All Roads Lead to the Text (Eerdmans)

This file contains a book of mine on the subject of hermaneutics. But instead of dealing with theories of interpretation of the Bible, this book employs examples to get the message across. So through an examination of all of the texts in this book hopefully you will get a clearer idea on a proper process for interpreting Scripture.

Here is an outline of the chapters. You can begin profitably at any place in the book. You can click the download page above to read the book.

Introduction: A Sample Exegetical Method

 Chapter 1: The Infra-Red Lens of Literary Analysis

                   (Form and Genre Criticism)        

1. Pericope Delimitation

Matthew 1:18-2:23 The Fulfillment of Five OT Texts

1 John 1:6-2:2 Three Pairs of Conditional Sentences

John 2:24-3:21 A Positive or Negative Interpretation of Nicodemus

John 9:1-10:21 The Extent of the Blind Man Pericope

Markan Intercalations

Vocatives in the Epistle of James

Repeated Phrases in 1 Corinthians

2. The Identification of Genre

Principles for Interpreting Narratives and the Succession of David’s Throne

Psalms 42-43 Belong Together

Psalm 108 alters the Genre of Psalms 57 and 60

Controversy Dialogues on the Sabbath in Mark 2:23-28 and 3:1-6

Miracle Stories in Matthew 8--9

Mark 10:46-52 Story of Bartimaeus: Miracle Story or Call to Discipleship?

The Genre of the Transfiguration in Matthew (17:1-8) and Mark (9:2-8)

No Thanksgiving Section in Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians

Is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 a Hymn?

Discerning a Hymn through the Structure of Colossians 1:15-20

3. The Identification of Literary Techniques

The Chiasm in Luke 22:40-46, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

A Chiasm in Mark 4:26-29, Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly

1 Timothy 3:16 Various Structures but One Theme

The Purpose of the Gospel of John Displayed through Inclusios

Matthew 18:10-14: The Inclusio in the Parable of the Wandering Sheep

The Purpose of Step Parallelism: Luke 15:4-10: Lost Sheep and Coin

Luke's Technique of Parallel Alternating Narratives: Acts 1:1-6:7

4. Study and Discussion Questions

 Chapter 2: The Grammatical Route Using an Exegetical Microscope                                                                      

1. Textual Criticism

Jude 22-23 Triplicates in The Epistle of Jude

Mark 1:1 Son of God?

2. Word Study

1 Thessalonians 4:17 The Nature of the Rapture

The Present Tense in 1 John 3:6 and Matthew 7:7

1 Peter 1:7 Agreement in Person, Number, and Gender

Luke 22:31-32; John 1:50-51; 3:7-12  Singular and Plural

Ephesians 4:12 One Single Comma

Philippians 2:9 and 1:29  Etymologically Similar Forms

οὐ and μὴ in Luke 6:39; Romans 9:20-21; 1 Corinthians 9:8

"Submit" in Ephesians 5:21-22

"Joy" and "Rejoice" in Philippians

3. Analysis of Phrases

The Interpretation of Genitive Phrases: 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Subjective and Objective Genitives: Doctrines of Demons in1 Timothy 4:1

The Genitive Phrase πίστις Ιησοῦ        (Faith in Jesus or Faithfulness of Jesus?)

