Grasping God's Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible
by J. Scott Duvall, J. Daniel Hays
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Book Summary Information
Author: J. Daniel Hays, J. Scott DuvallEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Deluxe Edition
Published: 2005-07-26
ISBN: 0310259665
Number of pages: 464
Publisher: Zondervan
Book Reviews of Grasping God's Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible
Book Review: Excellent for Undergraduate Curriculum
Summary: 5 Stars
Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God's Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. 462 pp. $39.99.
Interpreting the Bible is a topic of no small importance for readers of Scripture. It might even be said that this is everything. Without getting derailed into complicated discussions of methodology, the authors of Grasping God's Word present a procedure that is both successful in the sufficiency of its cause, and at being 'earthen' in its strategy. J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays both received PhD's at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and hold teaching positions at Ouachita Baptist University.
Summary
In chapter one the author, building on the hermeneutics of John Goldingay, qualifies his method for interpreting Scripture as grasping "the meaning of the text God has intended" (21). The Bible was not written in the 21st century, western world. It was, instead, written during a history and within a culture which in many ways is incongruous with our own. Bridging these two contexts can be difficult. However, if a theological principle can be observed within the text, then - by virtue of being a principle - a bridge between the two worlds is permissible. So, a theological principle "functions as a bridge spanning the river of differences" (21). This bridge is called the "principlizing bridge" and is the chief element of the author's methodology.
The methodology itself is both economical and sufficient. There are four steps. Step one is to understand what the text meant to the biblical audience (22). Step two is understanding the differences between the biblical audience and the reader (22). The third step is to understand the theological principle of the text - perhaps the most crucial step (23). And the final step, four, is applying this theological principle to the life of the reader (24). The author labels this methodology "the Interpretive Journey."
Grasping God's Word is divided into five sections each of which discusses or uses the methodology presented in chapter one. The first section, which is about reading the Bible, includes four chapters (chs. 1-4). Chapter one, "The Interpretive Journey," has already been addressed. Chapter two explains textual observations at the sentence level. Chapters three and four develop upon the practice of chapter two but broaden the context - chapter three deals with paragraphs and four with discourses (the author defines 'discourse' as any textual piece greater than one paragraph in length; 65).
The second section is five chapters in length (chs. 5-9). Chapter five discusses presuppositions which will be discussed later. Chapter six explains the importance of respecting the historical and cultural climate of the Bible. Chapter seven deals with literary genre and context. Chapter eight offers instruction on doing word studies - rightly coming after the chapter on context! And finally, chapter nine surveys different translations.
Section Three is four chapters in length (chs. 10-13), and discusses meaning and application. Key hermeneutical definitions and relevant discussions on hermeneutics is the focus of chapters ten through twelve, leaving the last chapter, thirteen, to deal with application.
With the completion of the first three sections, the reader is now well-versed in the methodology and thus equipped to work with the text. Consequently, the fourth and fifth sections deal respectively with interpreting the New Testament and the Old Testament.3 The NT section is four chapters in length (chs. 14-17) and covers (in correct ordering) the epistles, the gospels, Acts, and Revelation. The OT section is five chapters in length (chs. 18-22) covering narrative, law, poetry, the prophets, and wisdom literature.
Critical Evaluation
The basis for much of Duvall and Hays' work is that, while the reader is removed from the original context of Scripture both historically and culturally, the reader is able to bridge this gap by carefully discovering the theological implications of the passage, and with these implications a bridge over the river of difference can be made.
While this is a simple methodology it should not be thought that no labor is asked of the interpreter. The author makes it certain that to correctly interpret Scripture labor is to be had. This first becomes evident in chapter three where observing and studying the text is not the same as simply reading it a couple of times - neither does it entail the expertise of a study Bible footnote. It is slow, thoughtful, careful, and objective reading. And the reader must read the text again, and again, and again (cf. the stories on pp. 45-47 and 66-67). Of course there are textual markers that give clue as to the meaning of the text, and the author does address these clues in detail (30-37, 47-54, 57, and 67-78), but the point of careful reading should not be missed. It should also be remembered that the clues are not always a shortcut to meaning. Some require careful work and alertness to find (e.g., chiasms). Observations of these literary clues should be detailed on paper, preferably a photocopy of the Scripture passage in question (58).
The relevant meaning of a passage can sometimes run a paragraph in length or more (i.e., a discourse; 65) and this consequently increases the amount of work necessary to uncover meaning. There are several layers to this literary context which the responsible interpreter will consider. These include the immediate context (i.e., local verses) and the surrounding context (perhaps the book in its entirety; 121-122). Context must also be qualified. How do the parts unite to form the whole (126)? What is each units purpose (127)? Why does the author form his argument the way he does (127)? What happens to the whole if a particular unit is omitted (126)? Reviewing outlines of the text and creating an outline of one's own is necessary (128). Identification of conjunctions, literary genres, topical changes, and other grammatical clues is necessary (128-129). A written summary of each unit is also necessary - which should include how the passage relates to the surrounding context (129).
