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ABSTRACT THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A FRAMEWORK FOR EVANGELICAL BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS Daniel Lane Patterson, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2015 Chairman: Dr. Russell D. Moore This dissertation explores the theological relationship between the Word of God and the kingdom of God as it relates to biblical hermeneutics, arguing that the kingdom of God should function as a central organizing principle in the area of evangelical biblical hermeneutics—as it offers a unified theological vision of the relationship between the Bible, the interpreter, and biblical interpretation and has the explanatory power to inform and enrich evangelical theology at several key points. Chapter 1 introduces the topic of kingdom-focused biblical hermeneutics in the context of its emergence from the evangelical consensus on the kingdom of God. It offers the thesis of this study and highlights the uniqueness of the study—showing how, though much work has been done on the nature of the kingdom, the doctrine of Scripture, and the discipline of biblical hermeneutics, this project joins all three showing how each are interrelated and enriched by a thoroughgoing interaction with the kingdom of God. Chapter 2 examines the relationship between kingdom and Scripture. It explores the way in which the kingdom of God is a central theme in Scripture, the way in which Scripture functions to bring about the kingdom, and how integrating kingdom thought can enrich an evangelical doctrine of Scripture, especially with respect to Scripture’s authority, sufficiency, and trustworthiness. Chapter 3 considers the impact of the kingdom of God on the interpreter, standing in need as he is of redemption and renewal. Because both interpretation and the interpreter of Scripture are marred by sin, the redemption wrought through the victory of the kingdom has distinct implications for how one approaches the Bible in interpretation, especially with respect to one’s understanding of the impact of sin on the hermeneutic process, the nature of obedience in the interpretation of Scripture, the renewal of the interpreter, and the ecclesial context of interpretation. Chapter 4 discusses the relationship between the kingdom and the process of interpretation itself. It explores and evaluates a number of current approaches to biblical hermeneutics so as to show how a kingdom focus can inform and enhance these models. Additionally, this chapter argues that the kingdom forms the shape of Scripture and the act of interpretation, and also conceives of the interpretive task as an act of kingdom warfare. As such, it carries implications for the way the interpreter conceives of authorial intention, meaning, public and private reading, exegesis, and application. Chapter 5 concludes the study by summarizing the arguments of the dissertation and offering possibilities for future study. It reaffirms the importance of the kingdom focus this study proposes and suggests ways that biblical hermeneutics and evangelical theology can benefit from further research on the centrality of the kingdom of God in biblical and systematic theology.

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This dissertation analyzes Rick Warren's hermeneutic based on his writings, conferences, sermons, and Bible studies. Chapter 1 introduces the topic giving special attention to Warren's popularity and the need for an examination of his hermeneutic. Chapter 2 demonstrates that Warren's purpose-driven hermeneutic is based on his understanding of the purpose of the Bible. In particular, Warren's doctrine of the Bible, his Bible study methodology, and his emphasis on the essential nature of application to the task of Bible interpretation are addressed. Chapter 3 examines Warren's preaching as a source for evaluating his hermeneutic. This chapter gives an explanation of his verse-with-verse methodology and how he uses Scripture to develop sermon series, individual messages, and the preaching points within his messages. Chapter 4 addresses Warren's hermeneutic as it is revealed in his writings and conferences. The chapter focuses on The Purpose Driven Church and its associated conference and materials, The Purpose Driven Life and the various Bible studies associated with the "40 Days of Purpose," and Warren's other books. Chapter 5 is devoted to Warren's use of translations and paraphrases as key to understanding his hermeneutic. An overall list of translations and paraphrases used by Warren is given along with a statistical analysis of the frequency of translation usage in his various works. A final chapter offers a conclusion to the study. An evaluation of overall trends, strengths, and weakness of Warren's purpose-driven hermeneutic is included. This chapter also gives a summary of the conclusions that the research has supported and an examination of some implications of Warren's hermeneutic to the greater field of church growth preaching. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

