Handbook on Postconservative Theological Interpretation

Postconservative theology may be said to parallel with ""postliberal theology"" at its best. Orthodox, biblical, but open to new insights about how to interpret Scripture. But the new insights must be faithful as well as fresh. Postconservative theology is not the same as ""progressive theology,"" which tends to lean toward indeterminant faith expressions, whereas ""postconservative"" allows for particular faith commitments and expressions but understands that the constructive task of theology is never finished. Authors emphasize various interpretive theological lenses used for doing theology among various postconservative theologians, rather than emphasizing the philosophical background to hermeneutical theory present in other works, such as past influential thinkers (including Gadamer, Grondin, Ricoeur, Heidegger, etc.). This resource could also function as a companion to Evangelical Theological Method: Five Views (2018). This emphasis of the chapters will not be on the nuts and bolts of ""how to"" interpret, but rather on the theological impulses that govern various lenses (Bible, cultural context, etc.) for doing theology and the way Scripture functions with respect to the practice of interpretation.

Ronald T. Michener is professor and chair of the department of systematic theology, Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven, Belgium. His research focuses broadly on the interplay between postmodern philosophy and evangelical theology. Publications include Postliberal Theology: A Guide for the Perplexed (2013); The Matrix of Christian Ethics: Integrating Philosophy and Moral Theology in a Postmodern Context (2010, with Patrick Nullens); and Engaging Deconstructive Theology (2007). Mark A. Lamport has been a professor at graduate theological schools in the United States and Europe for forty years. He is coauthor of Nurturing Faith: A Practical Theology for Educating Christians; coeditor of the seven-book series The Global Story of Christianity (2022-24); editor of Handbook of Philosophy and Religion (2022); Handbook of Contemporary Christianity in the United States (2022); Christianity in the Middle East (2020); Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South (2018); Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation (2017); Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States (2016). He works from Grand Rapids and Fort Myers.

Mark A. Lamport has been a professor for nearly forty years at theological schools in the United States and Europe. He is coauthor of Nurturing Faith: A Practical Theology for Educating Christians (2021), coeditor of the seven-book series The Global Story of Christianity, and coeditor of Emerging Theologies from the Global South (2023). He works from Grand Rapids and Fort Myers.


Roger E. Olson is emeritus professor of Christian theology at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books including The Story of Christian Theology (1999) and The Mosaic of Christian Beliefs (2002). He has taught numerous courses on cults and new religions.