The Act of Bible Reading: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Biblical Interpretation

Many approaches for interpreting the Bible have been put forth in recent years. All have their strengths--and their weaknesses. The Act of Bible Reading combines the strengths of several of these approaches into one volume which will enrich our reading of the Bible.

Gordon Fee and Elmer Dyck discuss history and canon, respectively, as contexts for interpretation, highlighting the importance of historical-grammatical interpretation within a canonical setting for understanding biblical texts. J. I. Packer explores the importance of theology, both as it informs and as it safeguards Bible reading. Craig M. Gay proffers key insights from sociology, especially the sociology of knowledge, as it cautions us to ask not only what the text says, but who says it says that and why should we believe what they are telling us it says. Facing the challenges of modern secular hermeneutics from Heidigger and Nietzsche to Derrida and Foucault, Loren Wilkinson counters the postmodern reaction against truth. James Houston argues that the aim of Bible reading must be godliness and not mere scholarship. And Eugene Peterson then responds to the collection of insights as a whole.

For readers who want to take the next steps in understanding the Bible for themselves, here is here is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to benefit from the combined insight of a distinguished group of teachers.

Elmer Joy (who has published books with IVP under the name Elmer Dyck) is a real estate broker in Kelowna, British Columbia. He recently served as provost of Lithuania Christian College. He has also served as business administrator and coordinatorfor Christian formation and congregational development for the diocese of New Westminster in Vancouver, British Columbia. Formerly he was academic dean and assistant professor of biblical studies at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia.