About this item
Highlights
- In this practical book written with the non-specialist in mind, Manfred Brauch identifies and corrects a number of basic errors that interpret and apply biblical texts in ways that distort their meaning and message.
- About the Author: Manfred T. Brauch (Ph.D., McMaster University) is retired professor of biblical theology and past president of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- 293 Pages
- Religion + Beliefs, Biblical Studies
Description
About the Book
In this practical book written with the non-specialist in mind, Manfred Brauch identifies and corrects a number of basic errors that interpret and apply biblical texts in ways that distort their meaning and message. Chapters explore issues of context, genre, consistency, author intent and more, addressing not just the act of interpretation, but also the attitudes behind the ways we choose to apply Scripture.
Book Synopsis
In this practical book written with the non-specialist in mind, Manfred Brauch identifies and corrects a number of basic errors that interpret and apply biblical texts in ways that distort their meaning and message. Chapters explore issues of context, genre, consistency, author intent and more, addressing not just the act of interpretation, but also the attitudes behind the ways we choose to apply Scripture.
Review Quotes
Abusing Scripture offers a sixfold taxonomy of ways evangelicals are guilty of "doing violence to" Scripture. Throughout his discussion of this taxonomy, Brauch returns to three illustrations of these kinds of abuses in practice. Brauch avoids low-hanging fruit with his choice of examples. Instead, he focuses on attitudes and practices that are deeply entrenched in the evangelical community: its relfexive patriotism and knee-jerk support for America's wars, its still-too-common defense of patriarchy, and its privelging of evangelism over social concern.
"Abusing Scripture calls into question both the easy assumption of the Reformed emphasis on the perspicuity of Scripture and the presumption that those who declare the Bible to be the infallible or even inerrant Word of God will agree about what it teaches and illustrates. What it proves instead is that 'rightly dividing the word of truth' is a difficult and contentious matter--a matter demanding close attention to historical, literary and theological context; intention; and even the nature of language itself. Still the stakes are worth the effort. Too much rides on getting right the original meaning and present application. Professor Manfred Brauch not only helps Bible readers to identify the troubling issues but also provides a way of dealing with them."
"Manfred Brauch defends the Bible the way one defends a lion: by simply letting it out of its cage. Once out, it can take care of itself quite well, thank you. But there are those who would cage the Bible with obscurantist, selective and bowdlerized readings. And worse, they are the Bible's friends, not its avowed enemies. Like dysfunctional families, they abuse the one they think they love. Brauch loves the Bible, and he uses his considerable skill as a scholar to invite us once more to really hear the Lion roar."
A useful edition to a church or an academic library.
I strongly recommend Dr. Brauch's book for those with the terrifying task of daring to try to teach God's truth to others.
About the Author
Manfred T. Brauch (Ph.D., McMaster University) is retired professor of biblical theology and past president of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the author of Set Free to Be and Hard Sayings of Paul and a contributor to Hard Sayings of the Bible.