Contextual Theological Interpretation

“How should Christians from diverse cultural backgrounds read the Bible well in today’s world? What are the criteria for good interpretation that is both scholarly and contextual? Bo Lim understands the issues well and maps the way ahead clearly, thoughtfully, and searchingly. An important book.”

“An informed challenge for the usual practice of the theological interpretation of Scripture (TIS) to embrace the important contributions of global voices. Expansive in its argumentation and irenic in tone, this volume aims to constructively move TIS in a more inclusive and thus more fully theological direction. There is much food for thought here, and incentives for fruitful conversation!”

“Old Testament scholar Bo Lim presents a sweeping and insightful assessment of the current landscape of biblical studies, examining its historical, cultural, political, and theological dimensions. Lim foregrounds the imperative of contextual theological interpretation as crucial to the church’s ongoing mission. The study is both expansive and nuanced—expansive in its exploration of the historical trajectories that have culminated in contemporary approaches to theological interpretation, and nuanced in its critical engagement with a range of models of contextual and theological hermeneutics. Lim ultimately advocates for an integrative model of biblical interpretation, one that is both theologically robust and contextually relevant, while remaining attentive to its inherent limitations. This is a much-welcomed resource in the field of biblical interpretation.”

“Bo Lim shows us what contextual theological interpretation looks like, where both words—context and theology—do work helping Christians faithfully interpret Scripture. Nothing Professor Lim teaches here promises we will always get it right. But following his lead will keep us honest, which—considering the violence we tend to do to Scripture, including the violence we do in the name of Scripture—means a great deal. Smart, wise, remarkably learned, and much needed.”

“This volume wonderfully combines Bo Lim’s broad and deep scholarship with his wisdom and passion as a teacher and minister. These virtues are all on display as he clearly and ardently argues for theological interpretation of Scripture to become more deeply engaged with and attentive to contextual hermeneutics. This book represents a real advance for theological interpreters of Scripture who want to serve the church.”

“A leading advocate for teaching students the significant role of multiple perspectives in biblical interpretation, Bo Lim takes readers on his historical quest—through the intertwining histories of theological interpretation and contextual interpretation—to claim an integrated hermeneutic of the Bible. Although scholars are not Lim’s intended audience, any serious biblical studies student intrigued by the intersection of context, theology, and culture as essentials in the interpretive process will find this timely resource invaluable.”

“Many ministers and seminary students understand the importance of reading the Bible in ways that speak to the multicultural diversity of the church. They struggle, however, to integrate such readings with the historical, literary, and theological study of the Bible. These different approaches are often understood as distinct, with competing claims. In this book, Lim acts as a pastoral and scholarly guide to navigate the various assumptions, goals, and methods of contextual and theological biblical interpretation and to apply both approaches to the reading of the Bible. He helps Christians read the Bible not only for the sake of the church but also to engage the moral and ideological challenges to their faith and bear credible witness in the world. This is a book my students have been longing for, and I will definitely use it in my courses.”

“Lim encourages us to take seriously a certain dissonance: The questions that biblical scholars typically ask are not usually the ones believers in the classroom and in the pew are asking. Involved in these questions is the recognition that contexts—both of authors and readers—matter for biblical and theological interpretation. Lim’s latest volume can help scholars, teachers, and students resolve features of this dissonance for the sake of promoting a more attentive, critical, and reverent way of engaging the sacred texts and traditions of Christianity.”