Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters [Hardcover]

Donald K. McKim (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 2007

ECPA 2009 Christian Book Award finalist! From Abelard to Zwingli, the history of Christian biblical interpretation has been shaped by great thinkers who delved deeply into the structure and meaning of Christianity's sacred texts. With over two hundred in-depth articles, the Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters introduces readers to the principal players in that history: their historical and intellectual contexts, their primary works, their interpretive principles and their broader historical significance. In addition, six major essays offer an overview of the history of biblical interpretation from the second century to the present. This one-volume reference by Donald K. McKim, a revised and vastly expanded edition of IVP Academic's Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters, will serve as an invaluable tool for any serious student of the Bible and the history of biblical interpretation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, have been the most thoroughly studied literary documents in the history of civilization. And sometimes the interpreters are almost as interesting as the texts they are reading. All who take the interpretation of the Bible seriously in our day will welcome this volume. After six historical essays, this volume introduces readers to more than two hundred of the most significant biblical interpreters, from the patristic period to modern times. By discussing each interpreter under four headings (context, life and work, interpretive principles, significance) and then concluding with a bibliography of the person's most significant writings, modern interpreters are invited into the studies and the lives of their predecessors. This is far and away the finest introduction to the colorful characters that have determined how scholars and laypeople have read the Bible for the past two thousand years. Bravo, InterVarsity Press!" (Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament, and Ph.D. Program Coordinator, Biblical Studies, Wheaton College Graduate School )

"This is an instructive, thought-provoking, generous-minded, reliable, absorbing, illuminating and imaginative work, often elegant, entertaining, incisive and provocative. It covers a remarkable galaxy of names, and it is written by people from a wide range of backgrounds, many of them world experts on their subject. Why did no one think of writing it before?" (John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary )

"I plan to make this volume a mainstay in my History of Interpretation course, where I previously assigned its predecessor, Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters. This new compendium has a larger number and wider range of articles. Older articles have been updated. In addition, Wirkungsgeschichte ("history of interpretation") is rapidly becoming more central to exegesis than it has been for generations. A biographical approach to the subject is effective for scholar and student alike, because it highlights the human and the historical, and that relates to our own existence and interests. I love this subject. Maybe that's why I love this book." (Robert W. Yarbrough, associate professor and New Testament department chair, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School )

"An impressive stable of international scholars, under the direction of veteran editor Donald McKim, have contributed to making this revised and enlarged edition of the Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters more comprehensive and user-friendly than the first edition. The new DMBI has now become even more indispensable for its contextualization of the work of biblical scholars from Abelard to Zwingli and for its provided six overviews of the major segments of the history of biblical interpretation. This useful handbook will prove to be a valuable resource for all theological disciplines and belongs on the shelf of every serious student of theology." (David E. Aune, Professor of New Testament, University of Notre Dame )

"With its revisions and expansion, this useful handbook has now become a major, if not indispensable, resource for biblical interpretation. Those of us who own the original will need to replace it with this much more comprehensive volume. In a time when biblical scholarship is once again turning to history and theology, this dictionary will help us know where to go and what to look for. In its pages one can see both the trees and the forest with clarity." (Patrick D. Miller, Charles T. Haley Professor of Old Testament Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary )

"Anyone interested in the history of interpretation--which today should include all of us--will profit from and appreciate this substantive volume, whose articles, unlike those in so many handbooks and dictionaries, are consistently of high quality. This revised edition, with its many new entries, is an advance beyond its excellent predecessor, and the generous and updated bibliographies will be of great assistance to those wishing to pursue further research." (Dale C. Allison Jr., Errett M. Grable Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary )

"This dictionary is an essential resource for the study of biblical interpretation throughout the ages. Written by world-class scholars, it is both trustworthy and accessible. The organization of each individual article into 'Context,' 'Life and Work,' 'Interpretive Principles,' 'Significance' and 'Bibliography' quickly orients the reader to each interpreter. Historical introductions will help readers track the broader hermeneutical developments throughout the history of biblical interpretation. In this present age of hermeneutical awareness, this is an indispensable volume, helping contemporary readers see the strengths and weaknesses of both past and present approaches to Scripture." (Mark J. Boda, Ph.D. (Cantab.), Professor, Faculty of Theology, McMaster University )

"Ten years after the appearance of its well-received predecessor, the Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters joins the ranks of InterVarsity Press's flagship series of reference works. Here is an excellent selection of entries covering a greatly expanded sweep of influential commentators ancient and modern, Catholic and Protestant, 'conservative' and 'progressive,' often contextualized with illuminating biographical information. The well-documented, often substantive essays benefit from an impressive international team of authors, many of whom are themselves representative of the state of the art of contemporary biblical interpretation. Serious students of the story of biblical interpretation will do well to clear another four inches on their reference shelf for this latest InterVarsity Press dictionary." (Markus Bockmuehl, Professor of Biblical and Early Christian Studies, Keble College, University of Oxford )

"This volume provides a thorough introduction to the major figures in the history of exegesis. It is a useful resource both as a work of reference and as a guide to further reading." (Anthony N. S. Lane, director of research and professor of historical theology, London School of Theology )

"Reading through these evenhanded presentations of our predecessors in the work of biblical interpretation is both a humbling and at the same time energizing experience. By providing a judicious selection of leading interpreters throughout the history of the church, the DMBI has made me realize anew how much we owe to our predecessors, while their faithfulness, often in the face of considerable adversity, is an inspiring example which will drive me back to the text of Scripture with renewed vigor and determination." (H. G. M. Williamson, Regius Professor of Hebrew, University of Oxford )

