- Table View
- List View
Interpretations of Greek Mythology (Routledge Revivals)
by Jan N. BremmerInterpretations of Greek Mythology, first published in1987, builds on the innovative work of Walter Burkert and the ‘Paris school’ of Jean-Pierre Vernant, and represents a renewal of interpretation of Greek mythology. The contributors to this volume present a variety of approaches to the Greek myths, all of which eschew a monolithic or exclusively structuralist hermeneutic method. Specifically, the notion that mythology can simply be read as a primitive mode of narrative history is rejected, with emphasis instead being placed on the relationships between mythology and history, ritual and political genealogy. The essays concentrate on some of the best known characters and themes – Oedipus, Orpheus, Narcissus – reflecting the complexity and fascination of the Greek imagination. The volume will long remain an indispensable tool for the study of Greek mythology, and it is of great interest to anyone interested in the development of Greek culture and civilisation and the nature of myth.
Interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita and Images of the Hindu Tradition: The Song of the Lord
by Catherine A. RobinsonThe Bhagavad-Gita is probably the most popular - and certainly the most frequently quoted and widely studied - work of the Hindu scriptures. This book investigates the relationship between the various interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita and the Hindu tradition. Taking into account a range of influential Indian and western thinkers to illustrate trends in writing about the Bhagavad-Gita including Western academic; Indian activist; Christian theological; Hindu universalist; perennialist mystical and contemporary experiental accounts. Examining the ideas of such influential figures as F Max Muller, M K Ghandi, Bede Griffiths, Swami Vivekananda, Aldous Huxley and Swami Bhakivedanta, this book demonstrates the inextricable link between different interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita and images of the Hindu tradition. This accessible book aptly demonstrates the relevance of the Bhagavad-Gita for an understanding of Hinduism as a modern phenomenon.
Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature: An Exegetical Handbook (Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis)
by Richard A. TaylorAn appreciation for the rich diversity of literary genres in Scripture is one of the positive features of evangelical scholarship in recent decades.—-David M. Howard Jr., series editorAt one time, Old Testament apocalyptic literature was relegated to the more obscure reaches of biblical scholarship, acceptable to occasionally refer to, but too thorny to delve into deeply. However, in recent decades it has moved to the forefront of research. The rich veins of insight to be mined in the book of Daniel and other apocalyptic texts are being rediscovered. Richard A. Taylor has crafted a handbook to explore those riches and uncover a way to understand apocalyptic literature more fully.Taylor begins with a helpful introduction to the genre; surveys the purpose, message, and primary themes of Old Testament apocalyptic literature; and then discusses critical questions and key works for further study. He also provides guidelines for interpreting apocalyptic texts, followed by Old Testament passages that serve to illustrate those guidelines.While primarily written for pastors and graduate students, Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature is nonetheless accessible to those who simply want to study the texts more deeply than previously possible.
Interpreting Charles Taylor’s Social Theory on Religion and Secularization
by Germán MckenzieThis book examines "Taylorean social theory," its sources, main characteristics and impact. Charles Taylor's meta-narrative of secularization in the West, prominently contained in his major work A Secular Age (2007), has brought new insight on the social and cultural factors that intervened in such process, the role of human agency, and particularly on the contemporary conditions of belief in North America and Europe. This study discusses what Taylor's approach has brought to the scholarly debate on Western secularization, which has been carried on mostly in sociological terms. McKenzie interprets Taylor's views in a way that offers an original social theory. Such interpretation is possible with the help of sociologist Margaret Archer's "morphogenetic theory" and by making the most of Taylor's particular understanding of the method of the social sciences and of his philosophical views on human beings, knowledge and modernity. After exploring the philosophical and sociological sources informing Taylorean social theory and proposing its basic concepts and hermeneutic guidelines, the author compares it with two widespread theories of secularization: the now waning "orthodox" account and that proposed by Rational Choice Theory scholars, particularly prevalent in the United States. In doing so, the book shows in which ways Taylorean social theory supersedes them, what new issues it brings into the scholarly discussion, and what difficulties might limit its future development.
