How to Please ‘Theological Interpretation’ Scholars

Now that ‘Theological Interpretation’ is becoming a more specialized sub-field, one can begin to get a sense for what such scholars like and dislike. Here is my list of do’s and dont’s.  This list is meant to be facetious…but I think there may be a grain of truth in some of these 🙂

1. Criticize traditio-historical exegesis

2. Make it apparent that you are only pursuing one possible ‘meaning’ of the passage

3. Always, always, always quote Barth.

4. Refer to Frei and Childs…but with some reservation

5. Feel free to dig out books and commentaries to refer to from any century you want.

6. Its OK to quote Bultmann, but only in reference to his comment that there is no such things as freedom from presuppositions.

7. The words ‘trinity’ and ‘trinitarian’ may be used liberally (= freely).

8.  The possibility of allegorizing Scripture is back on the table (after a very long hiatus…)

9. Try to use the word ‘hermeneutic(s)’ as often as possible

10. Sprinkle the words ‘unity of Scripture’ and ‘canonical’ around the essay.