Basic Bible Interpretation [Hardcover]

Roy B. Zuck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1991

BASIC BIBLE INTERPRETATION

Can the Bible really be understood?
Are Old Testament prophecies relevant for today?
How can I understand the symbolism of the Book of Revelation?
What is the relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament?

Why study Bible interpretation? Dr. Roy Zuck points out that it is essential for understanding and teaching the Bible properly, essential as a step beyond observation, and essential for applying the Bible correctly.

He discusses the challenges of Bible interpretation, considers the problems of Bible interpretation, explores the history of Bible interpretation, and defines key terms--all in a practical, down-to-earth way.

Though Dr. Zuck's many years of teaching and scholarship are evident in this book, he has written in language understandable to all who are serious about bible study and who want to know better what Scripture means.


Basic Bible Interpretation lives up to its title. It deals with the basics and doesn't confuse the reader with extraneous material. It focuses on the bible as the Word of God and handles that Word with "reverence and godly fear." It tells us how to interpret this marvelous Book, and even gives the reader opportunity to put the principles into practice. In every way, this book is a practical tool for the serious student who wants to study the Bible and apply its truths.

Warren W. Wiersbe
Author, Conference Speaker


Having taught and written in the area of hermeneutics for almost thirty years, I am convinced that there is no more important course in the seminary curriculum for training in the scriptures. As Roy Zuck has so ably demonstrated, we cannot know the message of the bible for today until we know its meaning.

Dr. Zuck's work is intensely biblical and comprehensive but at the same time it is simple and uncomplicated. This is a book we have needed for many years and I praise the Lord that it is now available.

Earl D. Radmacher
Chancellor, Professor of Systematic Theology
Western Seminary


At last! A book on hermeneutics you can understand. Dr. Zuck has drawn heavily on his many years of teaching in the seminary classroom to present an excellent treatise on biblical interpretation. While this book will be well received in the classroom, it is one that I will be wholeheartedly recommending to my congregation. While the scholarship is clearly present, it is nevertheless most readable and understandable by the average layperson. This book will make a valuable contribution to your ability to comprehend the Scriptures.

Louis A. Barbieri
Senior Pastor
Des Plaines Bible Church
Des Plaines, Illinois

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Roy B. Zuck is department chairman and professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary where he has served on faculty since 1973. Dr. Zuck has written or edited more than seventy books on Christian education and biblical studies. He had edited Bibleotheca Sacra (Dallas Seminary's theological journal) since 1986.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 324 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; 1st edition (January 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781438772
• ISBN-13: 978-0781438773
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book on hermeneutics, December 29, 2008

By 

A. Johnson "Self taught classic liberal" (Utah) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Basic Bible Interpretation (Hardcover)

I just finished this book at the direction of my pastor and I am very glad I did. It was a very worthwhile read.

Now, the main reason I gave it four stars is that I am comparing it to "Grasping God's Word" by Duval and Hays which I consider a better treatment of the subject. The main difference is that Zuck lays out the pattern of observation, interpretation, application. Whereas Duval and Hays break interpretation into three steps: differences between then and now (river), crossing those differences (bridge), and what it means today (our town). Zuck has these three points but does not lay them out as clearly.

Also Zuck's book is very dense, while simultaneously not hard to read. Which is both good and bad. Zuck also gives point-blank analysis of why he considers dispensationalism more correct than covenant theology. If you are not aware of this debate this part will seem a bit odd, and if you are a covenant theologian you might be insulted. He does something similar with premillennialism compared to amillennialism and postmillennialism.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Own Resource for Bible Readers, February 9, 2009

By 

Jason Brubaker (Alpharetta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Basic Bible Interpretation (Hardcover)

Of all the books I've read on Bible study and interpretation this one is by far my favorite. It is highly readable and the concepts are applicable. You feel like you walk away with something tangible at the end of each chapter. There are many books on Bible study methods and interpretation but many of them are dated not so much in their content but more so in their writing style and terminology. Many of the older books on this subject are riddled with 1950s era vernacular and filled with grammatical minutiae but not Zuck's book. This is a gem amidst the growing number of pop theology books and I highly recommend this as a staple in your Bible study resource collection.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Every Bible Believing Christian!, May 25, 2009

By 

Peter Humleker (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Basic Bible Interpretation (Hardcover)

I got this book because it is used for the Hermeneutics class at my Bible college. It's the second book I own on the subject and without a doubt my favorite. It's explains things in plain language and makes the topic very understandable. If you read and study this book you will be able to interpret the Bible correctly and it will really open up your eyes to many truths. I highly recommend it!