Interpreting Devotion: The Poetry and Legacy of a Female Bhakti Saint of India (Routledge Hindu Studies Series)
by Karen PechilisDevotion is a category of expression in many of the world’s religious traditions. This book looks at issues involved in academically interpreting religious devotion, as well as exploring the interpretations of religious devotion made by a sixth century poet, a twelfth century biographer, and present-day festival publics. The book focuses on the female poet-saint Kāraikkāl Ammaiyār, whose poetry is devotional in nature. It discusses the biography written on the poet six centuries after her lifetime, and suggests ways of interpreting Kāraikkāl Ammaiyār’s poetry without using the categories and events promoted by her biographer, in order to engage her own thoughts as they are communicated through the poetry attributed to her. In the same way that the biographer made the poet ‘speak’ to his present day, the book looks at how festivals held today make both the poetry and the biography relevant to the present day. By discussing how poetry, story and festival provide distinctive yet overlapping interpretations of the saint, this book reveals the selections and priorities of interpreters in the making of a living tradition. It is an accessible contribution to students and scholars of religion, Indian history and women’s studies.
Interpreting Islam, Modernity, And Women’s Rights In Pakistan
by Anita M. WeissIn Pakistan, myriad constituencies are grappling with reinterpreting women's rights. This book analyzes the Government of Pakistan's construction of an understanding of what constitutes women's rights, moves on to address traditional views and contemporary popular opinion on women's rights, and then focuses on three very different groups' perceptions of women's rights: progressive women's organizations as represented by the Aurat Foundation and Shirkat Gah; orthodox Islamist views as represented by the Jama'at-i-Islami, the MMA government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2002-08) and al-Huda; and the Swat Taliban. Author Anita M. Weiss analyzes the resultant "culture wars" that are visibly ripping the country apart, as groups talk past one another - each confidant that they are the proprietors of culture and interpreters of religion while others are misrepresenting it.
Interpreting Jesus
by Dale C. Allison Jr.Timely new essays from a renowned scholar of historical Jesus studies Dale Allison, Jr. has long been recognized as a leading scholar in historical Jesus studies. In Interpreting Jesus, he continues to advance the discussion with the expertise and insight for which he is renowned. Within these highly original essays, Allison explores questions related to Jesus and women, Jesus and miracles, Jesus and Moses, Jesus and the last things, and method in Jesus scholarship. His sound analysis is particularly timely as scholars reconsider the historical figure of Jesus and the relationships among the canonical gospels. Allison&’s keen interest in developing fresh perspectives make this book an important contribution to the field; readers can be grateful that, as he puts it, &“enduring curiosity has kept me pondering the historical Jesus.&”
Interpreting Jesus: Essays on the Gospels (Collected Essays of N. T. Wright #2)
by N. T. WrightDraws together the most important articles on Jesus and the gospels by distinguished scholar and author N. T. Wright. Interpreting Jesus puts into one volume the development of Wright's thought on this subject over the last three decades. It collects the essays—written for a wide variety of publications—that led up to his groundbreaking book Jesus and the Victory of God, and it includes such wide-ranging themes as:The Biblical Roots of Trinitarian TheologyThe History, Eschatology, and New Creation in John's GospelThe Evangelists' Use of the Old Testament as an Implicit Overarching NarrativeAnd The Public Meaning of the GospelsInterpreting Jesus displays Wright's engaging prose, his courage to go where few have gone, and his joy to bridge the work of the academy and the church.Here is a rich feast for any serious student of the Bible, especially of the New Testament. Detailed, incisive, and exquisitely nuanced exegesis, this collection will reward you with a clearer, deeper, and more informed appreciation of the recent advances in Jesus studies, and their significance for theology today.Many of the included studies have never been published or were made available only in hard-to-find larger volumes and journals.
Interpreting Old Testament Wisdom Literature: Literature And Themes
by David G. Firth Lindsay WilsonChristopher B. AnsberryCraig G. BartholomewLennart BoströmRos ClarkeKatharine J. DellDavid G. FirthGregory GoswellErnest C. LucasBrittany N. MeltonSimon StocksLindsay Wilson
Interpreting Paul: Essays on the Apostle and His Letters (Collected Essays of N. T. Wright #3)
by N. T. WrightDraws together the most important articles on Paul and his letters by distinguished scholar and author N. T. Wright. Interpreting Paul puts into one volume Wright's most important articles on the Apostle over the last six years. It collects the essays—written for a wide variety of publications—that further his detailed reflections on Paul since the publication of his magisterial Paul and the Faithfulness of God, including such diverse investigations as:How and Why Paul Invented 'Christian Theology'How Greek was Paul's Eschatology?Paul and Missional HermeneuticsThe Challenge of Fraternity in PaulInterpreting Paul displays Wright's engaging prose, his courage to go where few have gone, and his joy to bridge the work of the academy and the church.Here is a rich feast for any serious student of the Bible, especially of the New Testament. Detailed, incisive, and exquisitely nuanced exegesis, this collection will reward you with a clearer, deeper, and more informed appreciation of Paul and the relevance of his teaching to Christian life and thought today.Many of the included studies have never been published or were made available only in hard-to-find larger volumes and journals.