1 Timothy 3:1: πιστὸς ὁ λόγος (Faithful is the Saying)

4. A Clausal Analysis

Colossians 2:11-12 Baptism Replaces Circumcision

Colossians 2:13-15 The Meaning is in the Structure

Philippians 2:6-8 Eliminating the –ing Endings from Participles

Adverbial Participles Made into Main Verbs: Colossians 2:7 GNT and NLT

Discerning the Main Verb in Mark 5:25-27

The Adverbial Idea in Hebrews 6:6 and the Perseverance of the Saints

Conditional Sentences: Acts 5:38-39 and Matthew 4:3 and 4:9

1 Peter 3:14 and 4:14 Comparing Conditional Sentences

Prohibitions: John 20:17 and Ephesians 5:18

The Third Person Imperative Following a Second Person Imperative

5. Examining Word Order

2 Corinthians 2:4 Determining the Emphasis in ἵνα Clauses

1 Peter 4:10 and John 10:9     Words Placed Outside a Clause

Matthew 12:27  The Positioning of Interrogatives

Matthew 1:20; Hebrews 10:12; and Hebrews 13:8  Isolated Elements

Romans 11:13-14 and Matt 14:33 Genitive Modifiers Before the Noun

John 1:18 and Rev. 21:22 First Position in the Sentence

6. English Translations

Romans 8:28 Two Different Possible Translations

Ezra 4:14 and Acts 1:4  Literal Translations

Psalm 45:6 / Heb. 1:8-9; Isaiah 7:14 / Matt. 1:23 The Old in the New

2 Samuel 11:4 and Joel 2:18-19 Hebrew Tenses

The Benefits of a Dynamic Equivalent Translation for New Christians

Examples from The Message by Eugene Peterson

7. Study and Discussion Questions

 Chapter 3: The Structural Analysis Route        Employing a Skeleton Snapshot   

        1. The Structure of Various Biblical Books

The Ending of the Gospel of Mark and its Discipleship Structure

The Cleansing of the Temple and the Structure of John’s Gospel

Conflict in the Early Church and the Structure of the Acts of the Apostles

The Purpose of the Parallel Flow of Material in Luke-Acts (Symmetry)

Structures in the Book of Revelation

One Hundred and Fifty Psalms but Five Books

The Flow of Psalms 120-122 in the Psalms of Ascent

2. Grammatical and Literary Structure

1 Peter 1:3-12 Future, Present, and Past Salvation

Luke 3:21-22; 4:18-19; Acts 9:15-17; Luke 1--2: Lukan Call Narratives

Romans 5:1-11 Paul’s Glorying and Qal Wahomer Arguments

Greco-Roman Rhetorical Training and New Testament Structures

3. Clausal Outlines

Ephesians 3:14-19 Three ἵνα Clauses

Ephesians 5:18-21 The Results of Being Continually Filled with the Spirit

Hebrews 12:1-2 Discovering the Main Verb

Jude 20-21 How Many Commands?

Two Clausal Outlines of Colossians 1:9-11a

4. Study and Discussion Questions

 Chapter 4: The Literary Context Route Employing a Wide-Angled Lens               

      1. The Context Surrounding the Pericope

Kerygmatic and Hortatory Sections in the Epistles

ἡγέομαι (“Count”) in the Letter to the Philippians

Psalm 8 Surrounded by Laments

Psalm 119:176 Confession of Sin or Profession of Loyalty?

Mark 11:22-23 Casting a Mountain into the Sea

Omitting the Context in Matthew 18:18 and 1 Corinthians 13:8-12

2. Redactionary Activity

The Baptism of Jesus Narrative in all Four Gospels

Peter’s Confession, “You are the Christ” in the Synoptic Gospels

Luke 19:28-44 A Triumphal Entry?

Should We Harmonize Peter’s Denials in the Four Gospels?

The Tearing of the Temple Curtain in the Synoptic Gospels

Kings and Chronicles: Positive Evaluations Trump Negative Appraisals

3. Study and Discussion Questions

Chapter 5: The Cultural and Historical Background Route        

                   Employing a Telescopic Lens

      1. Historical and Cultural Elements

Luke 10:25-37: The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Mark 6:11 Shaking off the Dust from One’s Feet

Judas' Death in Matthew 27:3-10 and Acts 1:18-19

Acts 16:16 A Python Spirit

Revelation 3:14-22 The Geography of Laodicea

Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49: The Parable of the Two Builders

2. The Old Testament as Background

Numbers 6 and Psalm 67 The Aaronic Blessing Extended

Luke 1:78 The Rising Sun

The Scriptural Background to Jesus' Parables

Fishers of People (Mark 1:17): OT Backdrop or Geographical Background?

