Biblical Interpretation in a Postmodern Age

Rev. Dr. Craig Bartholomew of Redeemer University College in Toronto will speak on “Athens and Jerusalem: Ingredients in Theological Interpretation” 4 p.m. April 16 in Hieronymus Lounge, in Kerrwood Hall on the upper campus.

The lecture, sponsored by the Erasmus Society, is free and open to the public.

Bartholomew will discuss how the postmodern era has created a renewal of interest in theological interpretation of the Bible.

“This renewal of interest is highly significant and needs to be supported and developed,” Bartholomew said. “However, contemporary theological interpretation is a ‘broad church’ containing a range of approaches to the Bible as Scripture.”

This lecture will take note of the diversity among proponents of theological interpretation, and then focus on three particular approaches, namely: (1) the Barthian type, which is concerned with theological interpretation of the Bible but is highly suspicious of philosophical hermeneutics playing any role in this recovery; (2) the de Lubacian type, which, following the church fathers, seeks to recover a spiritual reading of the Bible; (3) an approach which asserts the indispensability of hermeneutics but recognizes the need for a Christian theological critique of hermeneutics and thus of Christian insight from a variety of disciplines.

These approaches will be assessed critically and the argument will be made for an interdisciplinary approach.

Bartholomew is the H. Evan Runner professor of philosophy and professor of religion and theology at Redeemer University College, Ontario, Canada. He specializes in biblical and philosophical hermeneutics.

Bartholomew directs the Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar and is the author and co-editor of several books including “Reading Ecclesiastes: Old Testament Exegesis and Hermeneutical Theory,” “Christ and Consumerism,” “The Futures of Evangelicalism,” plus four volumes in the Scripture and Hermeneutics Series. An ordained Anglican priest, he is working on a book on Derrida and a commentary on Ecclesiastes.

For more information, contact the public affairs office at (805) 565-7057 or e-mail pubaffairs@westmont.edu. For directions to campus, visit the college Web site at www.westmont.edu.