interpretive method. While the quest of Bible study should be to discover the meaning intended by the author for his original audience, the Bible is now approached as a resource book to meet the felt-needs of the reader or prove an agenda brought to it by the reader. This results in transforming the Bible into mystical, devotional literature; a collection of tips for living; a science textbook proving creationism; or, random sayings meant to justify whatever cause is being promoted. In short, the Bible is no longer a record of God’s story, but a contribution to our story. Sadly, the clarity of God’s message becomes lost. In From Ezra to Gnostic Devotions: The Importance of Interpretive Method, the writer analyzes various interpretive trends beginning with the time of Ezra to the present day to show how these trends either enlighten or blacken the perspicuity of the text. This discussion deals with the major periods of church history including Judaism, the New Testament, Patristics, the Reformation and others. Some of the methods covered during the Modern era are feminist, trajectory, complementary, Christological hermeneutics and more. The book concludes with numerous theses which elucidate the doctrine of Scripture’s perspicuity and several appendices dealing with related topics.

Hide more