Divine Discourse
Divine Discourse

Author: Nicholas Wolterstorff

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1995-10-05

Total Pages: 342

ISBN-13: 1107393450

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Prominent in the canonical texts and traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is the claim that God speaks. Nicholas Wolterstorff argues that contemporary speech-action theory, when appropriately expanded, offers us a fascinating way of interpreting this claim and showing its intelligibility. He develops an innovative theory of double-hermeneutics - along the way opposing the current near-consensus led by Ricoeur and Derrida that there is something wrong-headed about interpreting a text to find out what its author said. Wolterstorff argues that at least some of us are entitled to believe that God has spoken. Philosophers have never before, in any sustained fashion, reflected on these matters, mainly because they have mistakenly treated speech as revelation.

Imprecation as Divine Discourse
Imprecation as Divine Discourse

Author: Kit Barker

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 9781575064444

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Christian readers of the Hebrew Bible are often faced with a troubling tension. On the one hand, they are convinced that this ancient text is relevant today, yet on the other, they remain perplexed at how this can be so, particularly when parts of it appear to condone violence. Barker's volume seeks to address this tension in two parts: (1) by defending a particular form of theological interpretation and (2) by applying this interpretive method to the imprecatory psalms. Barker suggests that the goal of theological interpretation is to discover God's voice in the text. While he recognizes that this goal could encourage a subjective methodology, Barker offers a hermeneutic that clearly locates God's voice in the text of Scripture. Utilizing the resources of speech act theory, Barker notes that texts convey meaning at a number of literary levels and that God's appropriation of speech acts at these levels is not necessarily uniform for each genre. He also discusses how the Christian canon alters the context of these ancient speech acts, both reshaping and enabling their continued function as divine discourse. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of this hermeneutic, Barker offers theological interpretations of Psalms 69 and 137. He demonstrates how christological fulfilment and the call to forgive one's enemies are determinative for a theological interpretation of these troubling psalms, concluding that they continue to form an essential part of God's voice that must not be ignored.

Divine Discourse in the Epistle to the Hebrews
Divine Discourse in the Epistle to the Hebrews

Author: Madison N. Pierce

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2020-07-23

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1108851894

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In this book, Madison N. Pierce analyzes the use of prosopological exegesis by the author of Hebrews in almost every major quotation of Scripture. She shows that the author uses Scripture in a consistent way that develops his characterization of God - Father, Son, and Spirit - and that results in a triune portrait of God in Hebrews. Offering a detailed reading of several passages, she also demonstrates how the author's portrayal of God is consistent with later theological developments. Pierce's method replaces atomistic approaches and allows readers to see a clear pattern of usage across the entire epistle. It offers researchers a tool for examining quotations of New Testament Scripture and will be of particular interest to those working in the field of trinitarian theology.

Imprecation as Divine Discourse
Imprecation as Divine Discourse

Author: Kit Barker

Publisher: Penn State Press

Published: 2016-10-28

Total Pages: 261

ISBN-13: 1575064456

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Christian readers of the Hebrew Bible are often faced with a troubling tension. On the one hand, they are convinced that this ancient text is relevant today, yet on the other, they remain perplexed at how this can be so, particularly when parts of it appear to condone violence. Barker’s volume seeks to address this tension in two parts: (1) by defending a particular form of theological interpretation and (2) by applying this interpretive method to the imprecatory psalms. Barker suggests that the goal of theological interpretation is to discover God’s voice in the text. While he recognizes that this goal could encourage a subjective methodology, Barker offers a hermeneutic that clearly locates God’s voice in the text of Scripture. Utilizing the resources of speech act theory, Barker notes that texts convey meaning at a number of literary levels and that God’s appropriation of speech acts at these levels is not necessarily uniform for each genre. He also discusses how the Christian canon alters the context of these ancient speech acts, both reshaping and enabling their continued function as divine discourse. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of this hermeneutic, Barker offers theological interpretations of Psalms 69 and 137. He demonstrates how christological fulfilment and the call to forgive one’s enemies are determinative for a theological interpretation of these troubling psalms, concluding that they continue to form an essential part of God’s voice that must not be ignored.

