In 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, New Testament Professor Dr. Robert L. Plummer tackles the major questions that people ask about reading and understanding the Bible. Questions include: Does the Bible contain error? Do all the commands of the Bible apply today? How do we interpret historical narrative?
Favorite Quotes
- The Bible itself is evidence of one of its main claims – that is, that the God who made the heavens, earth, and sea, and everything in them is a communicator who delights to reveal himself to wayward humans (18).
- Each word in the Bible is the word of a conscious human author and at the same time the exact word that God intends for the revelation of himself (32).
- Canonization is the process of recognizing that inherent authority, not bestowing it from an outside source (57).
- A proper understanding of the author’s original meaning is also fundamental for proper application of the text today (82).
- As you study the Bible more, you will have less need to consult commentaries or study aids for the answers to basic questions (102).
- In order to understand the Bible, one must read it (109).
- Whatever portion of the Bible one is studying, it is important to remember that the person and saving work of Jesus Christ is the ultimate focus of God’s revelation (151).
- If you are the only advocate of an interpretation, it is almost certainly wrong (179).
- Rather, we do such historical and exegetical study to understand the inspired author’s original message so that we might faithfully apply that message in analogous situations today (288).
- One of the greatest needs in the discussion of eschatology is humility (295).
