
Theological Hermeneutics and the Book of Numbers As Christian Scripture
Richard S. Briggs(Author)
University of Notre Dame Press
Published on 25. June 2018
Book
Hardback
350 pages
978-0-268-10373-6 (ISBN)
Description
How should Christian readers of scripture hold appropriate and constructive tensions between exegetical, critical, hermeneutical, and theological concerns? This book seeks to develop the current lively discussion of theological hermeneutics by taking an extended test case, the book of Numbers, and seeing what it means in practice to hold all these concerns together. In the process the book attempts to reconceive the genre of "commentary" by combining focused attention to the details of the text with particular engagement with theological and hermeneutical concerns arising in and through the interpretive work. The book focuses on the main narrative elements of Numbers 11-25, although other passages are included (Numbers 5, 6, 33). With its mix of genres and its challenging theological perspectives, Numbers offers a range of difficult cases for traditional Christian hermeneutics. Briggs argues that the Christian practice of reading scripture requires engagement with broad theological concerns, and brings into his discussion Frei, Auerbach, Barth, Ricoeur, Volf, and many other biblical scholars. The book highlights several key formational theological questions to which Numbers provides illuminating answers: What is the significance and nature of trust in God? How does holiness (mediated in Numbers through the priesthood) challenge and redefine our sense of what is right, or "fair"? To what extent is it helpful to conceptualize life with God as a journey through a wilderness, of whatever sort? Finally, short of whatever promised land we may be, what is the context and role of blessing?
Reviews / Votes
"With refreshingly little throat-clearing Briggs gets his hands dirty and offers a compelling, theologically engaged reading of a complex text. Combining textual, literary, hermeneutical, historical (in the broadest sense), moral, and theological insight, Briggs' reading of Numbers is a demonstration of readerly wisdom. All who want to know what wise theological interpretation looks like will need to engage with this book." -Angus Paddison, University of Winchester"At once judicious and bold, Briggs's hermeneutical meditations on Numbers model an open style of biblical interpretation that is methodologically self-conscious and modern but also theologically adept. The wilderness locale within the biblical story serves as his metaphor for the journey of reading, and Briggs guides his own readers to become better readers of scripture by developing an approach he calls 'ascriptive realism.' The result? Numbers, the most overlooked book in the Pentateuch, comes alive again with renewed vigor and theological importance." -Stephen B. Chapman, Duke University
"This scholarly study scintillates. Richard Briggs holds together premodern, modern, and postmodern perspectives in creative tension. This guide to Israel's journey through the wilderness has springs of insight all along the way." -Walter Moberly, Durham University
"This book is a sophisticated meditation on the nature of theological interpretation flowing from an extended discussion of the text of Numbers. Of particular value is the manner in which the book uses some of the central passages of the text as test cases for exploring possible paths through complex hermeneutical quandaries. I cannot think of other texts in the burgeoning literature on 'theological interpretation' that manage this task so successfully." -Lewis Ayres, Durham University and Australian Catholic University
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Notre Dame IN
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
719 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-268-10373-6 (9780268103736)
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Schweitzer Classification
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E-Book
01/2021
1st Edition
University of Notre Dame Press
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Available for download

Richard S. Briggs
Theological Hermeneutics and the Book of Numbers As Christian Scripture
E-Book
06/2018
1st Edition
University of Notre Dame Press
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Available for download

Richard S. Briggs
Theological Hermeneutics and the Book of Numbers As Christian Scripture
E-Book
06/2018
1st Edition
University of Notre Dame Press
€105.99
Available for download
Person
Richard S. Briggs is lecturer in Old Testament and director of biblical studies at Cranmer Hall, St. John's College, Durham University. He is the author of a number of books, including The Virtuous Reader: Old Testament Narrative and Interpretive Virtue.
Content
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction: A Map of the Wilderness
1. The Figure in the Wilderness: Readings in the Book of Numbers
2. Trust and Suspicion: Approaches to a Holy Text that Invites Little Approach
3. "Fraught with Background": Towards Ascriptive Realism and Figural Reading (Numbers 10-12)
4. "What Did You Go Out into the Wilderness to See?": Theological Interpretation, the Eyes of the Heart, and Karl Barth's Reading of Sloth (Numbers 13-14)
5. "It is the Text that Swallows Up the World": The Eclipse of Numbers' Narrative and the Literal Sense of Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 15-16)
6. "The Rock was Christ": Typology Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Numbers 20)
7. "'Peace, Peace,' when there is no Peace": The Zeal of Readers in Defense and in Dissent (Numbers 25)
8. Blessing for an Unfinished Journey: On Reading Numbers as Christian Scripture (Numbers 6; 22-24; 33)
Bibliography
Indices
Abbreviations
Introduction: A Map of the Wilderness
1. The Figure in the Wilderness: Readings in the Book of Numbers
2. Trust and Suspicion: Approaches to a Holy Text that Invites Little Approach
3. "Fraught with Background": Towards Ascriptive Realism and Figural Reading (Numbers 10-12)
4. "What Did You Go Out into the Wilderness to See?": Theological Interpretation, the Eyes of the Heart, and Karl Barth's Reading of Sloth (Numbers 13-14)
5. "It is the Text that Swallows Up the World": The Eclipse of Numbers' Narrative and the Literal Sense of Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 15-16)
6. "The Rock was Christ": Typology Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Numbers 20)
7. "'Peace, Peace,' when there is no Peace": The Zeal of Readers in Defense and in Dissent (Numbers 25)
8. Blessing for an Unfinished Journey: On Reading Numbers as Christian Scripture (Numbers 6; 22-24; 33)
Bibliography
Indices