Topic
Exegesis
About: Exegesis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3017 publications have been published within this topic receiving 25212 citations. The topic is also known as: Bible interpretation.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
More filters
TL;DR: In a recent collection of essays by Dale C Allison and Ulrich Luz, the authors, the focus was on the history of interpretation of Matthew's Gospel and its history in the context of exegetical history.
Abstract: (ProQuest Information and Learning: denotes non-USASCII text omitted) Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present, by Dale C Allison, Jr Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005 Pp 288 $3499 (hardcover) ISBN 0801027918 Studies in Matthew, by Ulrich Luz Translated by Rosemary Selle Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005 Pp 397 $3000 (paper) ISBN 0802839649 These recently published collections of essays by Dale Allison and Ulrich Luz display the significant interest in historical-critical issues, the history of interpretation, and the narrative, synchronie dimensions of Matthew's Gospel found in their commentaries AlIison's essays are either new or significantly revised, whereas most of Luz's are English translations of prior work Allison divides his thirteen essays into "The Exegetical Past" (Part I), consisting of six new pieces, and "Literary and Historical Studies" (Part II), consisting of three new and four revised essays The essays in Part I generally provide substantive discussions of exegetical history involving both giants like Chrysostom and lesser-known figures like Cosmas Indicopleustas Allisoris mastery extends also to Reformation and post-Reformation theologians and scholars as well as figures from other fields such as English author Thomas de Quincey (1785-1859) Allison's references are intrinsic to his arguments and often aid in subverting unhelpful interpretive assumptions The results are fresh, compelling readings of selected Matthean texts Further, Allison displays newfound postmodern interpretive sensibilities In "The Magi's Angel (Matt 2:2, 9-1O)," Allison maintains that one should not understand the star of Matt 2:2 as a heavenly phenomenon, as does most modern exegesis Exegetical history largely excludes this option in light of the star's odd behavior Positively, ancient interpretation explains Matthew's star: "Quite simply, Matthew's idea of a star was not our idea of a star" (21); ancient texts relating and equating angels and stars support the conclusion that "the guiding star was a guiding angel" (29) In "seeing God (Matt 5:8)," Allison draws on exegetical history to investigate the neglected phrase "they will see God," concluding that "[Matthew] and his early readers probably hoped one day to share the experience of the angels in heaven and to see a somatic God face to face" (61)-a reading counterintuitive to modern interpreters Allison's interest, however, is here less exegetical and more theological and theoretical Allison concludes with a section entitled "The Theological Value of Exegetical History," in which he sounds positively postmodern First, exegetical history shows that a verse is "only a station on the way" whose "full meaning can only be pondered by retracing the paths that led to it and by uncovering the paths that have gone out from it" (61) Second, that readers are situated means that interpretations are constantly changing; the plain sense may supply a modicum of interpretive certitude, but "we may be equally grateful that such stability does not prevent the ceaseless and creative reapplication of the Scriptures, from which we can bring forth treasures new as well as old" (62) Third, multiple meanings need not be mutually exclusive Fourth, revelation is a process-given the first three points, "it makes little sense to confine revelation to the words on a biblical page Exegetical history in its entirety rather confronts us with an ongoing, evolving divine disclosure" (63) Coming from the de facto author of the ICC commentary on Matthew (with W D Davies, The Gospel according to Saint Matthew, 3 vols; ICC; Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1988-97) and a heretofore fervent defender of the historical-critical paradigm, this chapter signals a significant change in course The third essay, "Murder and Anger, Cain and Abel (Matt 5:21-25)," is less theoretical but equally intriguing Allison draws on inter- and intratextual connections to contend that this passage "is designed to send informed readers back to Gen …
26 citations
Book•
01 Nov 1997
TL;DR: In this paper, Trebolle Barrera presents an overview of our current knowledge on the history of the Bible, divided into three parts, showing how the collections of canonical and apocryphal books were formed, explains the transmission and translation of the Biblical texts and describes biblical interpretation in Judaism and Christianity.
Abstract: This wide-ranging handbook presents an overview of our current knowledge on the history of the Bible. Divided into three parts, it shows how the collections of canonical and apocryphal books were formed, explains the transmission and translation of the Biblical texts and describes biblical interpretation in Judaism and Christianity. Incorporating the immense amount of information that has become available since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the author sets out to bridge the gaps between widely different areas and trends in the field of Biblical Studies: canonical and apocryphal literature, written and oral traditions, rabbinic and Christian exegesis and modern critical exegesis, and literal and allegorical interpretation, among others. Uniquely, Trebolle Barrera also looks at the Wirkungsgeschichte of the Bible in relation to the Greek and Roman world, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. Scholars, students and interested lay persons alike will benefit from the wealth of general information found here as well as detailed discussion on many topics currently under debate, from the significance of Qumran to the influence of the Semitic and Greek world on Christianity.
26 citations