Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old [Paperback]

Robert L. Thomas (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 13, 2003

A thorough and competent examination of divergent hermeneutical methods widely used by evangelicals today. (20040603)

Editorial Reviews

Review

I. . . recommend this book as an important review for evangelical students today. (Faith and Mission )

From the Back Cover

Recent years have witnessed an array of changes in the way evangelicals should read, interpret, and apply Scripture’s core teachings. In this volume the author, an accomplished scholar, carefully chronicles and evaluates the shifts in evangelical hermeneutics.

The goal of the volume is fourfold:

• To discuss the recent changes in evangelical hermeneutics
• To show new meanings being attached to grammatical-historical interpretation
• To compare traditional grammatical-historical interpretation with new evangelical hermeneutics
• To identify the dominant principles of new evangelical hermeneutics

"Historic hermeneutics is brilliantly and biblically defended in this book. And no one is better equipped for that defense than Dr. Robert Thomas who, throughout his life, has made this subject a priority for study."

—John MacArthur Jr.

Robert L. Thomas (Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament at The Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, California. He is the general editor of The Jesus Crisis (with F. David Farnell), The Master’s Perspective on Contemporary Issues, and The Master’s Perspective on Difficult Passages.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional (January 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082543839X
• ISBN-13: 978-0825438394
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #572,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, January 27, 2004

By 

Tim Challies (Oakville, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old (Paperback)

There are some books I can read in an evening or two and feel like I have a good grasp of what the book is all about. There are others that I can pour over hour after hour and still feel like I am only scratching the surface of the book. Evangelical Hermeneutics falls into the latter category. Though not an easy read, this book is rewarding.

Hermeneutics is one of the steps used in interpreting and studying the Bible. Specifically, the author defines it as "a set of principles for interpreting the Bible." Once a passage has been properly interpreted, meaning and application can be drawn from it. It stands to reason that if the principles of interpretation are wrong, the meaning and application are likely to be wrong as well. What the author seeks to show is how these principles have changed over the past decades and the effect that is having on Christianity today.

The author's goal for this book is fourfold:
-To discuss the recent changes in recent hermeneutics
-To show new meanings being attached to grammatical-historical interpretation
-To compare traditional grammatical-historical interpretation with new evangelical hermeneutics
-To identify the dominant principles of new evangelical hermeneutics

Robert Thomas believes strongly in the value of the traditional form of hermeneutics, known as the grammatical-historical method. Throughout the books he cites examples of modern theologians who have either wrongly applied grammatical-historical principles or have invented new methods of hermeneutics. More importantly, he shows the effects these people have had on the Christian world. He focuses specifically on several issues: feminism, open theism, missiology, theonomy and a few others. One of the more fascinating chapters deals with dynamic equivalence (which is a method of Bible translation) and how it is not as much a method of translation as a set of hermeneutical principles. Some of the other topics that caught my attention were preunderstanding and the New Testament use of the Old Testament.

There are several applications to my life and my faith that I have taken from this book. First, it has solidified my understanding of the principle of single meaning, which states that each passage in the Bible has one and only one meaning. Second, it has helped me see the value of the grammatical-historical method. Though this is the system I have adhered to in the past, I am now more confident that it is the most Scriptural method. Third, I see the importance of removing all possible preunderstanding before I examine a text. What I mean by this, is if I am going to examine what the Bible says about the role of women in ministry, I need to look at the passages to determine what they mean, not what they say about women's roles. It is a subtle but important difference. Finally, I have come to understand more clearly the Holy Spirit's role in helping me understand the Bible.

I can't deny that at times I felt lost in this book, primarily because the book presupposes a greater grasp of hermeneutics than I currently have. The other reason is that it spends a lot of time discussing the end-times and that is not a topic I have studied in great depth. The author also tends to use words without fully defining them. An example is the word "meaning" which he defines as "the author's truth intention." "Truth intention" is not a phrase I am familiar with, though perhaps if I was more familiar with hermeneutics I would be.

I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand how Scripture is supposed to be used. Realize, though, that it does help to have a solid understanding of hermeneutics before reading it. I suspect I will be returning to this book often as I study the Word.

5.0 out of 5 stars A most excellent presentation, January 25, 2012

By 

Cliff Allcorn - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old (Paperback)

This work is a wonderful explanation of a plague that is resting on the Lord's house in our time. To borrow from Dr. Thomas, this book explains the sea of uncertainty that the church has loosed herself onto by leaving behind the methods of Biblical interpretation that have secured it. We have begun handling our sword without care, and we are now paying the price. This text traces the methods that have been used to alter the principles that have secured our faith, and more, it charts a clear path back to the firm foundation of true understanding of the Scriptures. This book is a must read for all those who care about the interpretation of Scripture, whether a man is seminary trained or not, this book will have great value.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars is not enough!, July 26, 2011

By 

James L. Gray "grayghost" (Waynesboro, Ga.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Evangelical Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old (Paperback)

Dr. Thomas has touched a nerve with his book on hermeneutics. He comes from the 'old school' that takes Scripture as it reads rather than the practice so often today of projecting your 'pre-understanding' into the interpreting methodology. He follows Milton Terry's hermeneutic methodology which is more reliable and lets the Scriptures speak for themselves.

This is not for your 'novice' in the faith for he covers some very difficult areas of theology. But, what he has done is to put the ship back on course from the wild interpretations coming down the pike today! Some modern theologians will not like what he has to say of their handling of Scripture, but truth must be presented...even if it cuts to the quick!

I am so thankful for this excellent book!