A Postmodern Bible?

"Postmodern" theologies are notoriously slim on biblical engagement, or hopelessly eclectic in their engagements with biblical sources (I find much of the "postmodern" engagement with Paul a symptom of the latter).  Those in the former camp tend to begin with more speculative philosophical investigations and then go looking for "Bible passages" after the fact (I know some pastors who write sermons this way, too!); those in the latter camp are bent on "freeing" Scripture from the constraints of "orthodoxy" and thus seek to open the text to all sorts of untethered "play."  In these cases the Bible just becomes a text for yet more pomo "riffs" on the Other or the Gift or the Unsayable, etc., etc. 

On the other hand, biblical studies--as a discipline--has been going through some internal ranglings, and one of the exciting developments to emerge has been a rebirth of "biblical theology"--that is, a tradition of unapologetically confessional and theological engagements with Scripture which refuse to be dragged down by the supposedly "scientific" fetishes that dominated the past century of historical-critical biblical studies. 

I would argue that this renewal of the "theological interpretation of Scripture" in an unapologetic, confessional mode is, in fact, a more "persistently" postmodern mode of approaching Scripture.  (The project of "Scriptural Reasoning" would be an analogue.)

So I was very excited when, this past week, A.K.M. Adam's new book, Faithful Interpretation: Reading the Bible in a Postmodern World, landed on my desk.  Adam, known to many simply as "AKMA," has for a decade been a careful, thoughtful voice at the intersection of postmodern hermeneutical discussions and New Testament studies, with a primary interest in what this means for the life of the church (AKMA is also an Anglican priest).  In this excellent new book, he makes the case that the critique of modernity opens the space not for abandoning Scripture as mere fables, nor to be dismissed as simply  master-narratives of power and domination, but rather to be received by the community of faith as canon.  AKMA's account winsomely argues that "postmodern" interpretation will be faithful, Catholic interpretation.  [I think it could be very illuminating to read AKMA's book alongside another exciting new book in biblical theology, Markus Bockmuehl's Seeing the Word: Refocusing New Testament Study.]

Kudos to AKMA for an excellent, accessible introduction to the issues of biblical interpretation (and proclamation) in our contemporary context.  It deserves a wide readership.

Comments

[man in the pew]

Interesting,

I am currently reading some marcus borg stuff about Jesus - I will order this book for a complete different approach to the Westar Institute!

[Geoff Holsclaw]

jamie,
thanks for posting this. as a note to all...AKMA is organizing a conversation around his book to be hosted here sometime in November. So if any of you want to read the book and be involved, stay tuned.