Divine Interpretation: Studies in Medieval and Modern Hermeneutics

by Thomas F. Torrance, Adam Nigh (Editor), Todd Speidell (Editor)

Overview

By publishing these essays together for the first time, this collection widens access to a number of T. F. Torrance's illuminating studies on the history of biblical hermeneutics. Moreover, by detailing Torrance's extensive engagement with primary sources, which generally appear only in summary form across his writings, this collection reveals to readers how Torrance's own theological hermeneutics were forged through deep fellowship with the communion of the saints.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498243698
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	08/02/2017
Series:	Thomas F. Torrance: Collected Studies , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	236
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Adam Nigh (University of Aberdeen), Bible and Theology Faculty, Valley Christian High School (San Jose, CA), wrote The Depth Dimension: Scripture and Hermeneutics in the Theology of T. F. Torrance as his doctoral dissertation.

 

Todd H. Speidell (Fuller Theological Seminary), Instructor of Theology at Montreat College (Montreat, NC), is the Editor of Participatio: The Journal of the Thomas F. Torrance Theological Fellowship and author of Fully Human in Christ: The Incarnation as the End of Ethics (Wipf & Stock, 2016).
Thomas F. Torrance (1913-2007) was born in China in 1913 to missionary parents. For nearly thirty years until his retirement in 1979 he was Professor of Christian Dogmatics ("Systematic Theology") at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. A prolific writer on many topics, he has published numerous books and papers on the "Philosophy of Theology" dealing with the epistemology of theological concepts and with the relation of theology to natural science. In 1976-77 Torrance served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and in 1978 he was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.
Adam Nigh (University of Aberdeen), Bible and Theology Faculty, Valley Christian High School (San Jose, CA), wrote The Depth Dimension: Scripture and Hermeneutics in the Theology of T. F. Torrance as his doctoral dissertation.

 

Todd H. Speidell (Fuller Theological Seminary), Instructor of Theology at Montreat College (Montreat, NC), is the Editor of Participatio: The Journal of the Thomas F. Torrance Theological Fellowship and author of Fully Human in Christ: The Incarnation as the End of Ethics (Wipf & Stock, 2016).
Todd Speidell (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is Editor of Participatio: The Journal of the Thomas F. Torrance Theological Fellowship, General Editor of The Ray S. Anderson Collection (Wipf&Stock), and Instructor of Theology at Montreat College.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments vii

Introduction: The History of Hermeneutics according to T. R Torrance 1

Part 1 Foundations for the History of Hermeneutics 10

1 Biblical Hermeneutics and General Hermeneutics 11

2 The Complex Background of Biblical Interpretation 20

3 Karl Barth and the Latin Heresy 44

Part 2 Medieval and Modern Hermeneutics 68

4 The Place of Word and Truth in Theological Inquiry according to St Anselm 69

5 Scientific Hermeneutics according to St Thomas Aquinas 97

6 The Hermeneutics of John Reuchlin, 1455-1522 132

7 The Hermeneutics of Erasmus 151

8 Hermeneutics according to F.D.E. Schleiermacher 180

9 Karl Barth, Theologian of the Word 191

General Index 225

Scripture Index 227

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“An invaluable resource for any serious student of Torrance, bringing together a rich and rewarding collection of his essays. Highly recommended.”

—Alister McGrath, University of Oxford



“It is not too much to say that without a proper hermeneutics shaped by the unique nature of its object, theology would be lost. This impressive collection of essays from Thomas F. Torrance helpfully gathers together many of his most important writings on the subject displaying an amazing grasp of history and theology. Familiar themes emerge: the important connection between the incarnation and atonement, the nature of scientific knowledge of God as knowledge grounded in God and personally conveyed through his Word and Spirit by grace through faith, and more. But the really important impression that this book will convey to its readers is the way Torrance’s own thinking is not only shaped by Scripture but by the early church Fathers, and especially by Calvin and Barth. There are contextual discussions of just how Calvin related experience and knowledge of God that will illuminate Torrance’s own important discussions of the Trinity and Christology. This is a book that Torrance scholars and theologians interested in Reformation history, as it relates to Augustine and Mediaeval theology generally, will want to read.”

