INTERPRETING THE BIBLE

by David Stacey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 4, 1976

This elementary British textbook analyzes Biblical texts and ideas only incidentally. Rather it discusses issues involved in achieving a contemporary understanding of the Bible and describes the principle interpretive approaches that have arisen in history. It reads like a glorified course outline. The hermeneutical problems treated are the standard ones--the relativity of interpreters' standpoints; the transposition of meaning from an alien language, culture, and mythology; the conflict of faith and reason regarding history, miracles, inspiration--and Stacey simply summarizes optional positions on each. Likewise, he sketches alternative approaches to Biblical interpretation and authority with stolid competence, from the allegorical reading of the Fathers to the literalism of the fundamentalists and demythologizing of the existentialists, but without communicating much of the power and import of each stance. As happens in survey courses, one ends up learning very little about a lot of things, and hardly anything that is original or provocative.

Pub Date: Feb. 4, 1976

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Hawthorn

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1976

Categories: NONFICTION