Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation

by John H. Walton Narrated by Jim Denison

Overview

The church has too often lost its way in reading the Old Testament for lack of sound principles of interpretation. When careless habits get us off track, we can lose sight of what the Bible is really saying, derailing our own spiritual growth and even risking discredit to God's word.



We need a consistent approach to give us confidence as faithful interpreters. In Wisdom for Faithful Reading, trusted Old Testament scholar John Walton lays out his best practices developed over four decades in the classroom. His principles are memorable, practical, and enlightening, including:



¿ The Bible is written for us, but not to us.



¿ Reading the Bible instinctively is not reliable.



¿ More important than what the characters do is what the narrator does with the characters and what God is doing through the characters.



¿ Not everything has a "biblical view."



Along with identifying common missteps, Walton's insights point the way to stay focused on what the Old Testament text communicated to its original audience-and what it has to say for us today. When we submit ourselves to be accountable to the authors' intentions we experience the true authority of Scripture, and faithful reading fuels a faithful life.

Editorial Reviews

Jennifer Brown Jones

"Those who have longed to sit in John Walton's classroom but are unable to do so need look no further. Wisdom for Faithful Reading distills over four decades of his Old Testament research and his reflection on responsible interpretation into a scholarly-yet-accessible volume. Exhibiting his trademark attention to ancient Near Eastern backgrounds, Walton argues for key interpretive principles and the importance of rhetorical strategy and genre in interpreting the Old Testament. His deep respect for biblical authority shines through as he guides teachers and pastors to responsibly interpret the Old Testament in a way that will ultimately equip the church to honor and glorify God."

Nathan MacDonald

"Evangelical pastors and church leaders will appreciate John H. Walton's Wisdom for Faithful Reading. Irenic and thoughtful, Walton introduces principles for how to read the Christian Old Testament faithfully. Anyone who reads this book will come away with a better sense of how to read Scripture and an appreciation for its beauty and richness."

Product Details

BN ID:	2940178409107
Publisher:	EChristian, Inc.
Publication date:	04/25/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

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