Education or Imitation? Bible Interpretation for Dummies Like you and me (Curtis Allen)

Education or Imitation?

Bible Interpretation for Dummies Like You and Me

The earthly ministry of Jesus was all about rightly interpreting and applying God’s Word. We can do the same. No special training required. In fact, right interpretation of Scripture, followed by right application, is the primary way that Christians are to be like God. This is not an issue of education. It’s an issue of imitation. The example of Jesus’ life shows us how.

Table of Contents

1) Why Interpretation Matters in Everything: What you don’t know can kill you

2) From the Garden to a Grainfield: A Brief History of Bad Interpretation

3) Jesus the Interpreter: Interpretation is more about Imitation than Education

4) From Interpretation to Application: Jesus, the Pharisees, and the Sabbath

5) From Me-Ology to Theology: Recognizing the Obstacles to Interpretation

Endorsements

“Gritty. Real. Straight. That’s what you’ll find in Curt Allen’s treatment of Bible interpretation, Education or Imitation?  And that is what we need, because airy, heady, abstract works on Bible interpretation fail to do the one thing the’re written for – teach and inspire us to read, interpret and apply the Bible. If you want it straight, read this book.”

— Thabiti Anyabwile, Author, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Cayman

“Curt Allen’s book on interpreting the Bible is wonderfully practical and clear, giving believers basic principles for understanding God’s word. He rightly emphasizes that every believer can understand the Bible. It isn’t necessary to be a scholar or preacher or to know Greek and Hebrew to grasp the Scriptures.  I recommend gladly such an accessible, Christ-centered, and practical book on interpreting the Scriptures.”

— Thomas R. Schreiner, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky