Comments on: Him We Proclaim, 5 http://openedtous.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/him-we-proclaim-5/ biblical theology, gospel proclamation, church planting Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:01:15 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Jonathan P http://openedtous.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/him-we-proclaim-5/#comment-34 Jonathan P Tue, 27 May 2008 19:25:51 +0000 http://openedtous.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-34 Yes. I want the way I read the Scriptures to be as Scriptural as possible. I think that we are in danger anytime that we try to impose any set interpretative system on the Bible-- this is why I find Johnson's critique of the grammatical-historical method to be so helpful. Interpretative systems seem to be really responses to cultural academic trends. The pre-critical approach to Scripture had some authenticity about it. I come to the text with the presupposition that it is true, that it is reliable, that the events behind the text correspond accurately to the world that the authors provide for us. I think that one way that I may differ from Johnson some is my foundational belief that authorial intent is not at odds with the apostolic interpretative methods. If the apostles interpreted an OT passage to speak about Christ where our best "interpretative system" does not find the same conclusion then I think that the problem is with us, that the apostles knew more about what, for example, Moses was saying in Genesis 2:24 then what we do. Yes. I want the way I read the Scriptures to be as Scriptural as possible. I think that we are in danger anytime that we try to impose any set interpretative system on the Bible– this is why I find Johnson’s critique of the grammatical-historical method to be so helpful. Interpretative systems seem to be really responses to cultural academic trends. The pre-critical approach to Scripture had some authenticity about it. I come to the text with the presupposition that it is true, that it is reliable, that the events behind the text correspond accurately to the world that the authors provide for us. I think that one way that I may differ from Johnson some is my foundational belief that authorial intent is not at odds with the apostolic interpretative methods. If the apostles interpreted an OT passage to speak about Christ where our best “interpretative system” does not find the same conclusion then I think that the problem is with us, that the apostles knew more about what, for example, Moses was saying in Genesis 2:24 then what we do.

]]> By: Bryan Barley http://openedtous.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/him-we-proclaim-5/#comment-33 Bryan Barley Tue, 27 May 2008 19:13:53 +0000 http://openedtous.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-33 Very good summary of a difficult chapter. I thought your concluding point was excellent. Really what we have to avoid is putting onto the text a system of interpretation (even if it may make sense) if it is not biblical. What makes me start to have a peace with this method of biblical interpretation is seeing the apostles' hermenteutic following Luke 24 (he opened their minds to understand the scriptures). I especially appreciated the fact that Johnson stressed the truth of biblical events despite the narrative structure that the text uses to convey meaning. Often saying the Bible is one big "story" is thought to be synonymous with being a "fairy tale." I'm glad that Johnson was quick to affirm that the events in Scripture occurred in history, but they are conveyed as one grand narrative with Christ as the hero. Very good summary of a difficult chapter. I thought your concluding point was excellent. Really what we have to avoid is putting onto the text a system of interpretation (even if it may make sense) if it is not biblical. What makes me start to have a peace with this method of biblical interpretation is seeing the apostles’ hermenteutic following Luke 24 (he opened their minds to understand the scriptures).

I especially appreciated the fact that Johnson stressed the truth of biblical events despite the narrative structure that the text uses to convey meaning. Often saying the Bible is one big “story” is thought to be synonymous with being a “fairy tale.” I’m glad that Johnson was quick to affirm that the events in Scripture occurred in history, but they are conveyed as one grand narrative with Christ as the hero.

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