the hermeneutics of the biblical writers -- a book review

Abner Chou's The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers:  Learning to Interpret Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles is an engaging and dynamic orientation toward reading and interpreting Scripture from the perspective of the biblical writers themselves.  Drawing upon the old hermeneutical imperative of "authorial intent", Chou demands that we listen to the voices of the biblical writers themselves.

That makes this book a demanding reading for theologians, biblical scholars, pastors and even church school teachers.  The prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New both possessed a clear voice about the nature of God and the world, and offered, in their radical orientations toward reading ancient texts and contexts, a way of engaging in the task of reading theologically.

But lest readers assume what they'll find here is another guide, The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers is much less than a hermeneutical method.  This is a hermeneutical practice, a listening-in on one person learning to listen afresh to biblical writers.  Chou chooses some of the most difficult biblical texts and brings the freshness of the Spirit to those texts. 

That makes The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers a difficult read, but for those willing to engage in the practice, it's also an extremely rewarding one.
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I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publishers in exchange for my honest review here.