Hermeneutics Course -- Written and published by Ronald
W. Leigh
Copyright (c) 2000, Ronald
W. Leigh
Annotated Bibliography
Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methodology
Terry, Milton S. Biblical Hermeneutics: A Treatise on the Interpretation
of the Old and New Testaments. 2nd ed. Zondervan, n.d. (around
1900) (782 pages)
This classic provides broad coverage, including a history of biblical languages,
doctrine of inspiration, general and special hermeneutics packed with examples,
and a history of interpretation. Inclusive, and very valuable.
Mickelsen, A. Berkeley. Interpreting the Bible. Eerdmans,
1963 (425 pages)
A comprehensive, sound, and well reasoned presentation of hermeneutics.
Mickelsen, A. Berkeley and Alvera Mickelsen. Better Bible Study.
Regal, 1977 (176 pages)
More suitable for the popular reader than Mickelsen's Interpreting the
Bible. Explains various literary genres.
Ramm, Bernard. Protestant Biblical Interpretation: A Textbook
of Hermeneutics. 3rd rev ed. Baker Book House, 1970 (328
pages)
Earlier editions have been widely used as a standard introduction to the
field.
Stibbs, Alan M. Understanding God's Word. InterVarsity,
1950 (64 pages)
For such a short volume, it is packed with valuable insights and principles
for interpreting the Bible.
Kaiser, Walter C. and Moises Silva. Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics.
Zondervan, 1994 (302 pages)
Zuck, Roy B. Basic Bible Interpretation. Cook
Good basic coverage of the principles and history of hermeneutics.
Virkler, Henry A. Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical
Interpretation. Baker, 1981 (263 pages)
Written by a specialist in counseling psychology and in the integration
of theology and psychology. Good coverage of the traditional field
of hermeneutics.
Sterrett, T. Norton. How to Understand Your Bible. Rev.
Ed. InterVarsity, 1974 (179 pages)
Good introductory coverage of general and special hermeneutics.
Sproul, R. C. Knowing Scripture. InterVarsity Press,
1977 (125 pages)
Helpful discussions of various hermeneutical principles. Apologetic
in flavor.
Carson, D. A. Exegetical Fallacies. 2nd ed. Baker,
1996 (148 pages)
Discusses common mistakes made by Bible interpreters.
Covers fallacies in such categories as word studies, grammar, and logic,
and includes many illustrations. Chapter 1, on word studies and context,
is most helpful for undergraduates. The remainder is perhaps most helpful
on a graduate level. Assumes some knowledge of Greek.
Adler, Mortimer J. and Charles Van Doren. How to Read a Book.
Simon & Schuster, 1972
Although this book is not specifically about reading the Bible, it contains
many principles which are very helpful when applied to Bible study.
Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All
Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding the Bible. 2nd ed.
Zondervan, 1993 (265 pages)
In the first two chapters Fee explains the need to interpret the Bible
and the reasons for recommending an English version that adopts the "dynamic
equivalence" approach to translation, such as the NIV. (The term
"hermeneutics" is used in the narrow sense of application.) The rest
of the book develops the principles of exegesis and application that are
appropriate for each of several literary genres found in the Bible, with
separate chapters devoted to each genre. No subject index.
Dyck, Elmer (editor). The Act of Bible Reading : A Multidisciplinary
Approach to Biblical Interpretation. Intervarsity Press, 1996
Contributions by Gordon D. Fee, Craig M. Gay, James Houston, J. I. Packer,
and Peterson
Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction
to Biblical Interpretation. Intervarsity Press, 1997 (499 pages)
Seminary level coverage of general and special hermeneutics, sermon preparation,
and current critical issues.
Couch, Mal (editor). An Introduction to Classical Evangelical
Hermeneutics: A Guide to the History and Practice of Bible Interpretation.
Kregel, 2000 (371 pages)
Discusses covenant theology and dispensational theology and their approaches
to hermeneutics. Favors premillennial, dispensational theology as
the best framework for interpreting the Bible. Focuses on eschatology
and the church's relation to Israel, with much of the discussion revolving
around the tension between symbolic and literal interpretation.
Bray, Gerald. Biblical Interpretation Past and Present.
InterVarsity Press, 1996
This is an encyclopedic reference work organized around major historical
periods with articles on many individuals within those periods. Includes
a brief summary of issues related to each period.
Tenney, Merrill C. Galatians: The Charter of Christian Liberty.
Eerdmans, 1950
A classic example of the study of a Bible book from many different angles.
Each chapter explains and then applies a different method. (That
is, each chapter looks at a different aspect of the book of Galatians.)
The nine aspects examined are the synthetic (overview), critical (background),
biographical, historical, theological, rhetorical, topical, analytical,
and devotional aspects. Each chapter adds significantly both to one's
understanding of the book of Galatians and to one's appreciation of the
value of that particular "method" of Bible study.
Traina, Robert A. Methodical Bible Study - A New Approach to Hermeneutics.
Robert Traina, 1952
A classic statement of inductive Bible study. It focuses on the analysis
of small units of scripture. The chapter on observation contains
a long and technical discussion on investigating the structure of a Bible
passage. The chapter on interpretation discusses interpretive questions
and answers, many hermeneutical principles, and exposes many faulty types
of interpretation. The book is very detailed and analytical and its
terminology is difficult for the average reader, but the careful reading
of this work is well worth the effort.
Leigh, Ronald W. Direct Bible Discovery: A Practical Guidebook for Personal
Bible Study. Broadman, 1982 (256 pages)
Explains the principles and procedures involved in meaningful Bible study.
As the title suggests, it emphasizes a direct approach to the Bible (rather
than dependence on books about the Bible), and the use of various inductive
procedures which help one discover the meaning of a passage. Covers
both theory and practice, including brief discussions of hermeneutics and
detailed procedures for studying both books and topics.