Literary context is not only breadth but depth. How are the individual words to be qualified (ch. 8)? That the discussion of word studies follows the chapters on context is no mistake. The details of performing a word study are too great to be reproduced for this assignment - the author spends more than ten pages explaining this discipline (139-149).
Literary context is not the only context. There is the matter of grasping the historical and cultural context - it is the original meaning of the text that should interest the modern reader (100). The labor involved in this step should not be missed. Indeed the author discusses in no less than nine pages the tools which are necessary for researching the historical and cultural context of Scripture (107-115). Page 107 also offers a lengthy list of questions which must be considered, and while space does not permit a reproduction of the entire list some of them should be mentioned: Who was the biblical audience? What was happening at the time the book was written? And, Why was the author writing? These questions are - looking back to chapter one - intended to be answered on paper (22, 215). Of course, anytime one is working with the text, there is also the added concern their presuppositions influencing their research. While carefully reading Scripture the author cautions the interpreter to guard against "interpretational reflex," which is said to be the subconscious workings of our presuppositions (92). Hermeneutics is no walk in the park. The author does not have in mind a pushover student.
With the fruits of this labor in hand, the interpreter is now equipped to cross the bridge over the river of differences by studying the theological principles of the passage (216). After examining how these principles were administered to the contemporary situation at the time of writing, parallels can then be made to more contemporary times (216-217). Next, only application remains.
With all four steps of the Interpretive Journey examined the next two sections of Grasping God's Word (i.e., 4 and 5) discuss how to apply this method to both the NT and OT. The author will also coach the interpreter on other hermeneutical concerns encountered throughout Scripture. It is within these last two sections of the book that general hermeneutics is (perhaps) more key and the author's methodology more sideline. To be sure, each chapter does conclude with the methodology as well as an example of how to use it on the biblical material.
In the chapter on NT epistles the author does discuss the nature of ancient letters (232-234) in addition to their method of writing and delivery (230-231). In the chapter covering the gospels an explanation of parables, exaggeration, and metaphor is necessary (256-260). Historical context and literary genre are key to interpreting Revelation, another chapter.
For the OT section, in the chapter on the law, the author espouses a narrative reading of the Pentateuch (329-336). An examination of Hebrew poetry merits its own chapter, as well as the many elements of it (349-360). In the chapter on prophecy broad principles of prophetic literature are surveyed. The points here are threefold and include (1) the prophetic indictments against Israel, (2) the warning of judgment if she does not repent, and (3) the promise of restoration (373-377). The historical-cultural context is also important to this chapter (372-373). Ending the OT section is a chapter on correctly observing wisdom literature.
The coherence of the book is remarkable. The methodology, which is purposed not only for hermeneutics but also application, works well when "the rubber hits the road." But the book does feel a bit burdensome functionally: its a textbook in one sense; it teaches hermeneutics; it teaches application; and it covers a lot of material.
Conclusion.
In closing, the greatest advantage of Grasping God's Word is that it is packed with information. No stone is left unturned. It is consequently well worth the price. Its concentration on application is refreshing and shepherd-like. Although the Interpretive Journey might seem elementary in the early chapters, this review should evidence that the author does not have in mind a pushover reader. It raises the bar for undergraduates and is a wise choice for supplementing undergraduate, hermeneutical curriculum. It might be prudent to purchase a separate notepad to go with it in light of all the interpretive labor.
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Summary of Grasping God's Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible
'...a wonderfully user-friendly book for serious readers who desire to journey into the world of the Bible in order to better understand it and to live faithfully in today's world.' ---From the foreword by Kevin J. Vanhoozer 'Excellent, practical, and accurate. It leads students from the most fundamental building blocks of interpretation (including skills that most beginning students lack) through all the essential processes.' ---Craig S. Keener, Professor of New Testament, Eastern Seminary Just as a rock climber's handhold enables him to master the mountain, a firm grasp on God's Word empowers us to traverse the challenging, risky slopes of life. Grasping God's Word helps college students, beginning seminary students, and other serious readers get a grip on the solid rock of Scripture---how to read it, how to interpret it, and how to apply it. Filling the gap between approaches that are too simple and others that are too technical, this book starts by equipping readers with general principles of interpretation, then moves on to apply those principles to specific genres and contexts. Features include: * Proven in classrooms across the country * Hands-on exercises to guide students through the interpretation process * Emphasis on real-life application * Supplemented by a website for professors providing extensive teaching materials * Accompanying workbook (sold separately) This second edition includes an appendix on 'Inspiration and Canon,' numerous updates throughout the rest of the book, new exercises, and updated bibliographies. Grasping God's Word progresses through the following five sections: 1. How to Read the Book---Basic Tools 2. Contexts---Now and Then 3. Meaning and Application 4. The Interpretive Journey---New Testament 5. The Interpretive Journey---Old TestamentReference Books
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