Between Speech and Revelation
Between Speech and Revelation

Author: Joshua Ryan Kira

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2019-11-14

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 1532649347

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Evangelicalism, in spite of its size and relationship to various historic movements in Christian history, has never been known to be a perspective that interacts widely in its theological development. Its insular nature, emphasis on inspiration, and its highly doctrinal concerns have caused it to, frequently, be an outlier in larger dialogues concerning Scripture. This book attempts to remedy this lack of interaction by bringing an evangelical view of the Bible into contact with various twentieth-century traditions that have attempted to delve into the relationship between divine speech and revelation. Specifically, the works of Calvinist philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff, hermeneutical theologian Eberhard Jüngel, and Anglican philosopher-theologian Austin Farrer, will be mined for the resources necessary to affirm and defend a belief in an evangelical view of Scripture. This would include the belief that the Bible can rightly be called “God’s word,” the adherence to verbal plenary inspiration, and a reluctance to use higher criticism in analyzing Scripture. Through criticism and appropriation, this work will set the guidelines for the construction of a more comprehensive perspective of revelation, divine speech, and the Bible, as well as showing how Evangelicalism can contribute to the larger ecumenical dialogue concerning theological methodology.

Word and Supplement
Word and Supplement

Author: Timothy Ward

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 9780199244386

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What are Christians saying when they call the Bible the Word of God? How is that statement to be understood in relation to postmodernity's suspicion of meaning? Word and Supplement tackles these questions by bringing the post-modern theory of Derrida (from whom the idea of "supplement" is borrowed), Barth, Fish, Gadamer, and many others into critical dialogue with the often-neglected doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture.

But is it All True?
But is it All True?

Author: Alan G. Padgett

Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 9780802863164

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Fundamental to Christian faith is the assumption that the Bible presents a true and reliable portrait of God and God's will for the world. Yet thoughtful believers and nonbelievers alike continue to inquire into the nature and veracity of Scripture, with the result that the Bible is viewed today as everything from infallible to mythological. This significant book tackles the central question of what Christianity means when it claims that the Bible is true. Written by nine Christian scholars from the disciplines of theology, biblical studies, and philosophy, these penetrating chapters reject stale, simplistic answers in favor of fresh, invigorating perspectives that leave ample room for dialogue. In addition, several contributors helpfully move the discussion from reflection to practical application, explaining the role of biblical truth in preaching and theological education. Contributors: David Bartlett Ellen T. Charry Stephen T. Davis Patrick R. Keifert Ben C. Ollenburger Dennis T. Olson Alan G. Padgett Mark I. Wallace Nicholas Wolterstorff

Trinitarian Interpretation in Light of the Identity of YHWH as the Triune God
Trinitarian Interpretation in Light of the Identity of YHWH as the Triune God

Author: Alias K. Eldhose

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2024-01-10

Total Pages: 162

ISBN-13: 1666783226

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Have you ever wondered how to maintain an understanding of monotheism in light of the Christian understanding of the triune Godhead? Have you ever wondered about the identity of “YHWH” in the Old Testament? Have you identified YHWH as the first person of the Trinity as many in the Christian tradition have? If so, this book is for you. Many of the early Trinitarian heresies stemmed from a misunderstanding of YHWH in the Old Testament, especially identifying YHWH as one person and not multiple persons. This book addresses issues relating to the identity of YHWH in the Old Testament and makes the bold claim that YHWH is multiple persons in the OT and therefore, Father is YHWH, Jesus is YHWH, and the Holy Spirit is YHWH. This conclusion is based on sound exegesis of OT/NT passages, the early Christian understanding of God in the Old Testament, and the New Testament’s identification of Jesus in the identity of YHWH. If identified thus, a Christian reading of the entirety of Scripture will take on new meaning, resulting in a robust Trinitarian interpretation of Scripture.

Revelation as Testimony
Revelation as Testimony

Author: Mats Wahlberg

Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Published: 2014-11-08

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1467442283

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According to the pre-modern Christian tradition, knowledge of God is mainly testimonial: we know certain important truths about God and divine things because God himself has told them to us. In academic theology of late this view is often summarily dismissed. But to do so is a mistake, claims Mats Wahlberg, who argues that the testimonial understanding of revelation is indispensable to Christian theology. Criticizing the currently common idea that revelation should be construed exclusively in terms of God’s self manifestation in history or through inner experience, Wahlberg discusses the concept of divine testimony in the context of the debate about how any knowledge of God is possible. He draws on resources from contemporary analytic philosophy -- especially John McDowell and Nicholas Wolterstorff -- to argue for the intellectual viability of revelation as divine testimony.