Craig G. Bartholomew. Listening to Scripture: An Introduction to Interpreting the Bible

Listening to Scripture offers an insightfully crafted journey into the heart of biblical interpretation. Craig Bartholomew, known for his perceptive teaching and commitment to the biblical text, provides a thought-provoking perspective on engaging with the Bible, emphasizing the importance of truly listening to its message rather than simply performing a sterile academic interpretation and analysis.According to Bartholomew, Listening to Scripture extends beyond just grasping the meaning intended for the original audience to engagement with a contemporary worldview. True listening occurs when the interpreter encounters God within the text, employing liturgical, ethical, and missional hermeneutics. For some, this holistic approach may blur the lines between biblical interpretation and homiletics. However, despite broadening the scope of hermeneutics, Bartholomew convincingly argues that engaging with contemporary culture is an essential goal of hermeneutics.Bartholomew delves further into a post-Enlightenment scientific hermeneutical approach, skillfully navigating the complexities of biblical interpretation with clarity and precision. He lays a solid foundation by encouraging interpreters to explore the Bible in its entirety. Building upon his earlier publication, The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story, Bartholomew elaborates on the grand narrative of the biblical story, depicting it in six acts, each revolving around the kingdom of God. He identifies the current era as the fifth act, focusing on the dissemination of the King’s message. This phase emphasizes the mission of the Church, ultimately pointing toward the sixth act—the return of the King. Bartholomew asserts that only by understanding our position within the biblical narrative can we fully grasp God’s message to the Church.Bartholomew continues his hermeneutical exploration by emphasizing the importance of recognizing the historical and cultural context of the original text. This contextual understanding involves a triadic approach encompassing three dimensions: historical, literary, and theological.The initial step in this approach entails examining the literature and genre. Truly listening to Scripture necessitates an understanding of its literary context. Through the analysis of passages from Proverbs, Psalms, and Luke as examples, Bartholomew contends that comprehending both the text’s literary context and genre significantly influences our understanding of each book as a whole.The second phase involves delving into the historical context of the biblical text. A fundamental aspect of engaging with the text involves understanding its linguistic transmission and reception. Drawing from J. L. Austin’s How to Do Things with Words, Bartholomew elucidates how locution, illocution, and perlocution impact interpretation. The discussion then extends to traditional contextual subjects such as historicity, historiography, and narrative analysis.The final stage in this triadic approach involves grasping the message of the Bible. According to Bartholomew, this third step is paramount. He argues that the Bible’s primary concern is to convey information about God, the world, and humanity. Therefore, misunderstanding arises when one treats it primarily as a history or literary book. Bartholomew asserts that the Bible’s historical and literary dimensions serve its kerygma; therefore, they are subordinate to it.Bartholomew emphasizes the necessity of attending to the threefold nature of the Bible to do justice to its text. Consequently, our historical and literary analyses should always serve the text’s message and rhetorical trajectory. For Bartholomew, this trajectory finds its fulfillment in Christ’s message to contemporary society. Echoing John Stott’s concept of double listening, Bartholomew maintains that while one ear is attuned to the Bible, the other should be engaged with modern culture and worldview. Only through such engagement can interpreters truly discern what God is communicating to humanity today.Listening to Scripture further explores Bartholomew’s primary triadic chord through three concluding chapters that delve into the elements of kerygma. He posits that the essence of biblical interpretation lies within a liturgical, ethical, and missional hermeneutic, each guiding interpreters toward a deeper comprehension of God’s message and revelation of Himself.Commencing with liturgical hermeneutics, Bartholomew endeavors to address the fundamental question: why does the church gather? His answer: to encounter God. True listening to Scripture entails transcending mere propositions about God to embracing the gift of God Himself. According to Bartholomew, academic interpretation of the biblical text must always serve the purpose of listening for God’s message for us today, “through which God offers us the gift of himself” (p. 159).Building upon the foundation of liturgical hermeneutics, Bartholomew explores how the Bible instructs us to live our best lives (ethical hermeneutic). When God reveals Himself to us, it necessitates a shift in our worldview, which in turn prompts a transformation in our priorities and lifestyles. Bartholomew argues that an ethical hermeneutic “explores how and in what direction they must change if we are to enhance the reputation of the world of the God who has come to us by the Spirit in Christ” (p. 189).This action leads to Bartholomew’s final step in the interpretation process—the missional hermeneutic. For Bartholomew, the term “mission” is more about “purpose” than “being sent.” He contends that once “missional” is understood in terms of purpose, the entire Bible can be viewed through the lens of a missional reading. In the six-act meta-narrative of Scripture, we currently reside in act five—the era of mission. Echoing Christopher J. H. Wright in A Manifesto for Theological Interpretation, Bartholomew asserts that “on the one hand, mission is an essential hermeneutical key to reading the whole of Scripture. Mission is not just one of the many subjects that the Bible talks about, rather, it is a way of reading the whole of Scripture with mission as a central concern” (p. 190).Bartholomew contends that the key to truly listening to Scripture is to receive the gift of God Himself. Thus, Bartholomew maintains that kerygma is apprehended through a liturgical hermeneutic, fostering spiritual formation, while the ethical hermeneutic leads to ethical formation. Both are integral components of missional hermeneutics, inspiring action and facilitating the sharing of God’s revelation of Himself.Listening to Scripture presents several noteworthy strengths. It incorporates devotional exercises (lectio divina) and suggested activities at the end of each chapter. While unconventional in an academic hermeneutics text, these exercises aim to refocus the interpreter on the essence of the Bible and biblical interpretation—encountering God. Bartholomew aptly contends that the “academic study of the Bible is a gift, but one that can become so stimulating that it becomes an end in itself” (p. 159). By integrating these homiletical readings and exercises alongside academic analysis, the interpreter can achieve a balanced hermeneutical process.The book also emphasizes the importance of approaching biblical interpretation with the objective of encountering God within the text. Often, academic reviews become entrenched in minutiae, distancing the interpreter from God’s message. Bartholomew adeptly concentrates on his triadic approach of literary, historical, and kerygmatic analysis, supported by the threefold hermeneutic of liturgical, ethical, and missional interpretations.Bartholomew exhibits a profound reverence for Scripture, viewing it not merely as a historical relic but as a vibrant and dynamic revelation of God’s truth. His fervor for the Word resonates throughout the text, inspiring readers to approach the Bible with a similar sense of wonder and reverence.Bartholomew’s work is likely to generate discussions and perhaps some criticism. Listening to Scripture leans more toward being a theoretical treatise on biblical interpretation rather than a practical guide for individuals aiming to enhance their understanding of the Bible. Scholars will undoubtedly find Bartholomew’s insights valuable, as they can deepen their appreciation for the Word of God and enhance their ability to engage with it faithfully and effectively. However, novice students may perceive the work as lacking the practical framework necessary to implement the hermeneutical methodology. Therefore, this book might be best utilized as a supplementary resource alongside other practical guides to biblical interpretation.Another potential concern arises from the merging of hermeneutics and homiletics. What exactly falls under the umbrella of biblical interpretation? Some individuals may object to the inclusion of modern cultural elements in the exegetical process, considering this aspect as belonging to homiletics rather than hermeneutics. Conversely, others may view this as a refreshing and logical progression in the interpretative journey.Despite this critique, Craig G. Bartholomew’s Listening to Scripture is an impactful work for anyone interested in biblical interpretation. With its scholarly rigor, practical wisdom, and profound reverence for the Word of God, this book is sure to leave a lasting impact on its readers, guiding them into a deeper and more transformative encounter with the Scriptures.