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The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical Linguistic Approach to Christian Doctrine

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Kevin Vanhoozer's Drama of Doctrine is a sweeping reconceptualization of Christian doctrine using the metaphor of drama. In an age when many pastors and theologians believe doctrine to be irrelevant or even divisive and dangerous; Vanhoozer's project cuts like a laser to reveal the importance, purpose, and practicality of biblical doctrine for the 21st century church. According to Vanhoozer, doctrine expounds to the church the Divine drama of the canonical scriptures in a way that allows the church to act within that continuing drama. Doctrine teaches us to improvise fittingly in God's continuing drama. As Vanhoozer puts it, "Canonical-linguistic theology attends both to the drama in the text--what God is doing in the world through Christ--and to the drama that continues in the church as God uses Scripture to address, edify, and confront its readers" (17). While this book is long, it is worthy of a wide reading by pastors, theologians, and churchmen and women around the world.

This is an excellent work which seeks to set out the method for Vanhoozer's theology. It is orthodox yet aims at new ways of thinking of old ideas. Vanhoozer attempts to deal with the major problems that evangelicals face in this age; that is, trying to fit modern problems into the Christian Canon (i.e. Wayne Grudem; though Grudem can be appreciated as well), and on the other end, accepting postmodern notions of textual interpretation. To put it simply, Vanhoozer deals with how the Church is to go about living wisely all under the guise of a drama which we are ultimately part of without accepting more dangerous alternatives to traditional doctrine. I am convinced that this volume will be an immense help to those who struggle with rigid doctrine (Vanhoozer is very orthodox), modern epistemology (this is canonical-linguistic theology), postmodern hermeneutics (Vanhoozer deals with the major players very well), or all of the above (I think evangelicals struggle with all). His writing is articulated well and is yet enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this weighty yet worthy volume.

This book should jolt both liberals & evangelicals. Vanhoozer favourably quotes sociologist of religion, Jack Wolfe, who nails down what the church is facing: "Evangelical churches lack doctrine because they want to attract new members. Mainline churches lack doctrine because they want to hold on to those declining numbers of members they have" (cited on p. xii). The great strength of this book is the call to marry the teaching of biblical doctrine with living it personally and in church life. If his treatment is followed, it should deal with the disease that teaches doctrine in a "dry as dust" form.
Some may find it difficult to adjust to the redefinition of theological categories: "This book sets forth new metaphors for theology (dramaturgy), Scripture (the script), theological understanding (performance), the church (the company), and the pastor (director)" (p. xii).
I'd recommend this book to thoughtful pastors and laity who may have forgotten their responsibility to teach sound/healthy doctrine (I Tim. 4:6; 6:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1). I hope the book's length (488pp) does not deter them.

What I'd like to add to what's been said so far is that Vanhoozer restates, not reinvents, theory of doctrine so as to make doctrine at every point a matter of both believing and doing as directed by doctrine. His approach is deeply redemptive-historical. This frame, the scriptural frame, allows him to think of doctrine as directive without giving up one inch to contemporary theology's attempt to reinvent key doctrines. This should be read and understood, i.e. dramatized (lived because Christianity is real), by all ministers.

Kevin Vanhoozer's The Drama of Doctrine is an illuminating and thought- provoking approach to Scripture that both preserves the integrity and centrality of the Biblical text within the faith community, and with avoiding the narrow literalism (which Vanhoozer calls "propositionalism") of the right wing of the evangelical movement.

For anyone concerned with the study of the Bible, and especially those charged with preaching the Word, Vanhoozer provides an image of how the Bible works within a community of faith: It is a multivalenced script for the life and thought played out by the Chistian people. His very effective Use of contemporary dramatic theory is an exciting alternative to the bland liberalism of the left (that pretty much ignores the importance of the text) and the rigidity of the right (that removes the text from the historical process, and seeks to cast the Bible in bronze). This is an extremely valuable book!

Hermeneutics is an area of increasing interest to me, and it seems that it is one of the most important aspects of the recent challenges and developments in Evangelicalism. In light of that I think The Drama of Doctrine has been one of the most transformitive books I've read in regards to how I read the Bible, and one of the best explorations of contemporary hermeneutics and its related issues available.
VanHoozer is an expert in hermeneutical issues, and especially postmodern hermeneutics. He by no means wholeheartedly embraces postmodernism in fact he critiques it in many ways, but he also sees its value and does not approach it in a reactionary way, an element of the book I appreciated.
Two of the best aspects of the book are its ingenious use of the themes of play and theater to better understand the theological tack, and its explanation and promotion of something I see as a very promising step in evangelical theology, post-conservatism.

www.newwaystheology.blogspot.com

I'm only a little into this book, but from what I've read it is shaping up to be a terrific read. I have made plenty of pencil markings already.

I hope that many people give Kevin Vanhoozer's book a chance. I understand that the cover of the book is not too catchy, but besides that, what it contains can change your perspective on the necessity and relevancy of scripture for your life today. There is very few people out there that can clearly as profoundly with an artist's brush paint a practical realistic theology of the Bible.
Vanhoozer's illustrative use of Drama and the Stage are profound and inivative for the creative thinker as well as for boring dusty stale systematic theologian. My friends, if these perspectives catch on, it is unthinkable what good could come from such a work. Please pick up this book today, and savor the eloquent truth that is found therein.

Vanhoozer tries to appropriate George Lindbeck's cultural-linguistic approach for biblicists via what he calls a "canonical-linguistic" approach. Basically, he claims the Bible has a logic of usage and thus a system of habituating consistent meanings internal to itself, before it is socialized into ecclesial life. Historically this is highly problematic, given that the Bible's content and orthodox meaning were determined by the Church over several centuries (50AD-400ish, if not later). If you don't believe that last sentence then you will probably love Vanhoozer's book. If you're looking for something a bit more intellectually satisfying then you should probably skip Vanhoozer's qualifications of Lindbeck and go read Lindbeck's "The Nature of Doctrine" yourself. On the plus side, Vanhoozer displays more or less sophisticated dealings with many post-modern theorists that do not get dealt with by many of Vanhoozer's colleagues, and that should be applauded.

I gotta warn you, there's nothing like this book nowhere nohow. It's a grand slam tour de force of a work. Great art, great theology, great spiritual/character formation stuff all packed in one volume.
All you Arminianists out there who have lost your way in all the drivel, I dare you to give this a try. It'll really stretch your brain.