D.Litt. et Phil. / Studies in hermeneutics have largely focused on hermeneutical method and the application of such methods; however, the significance of hermeneutical method in the actual exegetical process has received limited attention, particularly as it relates to the preaching event. It is necessary to examine the significance of hermeneutical method at two levels; namely, the theoretical and the practical levels. In considering the theoretical understanding, it is argued that there are seven broad categories of proposed influencing factors in the practical exegetical process; these being: 1) lntrapersonal, deriving from the person ofthe exegete. 2) Spiritual, deriving from the spiritual life of the exegete. 3) Community, arising in the community context within which the exegete seeks to interpret the biblical text. 4) Contextual, deriving from the cultural and social context ofthe exegete. 5) Methodological, shaping the manner in which the exegetical process is carried out. 6) Traditional, arising out of the historical context within which the exegete stands. 7) Academic, arising out of contexts which are either regarded as learned or as respected. Hermeneutical method and methods may be categorized under methodological factors, and it is suggested that most hermeneutical theorists would argue for the primacy of methodological factors in general and hermeneutical method in particular. However, an examination of practice suggests that spiritual factors are regarded as more significant than methodological factors. On the basis of the research findings, the proposed influencing factors may be ranked as follows: 1 Spiritual 2 Methodological 3 Academic 4 Intrapersonal 5 Contextual I Community I Traditional. vii In the light of these theoretical considerations and research findings, it is argued that the most appropriate response to the significance of hermeneutical method is to call exegetes to a hermeneutic of responsibility. The proposal is that the biblical exegete choose an appropriate method or methods for the given exegetical task; however, the application should be effected in a fourfold approach to the exegetical task. The fourfold approach challenges the exegete to be deliberately aware of their responsibility, at both a theoretical and practical level, to four realms of responsibility. These four realms being: 1) The God of Scripture: The responsibility to the God of Scripture is that which acknowledges that the Christian Bible is a product of divine revelation, and that the God of that revelation is intimately involved in the practical exegetical task. 2) The community of faith: The responsibility to the community of faith is that responsibility which recognizes the community or communities of faith as forming a vital context for the practical exegetical task and the conclusions of that task. 3) The world at large: The responsibility to the world at large is that responsibility in response to which the exegete undertakes to deliberately consider the challenges presented to the biblical text and to the exegete by those contexts and persons who would be regarded as either on the fringe ofthe community of faith or outside ofthe community. 4) The historical and universal church: The responsibility to the historical and universal church is that responsibility by which the exegete recognizes their context as being part of the older history of the church and the greater setting of the universal church.

Text in Afrikaans / The hypothesis debated here is that a critical reading process leads to a responsible use of the Bible. The metaphor of birth and growth is used autobiographically in order to illustrate the mastering of a critical reading process. Fundamentalism as condition before the birth indicates a pre-critical reading and understanding of the Bible. The transition to a critical reading and understanding contains certain psychological effects for the reader. In some instances it may even be called a painful birth process. The growing process progresses slowly. Concepts like inspiration, canon, Scriptural authority, the Bible as Word of God are once more scrutinised in the light of a critical reading process. Aspects that need to be settled with any critical reading are surveyed and may be seen as proposed directives for the mastering of the process: the strangeness of the world of the Bible, the evolution of the Bible, the Bible as literature and the critical Bible reader and objectivity. A critical reading process has certain implications for the traditional understanding of certain Bible themes. This, for example, is illustrated in view of the relation between the two testaments, prophecy, human thinking about God in the Bible and the liberating energy of justification through faith. New insights also establish the necessity for contact with believers within and outside the Christian tradition. With regard to the New Testament and the Jesus movement, a critical reading also leads to new insights. Historical Jesus research is handled and settled in earnest in an attempt to reflect new insights in the Christian tradition. In conclusion, the role of the church is surveyed through a critical reading process. A few personal contentions and conceptions of faith are presented as a survey of the growing process up till the present time. The Divine image of a critical reader is argued in the light of the knowledge of science and the provisional nature of human knowledge about God. That the baby is not thrown out with the bath-water, implies that a critical reader's faith in God need not be sacrificed. On the contrary, it can lead to an enriching spiritual experience. / Religious Studies & Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Bybelkunde)

This chapter contains a survey of historiographioal theory from the time of the Greeks up to the work of Sorokin and Mandelbaum. It is descriptive rather than critical. [...]

Text in Afrikaans / The hypothesis debated here is that a critical reading process leads to a responsible use of the Bible. The metaphor of birth and growth is used autobiographically in order to illustrate the mastering of a critical reading process. Fundamentalism as condition before the birth indicates a pre-critical reading and understanding of the Bible. The transition to a critical reading and understanding contains certain psychological effects for the reader. In some instances it may even be called a painful birth process. The growing process progresses slowly. Concepts like inspiration, canon, Scriptural authority, the Bible as Word of God are once more scrutinised in the light of a critical reading process. Aspects that need to be settled with any critical reading are surveyed and may be seen as proposed directives for the mastering of the process: the strangeness of the world of the Bible, the evolution of the Bible, the Bible as literature and the critical Bible reader and objectivity. A critical reading process has certain implications for the traditional understanding of certain Bible themes. This, for example, is illustrated in view of the relation between the two testaments, prophecy, human thinking about God in the Bible and the liberating energy of justification through faith. New insights also establish the necessity for contact with believers within and outside the Christian tradition. With regard to the New Testament and the Jesus movement, a critical reading also leads to new insights. Historical Jesus research is handled and settled in earnest in an attempt to reflect new insights in the Christian tradition. In conclusion, the role of the church is surveyed through a critical reading process. A few personal contentions and conceptions of faith are presented as a survey of the growing process up till the present time. The Divine image of a critical reader is argued in the light of the knowledge of science and the provisional nature of human knowledge about God. That the baby is not thrown out with the bath-water, implies that a critical reader's faith in God need not be sacrificed. On the contrary, it can lead to an enriching spiritual experience. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Bybelkunde)

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