—Paul Molnar, St. John’s University, Queens, New York



“T. F. Torrance’s extensive studies on the history of hermeneutics deserve to remain important reading for students of theology and scriptural interpretation. This volume presents a very valuable collection of some of Torrance’s most significant texts in the field, set out somewhat after the fashion of the ambitious general history of hermeneutics which he originally envisioned as corollary to his work on theological epistemology and Christian doctrine. For all who wish to gain an understanding of Torrance’s provocative ways of reading historical theology and its legacies, this book is an essential asset.”

—Ivor J. Davidson, University of Aberdeen



“One might think a work on hermeneutics would be mired in stodgy prose and consumed with literary and secular hermeneutical theory. This volume exhibits neither tendency. Hermeneutics for Torrance is Christology in another key, and that means his hermeneutics is distinctly Christian. As we have come to expect from Torrance, the tradition is examined (here especially significant late medieval thinkers, Reformers, and of course Karl Barth) not merely for its own sake but for the cause of following the mind of the catholic Church in order to make clear what it means for Christ to be the Truth and the one who fully reveals God. Gathered together in one accessible volume, the editors have done a service to the church with these carefully chosen essays which form a companion volume of sorts to Torrance’s earlier study in hermeneutics, Divine Meaning, which explored the patristic consensus.”

—Myk Habets, Carey Baptist College



“T. F. Torrance’s writings on the history of biblical hermeneutics deserve to be much more widely known than they presently are, for they have a great deal to teach both academic theologians and members of the church. These collected essays put some important texts within easy reach and provide all who care about biblical interpretation with a great deal of food for thought.”

—Darren Sarisky, Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford

Editorial Reviews

An invaluable resource for any serious student of Torrance, bringing together a rich and rewarding collection of his essays. Highly recommended.”

—Alister McGrath, University of Oxford



“It is not too much to say that without a proper hermeneutics shaped by the unique nature of its object, theology would be lost. This impressive collection of essays from Thomas F. Torrance helpfully gathers together many of his most important writings on the subject displaying an amazing grasp of history and theology. Familiar themes emerge: the important connection between the incarnation and atonement, the nature of scientific knowledge of God as knowledge grounded in God and personally conveyed through his Word and Spirit by grace through faith, and more. But the really important impression that this book will convey to its readers is the way Torrance’s own thinking is not only shaped by Scripture but by the early church Fathers, and especially by Calvin and Barth. There are contextual discussions of just how Calvin related experience and knowledge of God that will illuminate Torrance’s own important discussions of the Trinity and Christology. This is a book that Torrance scholars and theologians interested in Reformation history, as it relates to Augustine and Mediaeval theology generally, will want to read.”

—Paul Molnar, St. John’s University, Queens, New York



“T. F. Torrance’s extensive studies on the history of hermeneutics deserve to remain important reading for students of theology and scriptural interpretation. This volume presents a very valuable collection of some of Torrance’s most significant texts in the field, set out somewhat after the fashion of the ambitious general history of hermeneutics which he originally envisioned as corollary to his work on theological epistemology and Christian doctrine. For all who wish to gain an understanding of Torrance’s provocative ways of reading historical theology and its legacies, this book is an essential asset.”

—Ivor J. Davidson, University of Aberdeen



“One might think a work on hermeneutics would be mired in stodgy prose and consumed with literary and secular hermeneutical theory. This volume exhibits neither tendency. Hermeneutics for Torrance is Christology in another key, and that means his hermeneutics is distinctly Christian. As we have come to expect from Torrance, the tradition is examined (here especially significant late medieval thinkers, Reformers, and of course Karl Barth) not merely for its own sake but for the cause of following the mind of the catholic Church in order to make clear what it means for Christ to be the Truth and the one who fully reveals God. Gathered together in one accessible volume, the editors have done a service to the church with these carefully chosen essays which form a companion volume of sorts to Torrance’s earlier study in hermeneutics, Divine Meaning, which explored the patristic consensus.”

—Myk Habets, Carey Baptist College



“T. F. Torrance’s writings on the history of biblical hermeneutics deserve to be much more widely known than they presently are, for they have a great deal to teach both academic theologians and members of the church. These collected essays put some important texts within easy reach and provide all who care about biblical interpretation with a great deal of food for thought.”

—Darren Sarisky, Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford

From the Publisher