Interpreting Paul: The Canonical Paul, volume 2
by Luke Timothy Johnson&“For me, Paul has always been the most difficult and therefore also most delightful advocate and interpreter of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the human experience of God&’s transforming power through Christ. In Paul&’s letters above all I have found the quality of mind and the depth of conviction that could arouse in me both excitement and passion. And it is Paul&’s letters, above all, that show how important and difficult is life together in the church.&”— from the preface With the contextual framework in place from volume one of The Canonical Paul, Luke Timothy Johnson now probes each of the thirteen biblical letters traditionally attributed to the apostle Paul in a way that balances respect for historical integrity with attention to present-day realities. In doing so, Johnson reforges the connection between biblical studies and the life of the church, seeking to establish once again the foundational and generative role that the thirteen letters of Paul have had among Christians for centuries.Far from being a &“definitive theology&” of Paul, or an oversimplified synthesis, Interpreting Paul provides glimpses into various moments of Paul&’s thinking and teaching that we find in Scripture, modeling how one might read his letters closely for fresh, creative interpretations now and into the future. Approached in this way, both in minute detail and as a whole canon, Paul&’s letters yield rich insights, and his voice becomes accessible to all readers of the Bible.
Interpreting Prophetic Literature
by James D. NogalskiExegeting a text--burrowing deep into its history, language, and literary structure--is an indispensable skill for any serious student of the Bible. Given their theological richness and poetic power, the prophetic texts of the Hebrew Bible would seem to be prime candidates for exegetical examination, but they often pose difficulty. In this book, James Nogalski offers solid, practical guidance on how to read and exegete a prophetic text in its literary, historical, and conceptual contexts. Assuming no prior knowledge of Hebrew, Nogalski devises an exegetical method that focuses on the distinctive elements of prophetic literature, rather than on the narrative material one finds in practically all introductions to exegesis. He provides clear examples for understanding poetic texts, prophetic genres, changing voices, and other important aspects of these texts. This book offers essential tools to help readers navigate the particular challenges and opportunities of interpreting the prophets.
Interpreting Religion: The Phenomenological Approaches of Pierre Daniel Chantepie De La Saussaye, W. Brede Kristensen, and Gerardus Van Der Leeuw
by George Alfred JamesThe nature of what has been termed the ""phenomenology of religion"" has been the subject of controversy and confusion within the academic study of religion since the early 1950s. Here George Alfred James attempts to clarify the subject through an exploration of the self-understanding of three of its key exponents: Pierre D#65533; Niel Chantepie de la Saussaye, W. Brede Kristensen, and Gerardus van der Leeuw. <p><p> Though the three are widely acknowledged to have had a decisive impact on the phenomenology of religion, they are not widely studied. James deals with each of the three in turn and shows how each saw his efforts as at once a-historical, a-theological, and anti-reductive. According to James, this family of phenomenological approaches can contribute a wealth of insight to the study of religion today. The author offers a groundbreaking challenge to the received image of the phenomenology of religion as an approach of merely historical interest. He shows that phenomenology of religion is not a development or application of the philosophical method initiated by Edmund Husserl, but an approach to religion that has its own claim to authenticity as a discipline distinct from theology, from the history of religions, and from contemporary social scientific approaches to religion. <p><p> Phenomenology of religion is revealed to be a radical departure from contemporary efforts to understand the religious dimension of human nature and culture. Interpreting Religion reveals how the exponents of the phenomenology of religion were concerned with avoiding doctrinaire interpretations on the one hand and reductionism on the other, and explains their varying strategies for achieving this goal. It also shows how successive efforts toward a phenomenological approach to religion have addressed the weaknesses, and built upon the insights, of earlier efforts of this nature. The book advocates a reexamination of the phenomenology of religion in the light of recent developments in post-modern theology, literary criticism, and philosophy. George Alfred James lives in Denton, Texas, where he is associate professor of philosophy and religion studies at the University of North Texas. He has contributed articles to a variety of publications, including The Journal of Religion and The Encyclopedia of Religion.
