GOSPEL-CENTRED HERMENEUTICS

Biblical-theological foundations and principles

Graeme Goldsworthy

APOLLOS (an imprint of Inter-Varsity Press)

Norton Street, Nottingham NG7 3HR, England

Email: ivp@ivpbooks.com

Website: www.ivpbooks.com

© Graeme Goldsworthy 2006

Graeme Goldsworthy has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

First published 2006

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN–13: 978-1-84474-145-8

ISBN–10: 1-84474-145-1

Inter-Varsity Press publishes Christian books that are true to the Bible and that communicate the gospel, develop discipleship and strengthen the church for its mission in the world.

Inter-Varsity Press is closely linked with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, a student movement connecting Christian Unions in universities and colleges throughout Great Britain, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. Website: www.uccf.org.uk

In memoriam

Robert Alan Cole

1923–2003

CONTENTS

Abbreviations

Preface

Introduction: Can hermeneutics be saved?

Part I—Evangelical Prolegomena to Hermeneutics

Introduction

1. The necessity for hermeneutics

Much ado about nothing?

What is/are hermeneutics

The necessity for hermeneutics

Communication and its principles

Divine communication

The dimensions of hermeneutics

2. Presuppositions in reading and understanding

The historical shift in presuppositions

Alternative presuppositional stances in theological study

The unavoidability of presuppositions

Basic evangelical presuppositions

Grace alone

Christ alone

Scripture alone

Faith alone

The four ‘alones’ and the Trinity

The function of evangelical doctrine

Ontology

Epistemology

Christology and hermeneutics

3. Gospel-centred hermeneutics

The presuppositions of the gospel

The gospel and noetic salvation

Christ as mediator means the gospel is the hermeneutic norm of Scripture

The resurrection and hermeneutics

Christocentricity is not Christomonism

4. Towards a biblical theology of interpretation

The method of biblical theology

Creation and fall

Torah (the Pentateuch)

Wisdom

Prophets

The Gospels

Acts

The Epistles

Revelation

Conclusions

Part II—Challenges to Evangelical Hermeneutics

Introduction

5. The eclipse of the gospel in the early church

The context of hermeneutics

The sub-apostolic age

Allegory and the Alexandrines

Typology and the Antiochenes

Assessment

6....

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About Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation

While there are many books on hermeneutics, Graeme Goldsworthy’s perception is that evangelical contributions often do not give sufficient attention to the vital relationship between hermeneutics and theology, both systematic and biblical.

Goldsworthy moves beyond a reiteration of the usual arguments to concentrate on the theological questions of presuppositions, and the implications of the Christian gospel for hermeneutics. In doing so, he brings fresh perspectives on some well-worn pathways.

Part I examines the foundations and presuppositions of evangelical belief, particularly with regard to biblical interpretation.

Part II offers a selective overview of important hermeneutical developments from the sub-apostolic age to the present, as a means of identifying some significant influences that have been alien to the gospel.

Part III evaluates ways and means of reconstructing truly gospel-centered hermeneutics.

Goldsworthy’s aim throughout is to commend the much-neglected role of biblical theology in hermeneutical practice, with pastoral concern for the people of God as they read, interpret and seek to live by his written Word.

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