Interpreting the Old Testament: A Guide for Exegesis

Evangelical scholars discuss methods of Old Testament exegesis and criticism for interpreting the text. [Full Review]

This volume is appropriately subtitled “a guide for exegesis.” For most who alreadyembrace critical scholarship, or who wish to teach the nuts and bolts of methodology,more complete introductions are certainly available. But as the preface states, the volumeunder review is not “a book preoccupied with methodology” but rather “offersobservations on the Bible, points us to resources to enhance study, and raises questionsthat help unlock the Bible’s richness and depth” (8). In short, the book offers itself as aguide to those confronted with the difficulty of interpreting the Old Testament but unsureof how to negotiate the process and how safely to handle the sharp tools of scholarlyexegesis.Written from an openly evangelical perspective, the various authors’ works serve tobreak down many of the barriers that often exist between conservative Christians andcritical scholarship of the biblical text. The lead essay, by Craig C. Broyles, affirms thatthe Bible is “inspired” and that biblical exegesis “should be an adventure filled withanticipation and holy fear, because in exegesis we hear the voice of the living God” (13).But Broyles continues (and various chapters in the book emphasize) that the Bible “is nota book ‘dropped from heaven’ ” but is the result of human agency. [Full Review]