Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 15:2 (Fall 2024)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

STR 15:2 (Fall 2024) p. 77

Book Reviews

Craig G. Bartholomew. Listening to Scripture: An Introduction to Interpreting the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2023. xi + 208 pp. Paperback. ISBN 978–0801099038. $24.99.

Craig Bartholomew’s introduction to interpreting the Bible is a wonderfully concise and thorough work for the academy and the church. In 11 chapters, he weaves in key components of hermeneutics with the need to “receive and internalize God’s Word” (p. 14). After each chapter, he provides a selection of discussion questions, suggestions for further reading, a devotional exercise, and suggested activities for individuals or groups.

Bartholomew lays the foundations for his primer by stressing the importance of biblical interpretation in Chapter 1. He distinguishes between the false dichotomy of devotional and academic reading and stresses the need to balance both— “out of faith and to faith” (p. 9). He also introduces hermeneutics and inspiration and their role in interpreting Scripture.

Chapter 2 provides a rich overview of the entire Bible. Bartholomew incorporates biblical theology by integrating the role of inspiration and the authorship of God and describes how the many stories of the Bible relate to the story of the Bible. The author presents the two approaches of Lesslie Newbigin (immersing oneself in the Bible) and N. T. Wright (viewing the Bible as a dramatic narrative in five acts). Then, with assistance from Mike Goheen, he integrates his own conception of immersion and narrative into six acts. The story of the Bible naturally leads to a discussion of the development of the Bible itself in Chapter 3. The author discusses revelation using Christoph Schwöbel’s model as a basis. The five components of revelation comprise author, context, content, recipient(s), and the result of revelation.

Chapters 4–7 introduce and discuss what the author calls “a triadic approach,” which encompasses literary, historical, and theological (kerygmatic) dimensions (p. 57). Bartholomew provides a succinct overview of the history of interpretative criticism (e.g., historical criticism). He deemphasizes this mono-approach of modern and postmodern scholars to interpretation and presents his articulation of the triadic approach as the preferable alternative. Understanding the literary nature of Scripture is important for biblical interpretation. The author

STR 15:2 (Fall 2024) p. 78

provides three examples of reading books as a book (Psalms, Proverbs, and the Gospels) followed by discussions of five genres in the Bible. He then addresses the historical element important to interpretation. He notes both the similarities with and differences from other forms of historical narrative, call...