Interpreting Scripture: Essays on the Bible and Hermeneutics (Collected Essays of N. T. Wright #1)
by N. T. WrightDraws together the most important articles on Scripture and hermeneutics by distinguished scholar and author N. T. Wright. Interpreting Scripture brings together into one volume Wright's self-selected, key lectures, papers, and reflections on topics of scriptural interpretation, including:The Lord's Prayer as a Paradigm of Christian PrayerChristian Origins and the Question of GodFaith, Virtue, Justification, and the Journey to FreedomRevelation and Christian Hope: Political Implications of the Revelation to JohnApocalyptic and the Sudden Fulfilment of Divine Promise…and many more.Interpreting Scripture displays Wright's engaging prose, his courage to go where few have gone, and his joy to bridge the work of the academy and the church. Here is a rich feast for any serious student of the Bible, especially of the New Testament. Detailed, incisive, and exquisitely nuanced exegesis, this collection will reward you with a clearer, deeper, and more informed appreciation of Scripture and its application to Christian life and thought today.Many of the included studies have never been published or were made available only in hard-to-find larger volumes and journals.
Interpreting Scriptures in Judaism, Christianity and Islam
by Rita Copeland Jon Whitman Cohen, Mordechai Z. and Bar-Asher, Meir M. and Copeland, Rita and Berlin, Adele Whitman, Jon Mordechai Z. Cohen Adele Berlin Bar-Asher, Meir M.This comparative study traces Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptural interpretation from antiquity to modernity, with special emphasis on the pivotal medieval period. It focuses on three areas: responses in the different faith traditions to tensions created by the need to transplant scriptures into new cultural and linguistic contexts; changing conceptions of the literal sense and its importance vis-à-vis non-literal senses, such as the figurative, spiritual, and midrashic; and ways in which classical rhetoric and poetics informed - or were resisted in - interpretation. Concentrating on points of intersection, the authors bring to light previously hidden aspects of methods and approaches in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This volume opens new avenues for interdisciplinary analysis and will benefit scholars and students of biblical studies, religious studies, medieval studies, Islamic studies, Jewish studies, comparative religions, and theory of interpretation.
Interpreting The Bible: Approaching The Text In Preparation For Preaching (Elements Of Preaching)
by Mary Foskett O. AllenThis volume provides preaching students and clergy with introductory knowledge of current approaches and methods in biblical studies, familiarity with the questions and aims that pertain to them, and facility with various methods of biblical exegesis. Approaches to biblical interpretation are then examined in light of the questions and concerns that arise specifically in the context of preaching. Methods of biblical interpretation are reviewed and explained in succinct fashion and related directly to the dynamics that give rise to the sermon and shape exegesis for sermon preparation, namely, the preacher's engagement with the text, the author's context, and the congregation. This volume enables preachers to approach the biblical text with greater clarity.
Interpreting The Gospel: An Introduction to Preaching
by Ronald J. AllenAllen provides a comprehensive introduction to the art of preaching, covering both hermeneutic concerns and homiletical structure.
Interpreting The New Testament: A Practical Guide (New Testament Message #Vol. 1)
by Daniel J. HarringtonThis introduction to New Testament exegesis helps readers by explaining in a simple and brief way the basic literary methods used in studying the New Testament today: textual criticism, translations, words and motifs, source criticism, form criticism, historical criticism, redaction criticism, and parallels. It is a beginner's book, designed to make explicit some of the procedures now used by the commentators who have had formal exegetical training.
Interpreting The Prophetic Books: An Exegetical Handbook (Handbooks For Old Testament Exegesis)
by Gary Smith David M. HowardA guide for students and pastors to interpret and communicate the messages of the prophetic books well <p><p> Preaching from a prophetic text can be daunting because it can be difficult to place these prophecies in their proper historical setting. The prophets used different literary genres and they often wrote using metaphorical poetry that is unfamiliar to the modern reader. This handbook offers an organized method of approaching a prophecy and preparing a persuasive, biblically based sermon that will draw modern application from the theological principle embedded in the prophetic text.
Interpreting The Times: How God Intersects With Our Lives to Bring Revelation and Understanding
by Chuck D PierceHave you ever noticed how often we use the word “time” in our everyday conversations? Not only are we acutely aware of the passage of time, but our speech is also littered with references to it: We kill and waste time. Time flies, or sometimes it crawls. We refer to time in countless expressions and figures of speech. Chuck Pierce tackles the subject of time specifically as it relates to God and our relationship with Him, addressing some transcendental questions such as, how can we tell when we get “out-of-step” with God’s timing? Pierce moves readers from viewing time as a philosophy or a curse to seeing it as a real gift from God, presenting a new reality of space, time, spirit and truth as they advance through the pages. This book is for everyone who wants to take back their life, take their place above the linear timeline, and learn to live on earth influenced and empowered by an eternal God.
