowed into their texts under the superintendence of the Spirit.” (Pages 53–54)

“Evangelicals have rightly stressed that biblical hermeneutics ultimately come from the Bible. God sets the rules for how his Word ought to be understood and that should comprise a ‘Christian hermeneutic.’” (Page 15)

“Accordingly, the prophets use unique words, phrases, motifs, concepts, places, and events to generate allusions” (Page 49)

Praise for The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers

Abner Chou undertakes the bold and dynamic challenge of understanding and embracing the interpretive perspective of the biblical authors. Join him in the venture. See with new eyes. Understand the Bible. Have it change your life.

—Jim Hamilton, Professor of Biblical Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

A perpetual conversation among biblical scholars concerns Scripture’s use of Scripture, both the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament and the Old Testament’s use of the Old Testament. Though essays and books reveal differing, even competing, explanations of Scripture’s use of Scripture, something of a rapprochement among diverse schools of thought seems to be emerging. Abner Chou’s contribution to this conversation reflects this as he engages leading evangelical scholars and finds wide swaths of agreement with them as both they and he take the Scriptures seriously. Whether Chou’s explanations of how the Bible’s writers use earlier Scriptures convinces readers to embrace his understanding of difficult texts, his most central thesis ought to convince readers. For Chou, taking Scripture seriously includes being able to trace and reproduce how the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles and prophets used the Scriptures that existed prior to their own times. Our proper use of Scripture stands in continuity with how Scripture’s writers used Scripture.

—Ardel B. Caneday, Professor of New Testament & Greek, University of Northwestern

Product Details

• Title: The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers: Learning to Interpret Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles
• Author: Abner Chou
• Publisher: Kregel
• Print Publication Date: 2018
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 251
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible › Hermeneutics
• ISBNs: 9780825443244, 0825443245
• Resource ID: LLS:HRMNTCSBBLWRTRS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:36:21Z

About Abner Chou

About Abner Chou

Abner Chou is assistant professor of biblical studies at The Master’s College and Seminary. He has been involved in research for commentaries, books, and journal articles, and has contributed papers to the Evangelical Theological Society.