Book Review - For the Love of God's Word

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For the Love of God’s word: An Introduction to Biblical Interpretation

By Andreas J. Köstenberger and Richard D. Patterson

Köstenberger was academically influenced by Grant Osborne and D.A. Carson, two heavy-weights in the interpretation department; that fact alone makes one expect a quality book. But Köstenberger is a scholar of the first rank on his own merit and this book ably demonstrates that fact (I apologize for not knowing enough about the co-author Richard Patterson). Written to be used as a simple textbook on Biblical interpretation, the book contains not only the essentials, but the fundamentals on the art and science of interpretation.

            The book is an abridged version of their more academic Invitation to Biblical Interpretation, but if you have never read the bigger tome, you will not think anything is missing from the abridgment. The authors have carefully distilled the fundamental content and made it more accessible. This is good news for readers that do not have much time but do need to hone in their hermeneutical skills.

            Throughout the book there are shaded boxes with a synthesis of the chapters contents and these are very helpful. They will give you outlines of steps, definitions, arguments, procedures, etc. that you can refer back to when you are done reading the book. They will serve as an excellent refresher for years to come. They also will test you on whether you understood and learned what the authors intended for each chapter in question. The examples given throughout the book are very useful and capably illustrate the hermeneutical principles being studied. There is a useful glossary at the end of the book for the technical/academic jargon used in case one is not familiar enough with it.

            For my taste, the layout of  Scott and Hays’ Grasping God’s Word is more inviting for first time students; but I would recommend the present text as a handy reference to further explore certain types of hermeneutics or if in need of exegetical examples of proper interpretation processes.

4/5 Stars

Disclaimer: The book was received for free from Kregel Ministry books in exchange for an unbiased opinion.

Book Review: Interpreting the Prophetic Books: An Exegetical Handbook by Gary V. Smith

The idea behind the Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis series is an outstanding one. Short, to the point, yet scholarly and well documented. Gary V. Smith is a well-known scholar of the prophetic writings and is informed enough to write a useful handbook; and that he did. He covers the fundamentals, rather than just the essentials (see below). That is, Smith not only tells us how to interpret, but what to do with that information. Most commentaries/exegetical handbooks stop at interpretation.

PROS
• There are chapters on “Proclaiming Prophetic Texts” and “From Text to Application,” which are extremely useful in our day and age. Very few of us know how to preach from these texts without over spiritualizing them. Rather than giving God’s message, we usually end up giving our own (with the best of intentions, mind you).
• FOOTNOTES. Oh, yeah!  I love having footnotes rather than endnotes. This is a major plus for any academic work.

CONS
• The type is set in a small font; specially the Hebrew font. I had trouble reading some of the vowel markings. Not good. I understand the need to make the size of the book manageable, but please remember that 40-year-old and above also want to read scholarly books and continue studying.
• Some charts had too dark a background, which made reading the text more difficult.
• Maybe the content was a little too brief. Again, I understand the purpose behind the brevity, but at many points I was left wanting just a little more information. I would definitely love the book at double its current size.
• A little too critical of the text itself at some points. Since I believe the Bible to be completely inspired of God. Some of the current critical views do not settle well with me.

With that said. I would pick this book up first when beginning a study of the prophetic material, and work from there. It should not be the only source of information by any means, but it is a useful one.

3/5 Stars


Disclosure: The book was received for free from Kregel Academic & Ministry review program. The program does not require a positive review, only a truthful one.

Book Review: Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament by G. K. Beale

Beale produces a must-have hermeneutical tool… 

Book Review: Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament by G. K. Beale 

The author explores in the book the basic methodology that drove his massive Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, which he edited with D. A. Carson. Since the latter is now a classic on the subject, the publication of the Handbook is a welcome addition to an Exegete’s toolbox.

Beale tackles some interpretation issues as he seeks to clarify for the reader what hermeneutical foundations may assist one in dealing with how the New Testament writers handled the Old Testament. Although, traditionally, Bible commentators faced with a difficult passage would shield themselves behind a not so convincing stance like, “Well, the Old Testament passage does not really say that, but it was a new meaning that the Holy Ghost inspired in the New Testament writer; therefore, it is valid and is still the Word of God.” With a more informed methodology such passages can be seen in all their richness, without worrying that what the New Testament writer saw in them was not really there (because, as it turns out, it actually was).

The reader will have to pace him or herself in order to absorb the principles outlined in the book and think through some of the issues, and certainly will not agree with the author throughout, but no serious interpreter of the Scripture should do without this resource or without Carson and Beale’s Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament.

 [Kindle version only: Make sure the footnote links work and that the book can be read in Black mode (white text for night reading) before purchasing. My version didn't and it was a hassle.]

Disclosure: The book was received for free from Net Galley book review program. The program does not require a positive review, only an honest one. 

4/5 Stars

Book Review: Interpreting the Pauline Letters: An Exegetical Handbook

­Book Review: Interpreting the Pauline Letters: An Exegetical Handbook by John D. Harvey

This book is the first one in the promising series, Handbooks for New Testament Exegesis from Kregel (Other planned titles include, Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature, Interpreting the General Letters, and Interpreting the Gospels and Acts).

The book is very useful for anyone studying the Apostle Paul (and who isn’t these days?) and his writings. Beginning with an exploration of genre issues and historical background, the author then moves to analyze Paul’s theology. Further, he gives practical steps to interpret passages in Paul’s letters, as well as giving some preaching pointers.

The Chapter At A Glance and The Chapter In Review text boxes at the beginning and ending of each chapter will help undergraduate students on what to expect and also what not to miss. Several charts throughout the book make the information more intelligible as well.

The Selected Resources are nice but painfully limited. An amplified Annotated Bibliography would have been great, and in my opinion would have made this short book (under 200 pages) much more valuable.

To fully profit from the book a basic knowledge of Greek is highly encouraged, but that is to be expected: How else can one expect to do serious biblical exegesis?

The book is recommended as a decent exegetical primer to the Pauline epistles.

Disclosure: The book was received for free from Kregel Academic & Ministry book review program. The program does not require a positive review, only a truthful one.