Overview of the Upcoming Training Materials from OnMission2
Syllabus for the 40 Questions
“Nuanced sufficiently for seminary courses and accessible enough for church groups, 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible helpfully acquaints students and church leaders alike to central principles of biblical interpretation and related matters like inspiration, canon, translation, and current discussions. This warm and engaging work would make a superb textbook for university and seminary courses on biblical interpretation.” —
Christopher W. Morgan, Professor of Theology, California Baptist University
Table of Contents
Foreword by Andreas J. Köstenberger
Introduction to Second Edition
Introduction to First Edition
Abbreviations
Part 1: Getting Started: Text, Canon, and Translation
1. What Is the Bible?
2 How Is the Bible Organized?
3. Who Wrote the Bible—Humans or God?
4. Does the Bible Contain Error?
5. Were the Ancient Manuscripts of the Bible Transmitted Accurately?
6. Who Determined What Books Would Be Included in the Bible?
7. Which Is the Best English Bible Translation?
Part 2: Approaching the Bible Generally
Section A: Questions Related to Interpretation
8. Why Is Biblical Interpretation Important?
9. How Has the Bible Been Interpreted throughout Church History?
10. What Are Some General Principles for Interpreting the Bible? (1)
11. What Are Some General Principles for Interpreting the Bible? (2)
12. How Can I Improve As an Interpreter of the Bible?
13. What Are Some Helpful Books or Tools for Interpreting the Bible?
Section B: Questions Related to Meaning
14. Who Determines the Meaning of a Text?
15. Can a Text Have More Than One Meaning?
16. What Is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Determining Meaning?
17. What Is the Overarching Message of the Bible?
18. Is the Bible Really All about Jesus?
19. Do All the Commands of the Bible Apply Today?
20. Why Can’t People Agree on What the Bible Means?
Part 3: Approaching Specific Texts Section
A: Shared Genres (Questions Applying Equally To Old and New Testaments)
21. How Do We Identify Literary Genre—and Why Does It Matter?
22. How Do We Interpret Historical Narratives?
23. How Do We Interpret Prophecy? (General Guidelines)
24. How Do We Interpret Prophecy? (Typology)
25. How Do We Interpret Apocalyptic Literature?
26. How Do We Interpret Exaggerated or Hyperbolic Language?
27. How Do We Interpret Figures of Speech?
Section B: Primarily Old Testament Genres
28. How Do We Interpret Proverbs?
29. How Do We Interpret Poetry?
30. How Do We Interpret the Psalms? (Classification of Psalms)
31. How Do We Interpret the Psalms? (Principles of Interpretation)
Section C: Primarily New Testament Genres
32. How Do We Interpret Parables? (History of Interpretation)
33. How Do We Interpret Parables? (Principles of Interpretation)
34. How Do We Interpret Letters or Epistles? (Structure and Nature)
35. How Do We Interpret Letters or Epistles? (General Guidelines)
Part 4: Practical and Current Issues
36. What Does the Bible Tell Us about the Future?
37. How Can I Use the Bible in Daily Devotions? (Practical Steps for Studying the Bible)
38. How Can I Lead a Bible Study?
39. Does the Bible Teach That Christians Will Be Healthy and Wealthy?
40. What Are Some Modern-Day Trends in Biblical Interpretation?
Postscripts
Select Bibliography
List of Figures
Scripture Index