“Happily, we are well served by Sarisky’s excellent compilation of Modern Readings…. Each reading has a good editorial introduction, in which Sarisky helpfully contextualizes the writer and the chosen extract. He also poses some questions to consider in the course of reading.”
―Walter Moberly, Reviews in Religion and Theology, 2 April 2017
“Building on its astute analysis of elements of patristic and modern biblical hermeneutics, Scriptural Interpretation makes a persuasive theological proposal about how to be readers of the biblical text in the company of the church. Elegant, measured, rich in its details and penetrating in its judgements, this is one of the most distinguished accounts of the matter in recent years.”
―John Webster, King’s College
“Dr Sarisky is deeply immersed in the Bible, early Church writings and the Christian theology of recent decades, and he brings them to bear in a masterful way on the key theme of interpreting scripture. He puts a bold, well-supported case for the crucial importance of a thoroughly theological account of scripture, its readers, their corporate context and the practice of reading itself. His perceptive analyses and responses to Basil of Caesarea, Stanley Hauerwas and Rowan Williams culminate in a constructive contribution to what he rightly sees as one of the most important current debates in Christian theology. He does something that might seem obvious but is actually both unusual and difficult: he lets God be utterly central and pervasive to both the Bible and its reception.”
―David F. Ford, University of Cambridge
From the Inside Flap
Scripture is central to the life of Christian communities, but what is it that drives Christians to continuously reflect on its words? In offering a response, Sarisky examines scriptural interpretation from a theological viewpoint which centers on the following four issues: the identity of the reader of Scripture, the nature of the Bible itself, what occurs during the practice of reading, and the significance of reading’s location in an ecclesial setting.
Divided into three parts, the book begins with a presentation of Basil of Caesarea’s theological account of biblical interpretation by synthesizing his position on these issues. It then offers a critical interaction with Stanley Hauerwas and Rowan Williams, both major contributors to the lively discussion of theological interpretation of Scripture. The book culminates with a third theological account: that it is necessary to view readers as creatures shaped in the image of God who find their purpose and fulfillment in attaining his likeness, yet there is a marked difference between how people are and how they ought to be. Scripture’s theological character is instrumental in highlighting this gap and restoring human life to its proper form. As a result, the ability of Scripture to allow readers to realize their vocation as human beings is central to the concept within Christian communities.
From the Back Cover
Scripture is central to the life of Christian communities, but what is it that drives Christians to continuously reflect on its words? In offering a response, Sarisky examines scriptural interpretation from a theological viewpoint which centers on the following four issues: the identity of the reader of Scripture, the nature of the Bible itself, what occurs during the practice of reading, and the significance of reading’s location in an ecclesial setting.
Divided into three parts, the book begins with a presentation of Basil of Caesarea’s theological account of biblical interpretation by synthesizing his position on these issues. It then offers a critical interaction with Stanley Hauerwas and Rowan Williams, both major contributors to the lively discussion of theological interpretation of Scripture. The book culminates with a third theological account: that it is necessary to view readers as creatures shaped in the image of God who find their purpose and fulfillment in attaining his likeness, yet there is a marked difference between how people are and how they ought to be. Scripture’s theological character is instrumental in highlighting this gap and restoring human life to its proper form. As a result, the ability of Scripture to allow readers to realize their vocation as human beings is central to the concept within Christian communities.
About the Author
Darren Sarisky is a Junior Research Fellow at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. He previously served as a Teaching Associate in Doctrine at the University of Cambridge Divinity Faculty. Dr Sarisky’s primary area of research is the nature and interpretation of Christian Scripture.
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