Vintage21 Church

robyn.vdb · Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 8

hearing all of you discuss all of these books makes me VERY excited because i LOVE to read, but it is also quite overwhelming.

i'm beginning to learn the beauty of the story that runs throughout scripture. rob, would you say that wright's book on the OT that you mentioned would be a place to learn more about the story line of scripture?

Rob Davis · Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 85 Location: Raleigh, NC

Eric Butler · Joined: 09 Feb 2008 Posts: 49

robyn.vdb · Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 8

thanks for the advice, rob.

i appreciate it very much!

Luke Wisley · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 20 Location: Raleigh, NC

I love the conversations that are occuring on forum. The encouragement and the sources being mentioned are helpful.

I wanted to go ahead and review another book I have finished lately.

Hemeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation by Henry Virkler and Karelynne Gerber Ayayo

For anyone who is interested in Hermeneutics (the process of Biblical Interpretation) this is great beginners read. It has become a staple around Colleges and Seminaries. The premise of the book is to help establish somewhat of a system when interpreting scripture. Each chapter is concise and clearly written. It also provides helpful suggested readings for additional insight into biblical interpretation and the issues that follow.

I would strongly suggest this book for anyone wanting to learn how to interpret scripture. It is only 240 pages so it is not an intimidating book by any means. It was a great book and I utilize many of steps in my own personal study and research.

Luke

Luke Wisley · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 20 Location: Raleigh, NC

Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics by Graeme Goldsworthy
InterVarsity Academic Press

G-CH is a unique text when it comes to the field of Hermeneutics. Goldsworthy is not so much concerned with the more recognized processes when it comes to exegeting the text, rather he is more focused on recovering evangelical presuppositions before one reads the text.

His thesis is that philosophical schools from the early church all the way into Postmodernity have eclipsed the gospel. Goldsworthy evaluates each of these areas and demonstrates how stems in these differing areas have blocked our view of Christ throughout scripture, therefore hinders our understanding of the text. After his evaluation he then begins to re-establish those presuppositions in order to see Jesus as the interpretive key for the entire Bible.

G-CH is a fascinating book that will yield much fruit in ones life of reading scripture. Well worth the read is Goldsworthy's evaluation in how evangelicalism has eclipsed the gospel. It is a convicting section for all of us who identify ourselves as evangelicals.

G-CH is a rather dry read. Understanding that would be helpful as one encounters the book. But it is very worth the effort. I would rate this book in the intermediate level mainly for the fact that Goldsworthy assumes some familiarity in the history and more recognized processes of hermeneutics. I would suggest reading a basic hermeneutics book such as Virkler's which I reviewed above. Then read G-CH. It is well worth it.

Luke Wisley · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 20 Location: Raleigh, NC

Introducting Biblical Hermeneutics: Scripture as Communication by Jeannine K. Brown
Baker Academic

Scripture as Communication is an introductory text to hermeneutics. Brown's purpose in writing is to give an understandable text that will help readers of the Bible not only understand what the text says but do what the text says. I word it this way because Brown's main emphasis in doing Hermeneutics is derived from a linguistics perpective called "Speech Act". The purose of a "Speech Act" is that communication, for our concerns literary communication, not only says things but does things. Basically, scripture is not only concerned with cognitive thoughts alone, but that its readers should respond in light of this communication.

Brown's main strengths in her book are her chapters on communication through genre, establishing the social world of the text, and her two chapters on contextualization of scripture.

I found this book very helpful in my understanding of communication in general. I also found her section on an incarnational view of scripture rather delightful, along with her purpose-guided contextualization. This is a very readable book that will give readers an understanding of the aspect of communication in scripture.

Luke Wisley · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 20 Location: Raleigh, NC

Why We're Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be
by: Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck Moody Publishers

Why We're Not Emergent is a book written in response to the "emerging church". The book has a unique set-up in its dual authorship. DeYoung, who is a pastor, critiques the movement from a more philosophical, theological critique. He shows many worries that are arising from the "conversation" of the movement. Kluck, on the other hand, is a normal church go-er who writes from the "guy on the streets" point of view.

The strength of the book is the humbleness in which it was written. The main purpose is for "leaders" in the movement to state fully what their convictions are. Because, the emerging church usually avoids being convictional about most things it may not get the response they are wanting.

The book is a good read for anyone who is questioning the emerging movement. Obviously, it is a reactionary book so there is a bias. It is a bias, in my opinion, that is needed when dealing among our theological distinctives.