The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers (Abner Chou)

The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers

Learning to Interpret Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles

Hermeneutic is indispensable for understanding Scripture, constructing theology, and living the Christian life, but most contemporary hermeneutical systems fail to acknowledge the principles and practices of the biblical writers themselves.

Christians today cannot employ a truly biblical view of the Bible unless they understand why the prophets and apostles interpreted Scripture the way they did. To this end, Abner Chou proposes a hermeneutic of obedience, in which believers learn to interpret Scripture the way the biblical authors did—including understanding the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament.

Chou first unfolds the “prophetic hermeneutic” of the Old Testament authors, and demonstrates the continuity of this approach with the apostolic hermeneutic of the New Testament authors. This forms the foundation upon which believers today must build their own interpretive practices.

Contents

1. The Quest for Authorial Logic
2. Groundwork for the Quest: Presuppositions and Method
3. The Prophetic Hermeneutic: The Prophet as Exegete and Theologian
4. The Prophetic Hermeneutic: Did the Prophets Speak Better than they knew, or Better than we give them Credit for?
5. The Apostolic Hermeneutic: Continuity with the Prophets
6. The Apostolic Hermeneutic: The Theological Fabric of the New Testament
7. Christian Hermeneutic: Reading as they Read and Intended
8. Scripture’s Sophistication: First Theologians, and the Hermeneutics of Surrender

Bibliography

Endorsements

“Abner Chou undertakes the bold and dynamic challenge of understanding and embracing the interpretive perspective of the biblical authors.  Join him in the venture. See with new eyes. Understand the Bible. Have it change your life.”

— James M. Hamilton, Professor of Biblical Theology, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and pastor of Kenwood Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky

“By comprehensive knowledge of the details that yield the true interpretation of biblical texts from Genesis to Revelation; by clear grasp of the progressive nature of Divine revelation; and by masterful insight into the flow of redemptive history and biblical theology, Chou provides a new clarity on the unity and continuity and prophetic and apostolic hermeneutics.  This is a book that should be in the hands of every Christian who takes God’s Word seriously.”

— John MacArthur, Pastor-teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California

About the Author

Abner Chou is Professor of New Testament and Greek at The Master’s Seminary, Santa Clarita, California.  He is the author of a commentary on Lamentations and the book I Saw the Lord: A Biblical Theology of Vision.