Sound hermeneutical principles

Webb provides a compelling interpretive approach to the Bible for discerning the application for just about any issue, but with the intention of drawing out conclusions for two key issues: women in church (and home) leadership, and homosexuality. Using and spiritual-redemptive trajectory approach, and working through 18 possible criteria, Webb demonstrates that a strong case can be made in Scripture for moving toward an egalitarian position with regard to women, while at the same time affirming a transcultural restriction towards homosexual practice. While some may disagree with some of Webb's conclusions in these matters, it cannot be said that he has not provided ample reasoning and support for his views. Aside from the 2 issues Webb addresses, this book would serve as an excellent text for a biblical hermeneutics course, since the process and principles expounded are applicable to a far wider range of issues. ( )

A very nice try, but the argument put forth just seems contrived to me.

It not that the author and I would probably disagree very much about the issues debated in this book, it's that we would probably have to have a much deeper debate about biblical inspiration. ( )

I found a good deal of value in his redemptive-movement hermeneutic. This method of interpretation involves comparing the biblical text to culture of the original recipients, among other things. I also liked his proposals of how to apply master-slave passages to modern American life, and equality between the sexes. However, I think his sections on homosexuality are somewhat weak (FYI: He's against homosexuality.) ( )

In this profound work, Webb raises the essential question of biblical studies: how do we apply the text? Application, as it were, is often a matter of understanding culture, both of the original audience and of the modern reader. Through a series of 18 criteria (e.g. preliminary movement, seed ideas, and breakouts), Webb constructs a “hermeneutic of cultural analysis” – a method for understanding the place and influence of culture in the original text. Often times, these criteria point to the transcultural nature of a text (e.g. those texts regarding homosexuality); other times, however, this process indicates a redemptive movement in the text relative to the original culture (e.g. those texts regarding slavery and women). This redemptive movement, Webb argues, asks the reader to identify the “ultimate ethic,” which moves beyond the culturally situated words of certain texts. Whatever one’s position on these issues, Webb offers an engaging and important contribution to the hermeneutics of culture. A ( )