The Theory and Practice of Biblical Hermeneutics

How to gain the meaning and application of a text is paramount for anyone dealing with written documents, be they legal documents, sacred documents, personal letters, poetry, or any kind of literature. Though the genre of writings varies, each must be interpreted according to established rules that govern the conveyance of information within the human community. This is especially true in reference to the Bible, which claims to be the very words of God to humanity. The different authors of Scripture sought to communicate messages from the Creator to their audiences within the temporal and cultural setting in which they wrote, and did so through prophetic pronouncements, historical accounts, wonderful poetry, and personal and ecclesial letters. This volume celebrates the efforts of Dr. Elliott E. Johnson, who has spent the majority of his academic life teaching biblical interpretation within a framework heavily influenced by the hermeneutical model of E. D. Hirsch, Jr. Several students and friends of Dr. Johnson have written essays in The Theory & Practice of Biblical Hermeneutics to honor him for his fruitful work.