About the Author

Donald K. McKim is academic and reference editor for Westminster John Knox Press. He is the author and editor of a number of books including the Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith, The Cambridge Companion to John Calvin, Calvin and the Bible and The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1134 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (November 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083082927X
• ISBN-13: 978-0830829279
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #727,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Significant Improvement Over an Earlier Effort, January 24, 2009

By 

Dennis M. Swanson "Narnia3.com" (Santa Clarita, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters (Hardcover)

In 1998 InterVarsity Press released the Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters also edited by Donald. K. McKim, a rather disappointing production. The publicity releases for this new volume announce it as a "revised and vastly expanded edition" of that work. The statement however on the verso that, "some material previously appeared" in the Historical Handbook is a much more accurate reflection of the reality of this much improved and valuable work. While the publisher treats this as a true "second edition" (which is technically true) carrying the former works preface as well as a new preface; the fact that a new title was created demonstrates the publishers desire for this to be seen as an entirely new work.

McKim, formerly the Academic Dean of Professor of Theology at Memphis Theological Seminary and currently the Reference Editor for Westminster John Knox Publishing, has clearly grown in his craft. Some of his early editorial efforts were often heavy handed and reflected his own theological biases rather than the impartial and thorough work one expects in standard references works. He clearly assembled a fine staff of assistants and well as a first rate group of contributors. McKim himself did contribute one full article (William Perkins, 815-19). The scope of the essays has a largely Western orientation reflecting interpreters from Europe and North America as McKim admits. He states in his new preface that in this work, "there is a lack of sufficient entries on women biblical interpreters and on those from outside the predominant areas of Western Europe and the United States" (xii). This seems an odd complaint from the editor, who seems to be criticizing his own editorial decisions (he stated one paragraph earlier, "the list of those to be included in such a volume has been my decision, in consultation with others"). Interestingly, the two woman for who there are entries (Fiorenza Elisabeth Schussler, 895-99; and Phyllis Trible, 989-92) also represent two of the five articles for living individual, and two of the three for those who would be considered currently active scholars.
The first part of this volume consists of six introductory essays presenting a survey of "Biblical Interpretation Through the Centuries." The periods are covered by different contributors and include The Early Church (1-14); The Middle Ages (14-121); The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (22-44); The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (45-66); Europe in the Twentieth Century (67-87); and North American in the Twentieth Century (88-102). Like the individual article each section contains a useful introductory bibliography. The essays are well done, clearly written and logically presented; particularly in the more complex later essays. Also included is a useful indexes of Persons, Subjects and an alphabetical listing of the individual articles.

The selection of individuals for articles in a work like this is almost certain to solicit discussion on inclusions and exclusions. However, by and large there are really few disagreements this reviewer has with the selection. One could argue that the omission of Samuel Prideaux Tregelles (1813-75) is a decided lack. Most certainly the omission of I. Howard Marshall (b. 1934) is significant, considering the fact that another living scholar of the same era (Walter Brueggeman, b. 1932) along with the aforementioned Schussler and Trible were included. Marshall's influence among evangelicals in Biblical Interpretation is considerable. Of those included, the oddest entry is perhaps for John Locke (668-70); who while possessing a Biblically derived foundation for his theories of politics and economics his works on Biblical studies themselves were not unique and really made no lasting contribution in the field.

The selections for the articles was, however, largely even-handed and represents early Catholic, Reformed, Evangelical and even Dispensational contributors. Those of varying denominational affiliations are also represented. All of the articles are generally two pages or more and contain significant bibliographies. The articles are all exceptionally thorough and do not shy away from pointing out negative aspects of their lives, such as the Nazi affiliations of Gerhard Kittel (614-18), or theology controversy, such as the significant errors of William Barclay (144-46). In a couple of the entries, two individuals are listed together because of fact that their work is more often considered in a united rather than an individual manner (Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, 606-608; and B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort, 1038-43).

This work represents a major and welcome addition to the world of reference works in Biblical and Theological studies. It will be an excellent jumping off point for students beginning their research and will be exceptionally useful for pastors who would like a little background on various commentators and scholars whom they encounter in their studies but know little about.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters, September 18, 2011

By 

spfdgreg - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters (Hardcover)

This work has a lot of information, but I think it will be of real value primarily to other scholars, not to the average Christian, who has never heard of (much less read) many of the writers articled. How is it decided which scholars would be included? By their influence on other scholars, or by their influence upon the church at large? So many of the interpreters in here are read only by other scholars; they can be called "major" only in the context of a "club" of a few thousand scholars. To the millions of believers in the pews they are minor at best, or unknown. What is needed is a work examining the works of more popular Biblical interpreters, those men and women who sell lots of books, who are seen and heard on TV and radio, who have real influence in the churches. The average layman needs help picking the wheat from the chaff in the teachings of these persons. But perhaps I am being unfair in asking this book to be something it was not designed to be. As a work about major academic Bible scholars it is excellent.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful, but not perfect, May 25, 2010

By 

Adam D. Parchen Rasmussen (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters (Hardcover)

This is an extremely useful reference work for those interested in the biblical exegesis of the Fathers of the Church (and in fact exegetes of all centuries). It does not seem as thorough as it should be, though, as it has entries on neither St. Ephrem nor Philo. Perhaps a future edition will add those entries.