Customer Reviews

Christian Theologies of Scripture: A Comparative Introduction

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Holcomb has gathered a brilliant group of essays which provide a rather useful introduction to the place of Holy Scripture in the thought of theologians and theological movements from the early church through the current day. A reader should not expect some sort of predetermined rubric as to the issues discussed in each essay. That is, the essays do not attack systematically questions such as "Did X view the Bible as the Word of God?" or "Did X view the Bible as inerrant?" and so on. But the essays are better off for that fact: though an introduction, this is not a book for simplistic thinkers, apologists, or culture warriors. Each essays begins on the broad canvas of each theologian or movement and merely highlights the place and, more importantly, the function of Scripture on that canvas.

Each reader's preference as to the best essays in the volume will largely be determined by his theological interest (early church, medieval, modern, etc.). I found with final section particularly satisfying, particularly Stephen Murphy's peice on Scripture in African American theology and spirituality.

This book was money and time well spent. We of the Christian faith usually fail to recognize that the way we read scripture at our point in place and time is not the only way it has been read. Indeed, many others in whom the Spirit dwells have read it differently. To understand those alternative readings of scripture is not to undermine the foundation of our faith, but to enrich it with the experience of those who have gone before. Well written enough for a finicky reader and objective enough for an armchair scholar. Some chapters could have been more comprehensive (e.g., the patristic era.) Any serious teacher of scripture, clergy or layman, should have this under their belt as essential background knowledge.

The most useful course during my time in seminary was The History of Christian Doctrine. Reading this book has brought back many memories of what I learned in that very detailed course. I recommend this book as a good overview of how scripture has been interpreted since the inception of the Christian Church. The individual chapters are more like introductions to their subjects but will wet your appetite to learn more. Whatever your view of scripture this book will challenge your thinking. My view of scripture fits mostly with those before the Neo Orthodox period but the chapters on Schleiermacher and Barth really caused me to think through my personal convictions regarding the Word of God. So if you have not grappled with the question of Authority and the Word of God, this would be a good place to start.