Re: historically informed interpretation (longish)

From: Carlton Winbery (winberyc@alex1.linknet.net)
Date: Thu Dec 19 1996 - 05:12:20 EST


Carl Conrad wrote;
>I rather think that the biblical text MAY be polyvalent in numerous instances
>--that some texts MAY be legitimately interpreted in more than one way, and
>that some texts even seem to cry out for depth and breadth of
>interpretation. This is precisely why we are grateful for the rich
>resources of scriptural interpretation over the centuries left us by simple
>and learned interpreters alike. We study them, I would think, not primarily
>or solely with a view toward finding at last the one correct interpretation
>of a particular text, but because we rather believe that there is far more
>to be learned from any particular text than we have ever learned thus far,
>or to put it in the language of faith: that God may have more to say to us
>through this text than we have yet been able to discern with the best that
>we have been able to bring to bear upon it.
>
I recall in the Spring of 84 when I preached at the Baptist Church in
Bedford, Eng., they sang a hymn that included the line, "God has so much
more to say." I wish I had made a copy of that hymn.

Carlton L. Winbery
Fogleman Professor of Religion
Louisiana College
winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net
winbery@andria.lacollege.edu
Fax (318) 442-4996
Phone (318) 487-7241



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