3. Basic Background Information for Biblical Books

Slavery and Paul’s Epistle to Philemon

Work Ethic and 2 Thessalonians

Sayings from the Cross in the Four Gospels

Mark 9:49-50 The Uses of Salt and Markan Background

4. Study and Discussion Questions

 Chapter 6: The History of Interpretation Route        

                   Using a Motion Picture Exegetical Camera                

      1. The Major Commentators

Micah 4:4 and 1 Kings 4:25: Sitting Under One’s Vine and Fig Tree

Mark 12:41-44: The Widow’s Mite

Matthew 25:31-46: The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

2 Corinthians 5:21 Imputed Righteousness or Defense of Paul’s Apostleship?

Mark 9:42-47 A Sexual Interpretation of Hand, Foot, and Eye?

The Centurion at the Cross: Gentile Voice from Heaven or Negative Mocker?

The Background behind the Baptismal Ministry of John the Baptist

2. Different Periods in Church History

Matthew 3:11 / Luke 3:16 Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Fire

Celibacy in the Church Fathers, Reformers, and Modern Commentaries

John 1:34 “Son of God” or “Chosen One?”

 

3. Study and Discussion Questions

 Chapter 7: The Theological Exegesis Route: Developing the Finished Photo 

      1. A Theological Analysis of the Biblical Text

Apologetic Against the Pharisaic Synagogue in the Gospel of Matthew

Political Readings of the Gospel of Mark

Polyvalence in Interpreting the Parables

Schools of Interpretation Regarding the Book of Revelation

Interpretations of Acts 8:4-25 A Second Blessing?

2. An Investigation of the Reader’s Presuppositions

3. Exploring the Canonical Meaning

The Typology behind John the Baptizer

A Biblical Theology of the State: Romans 13 and Revelation 13

Revelation 21:1 “No More Sea”

The Tenses in Genesis 2:8 and 2:19

4. Study and Discussion Questions

Chapter 8: Exploring Spiritual Exegesis Using an Exegetical X-ray Camera

A. The Insufficiencies of the Historical-Critical Method

B. The Dangers of Spiritual Exegesis

C. The Disciplines of Spiritual Exegesis

1. A Humble Receptive Practicing Faith Perspective

2. Personalizing Scripture

3. Praying Scripture

4. Picturing Concepts through Meditation

5. Listening Prophetically

6. Paradigm Building through Mirroring

7. Imaginative Application                                D. Study and Discussion Questions

 Conclusions                                                                                              

 Appendix I: Genres                                                                               

 A Morphology of Genre

   A. Narrative (Personified in the storyteller or scribe)                                                                              

1. Narrated History
2. Biography
3. Gospel
4. Fiction

B. Prophetic Literature (Personified by the prophet / seer)

1. Prophecy
2. Apocalyptic Literature
3. Testaments

C. Liturgical Literature (Personified in the priest or worship leader) 

1. Homily
2. Prayers
3. Songs and Psalms
4. Salutations, Benedictions, and Doxologies
5. Penitential Liturgy or Confessions of Sin
6. Liturgies

 D. Legal Literature (Personified in a king / ruler / judge)

1. Juridical Speech
2. Deliberative Speech
3. Epideictic Speech                                                                                                                                                               E. Instruction     (Personified in a wise man / philosopher / teacher / pastor)                                                                                                  

1. Wisdom Literature
2. Philosophical Literature
3. Epistles
4. Paraenetic Literature

Canonical Examples of Controversy Dialogues

 

III. Principles of Interpretation for the Main Genre Types           

 

1. Interpreting Narratives
2. Interpreting the Gospels
3. Interpreting Parables
4. Interpreting Prophetic Literature
5. Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature
6. Interpreting Liturgical Literature
7. Interpreting Legal Literature
8. Interpreting Wisdom Literature
9. Interpreting Paraenetic Literature
10. Interpreting the Epistles

 

Appendix II: Literary Techniques                                                     

 A. Literary Devices As Organizational Techniques

 

1. Envelope Technique (Inclusio)
2. Chiasm
3. Markan Intercalation (Sandwich) and Markan Frame
4. Catchwords
5. Parallelism
6. Repetition                                                                                                            

 A Glossary of Literary Techniques and Grammatical Terms

 

Bibliography