Worlds of Meaning

Worlds of Meaning invites readers who have not previously explored the principles and processes involved in interpreting Scripture to do so in an accessible way.

The topics covered include those that have formed an essential part of hermeneutical debate over the last 50 years, including: the role of historical and literary forms of ‘criticism’; reading the Bible for theology, ethics and personal devotion; the role of the reader and of ideologies in directing the ‘meaning’ to be found in the text; and the study of the Bible’s use and influence as an aid to contemporary interpretation.

The book will be especially useful for those who read the Bible from the perspective of Christian faith, but it will also appeal to readers from other backgrounds. It draws on examples from biblical interpretation through Christian history (and in wider culture) to illustrate and assess different interpretative processes.

Rather than seeking to prescribe a (supposedly) correct ‘method’ of interpretation, it encourages readers to engage with the task in a holistic way, mindful both of the interpretative wisdom to be gained from reading communities, past and present, and of the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of reading.