Interpreting al-Tha'labi's Tales of the Prophets: Temptation, Responsibility and Loss (Routledge Studies in the Qur'an)
by Marianna KlarAl-Tha’labi was a renowned Qur’anic scholar of the fifth/eleventh century, and his ‘Ara’is al-majalis is arguably the finest and most widely consulted example of the Islamic qisas al-anbiya’ genre. Drawing on primary Arabic sources, Klar applies modern critical methods in order to explore the nature of al-Tha’labi’s ‘Ara'is al-majalis within its historical and literary context, and thereby produces a compelling examination of the stories of Noah, Job, Saul and David as portrayed in the key historiographical and folkloric texts of the medieval Islamic period. Via a close analysis of the relevant narratives, the book considers a number of universal aspects of the human condition as they are displayed in these tales, from first a religious, then a familial, and finally a social perspective. Touching upon the benefits and limitations of the application of biblical studies and literary motifs to Islamic materials, the book investigates the possibilities of interpretation raised by a primarily psychoanalytical reading of the tales of the four individuals in question. As such, this text will be of great interest to scholars of the biblical prophets, Qur’anic studies, Islamic historiography, folklore and literary criticism.
Interpreting the Bible and the Constitution
by Jaroslav PelikanBoth the Bible and the Constitution have the status of "Great Code," but each of these important texts is controversial as well as enigmatic. They are asked to speak to situations that their authors could not have anticipated on their own. In this book, one of our greatest religious historians brings his knowledge of the history of biblical interpretation to bear on the question of constitutional interpretation. Jaroslav Pelikan compares the methods by which the official interpreters of the Bible and the Constitution - the Christian Church and the Supreme Court, respectively - have approached the necessity of interpreting, and reinterpreting, their important texts. In spite of obvious differences, both texts require close, word-by-word exegesis, an awareness of opinions that have gone before, and a willingness to ask new questions of old codes, Pelikan observes. He probes for answers to the question of what makes something authentically "constitutional" or "biblical," and he demonstrates how an understanding of either biblical interpretation or constitutional interpretation can illuminate the other in important ways. --BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Interpreting the Gospel and Letters of John: An Introduction
by Sherri Brown Francis J. MoloneyAccessible, comprehensive, and up-to-date, Interpreting the Gospel and Letters of John is an ideal text for students new to the discipline of biblical studies. Sherri Brown and Francis J. Moloney present a broad overview of the story of Christianity arising out of its Jewish foundations and proceed to guide readers expertly through the contents of the Gospel and Letters of John. Maintaining that Johannine literature is best understood against the background of the Old Testament covenant metaphor, Brown and Moloney focus on the central role of covenant in the narrative of John's Gospel and highlight the Evangelist's use of fulfillment language. Helpful sidebars, maps, questions for review, and further-reading lists are placed throughout the text, making this volume well suited for classroom use.
Interpreting the Gospel and Letters of John: An Introduction
by Sherri Brown Francis J. MoloneyAccessible, comprehensive, and up-to-date, Interpreting the Gospel and Letters of John is an ideal text for students new to the discipline of biblical studies. Sherri Brown and Francis J. Moloney present a broad overview of the story of Christianity arising out of its Jewish foundations and proceed to guide readers expertly through the contents of the Gospel and Letters of John. Maintaining that Johannine literature is best understood against the background of the Old Testament covenant metaphor, Brown and Moloney focus on the central role of covenant in the narrative of John's Gospel and highlight the Evangelist's use of fulfillment language. Helpful sidebars, maps, questions for review, and further-reading lists are placed throughout the text, making this volume well suited for classroom use.
Interpreting the Historical Books: An Exegetical Handbook (Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis)
by David M. Howard Robert B. ChisholmThe Old Testament displays a remarkable literary and theological unity through a variety of genres. But applying a single, one-size-fits-all method of exegesis can lead to confusion and misunderstanding. A valuable reference tool for students and pastors, the Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis (HOTE) series provides readers with an enhanced understanding of different Old Testament genres and strategies for interpretation. The inaugural volume in the HOTE series, Interpreting the Historical Books begins by exploring the components of narrative-setting, characterization, and plot-and then develops the major theological themes in each of the Old Testament historical books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther). As readers work through Interpreting the Historical Books, they will begin to see and interpret the narrative writings as the writings were intended to be understood. A glossary defining technical words and samples of moving from exegesis to proclamation make this handbook practical and user-friendly.