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This book could very well be the answer needed to address the hell-hole that is the Bible Discussion Forum. If we genuinely cared about each other and practiced good biblical hermeneutics, instead of tried to one-up each other, we'd probably get somewhere. So I challenge you to humbly and prayerfully read this book. Here's my review:
Understanding Genesis: How to Analyze, Interpret, and Defend Scripture by Dr. Jason Lisle is excellent for what it is (a book concerning biblical hermeneutics), but it's a very, very dense (as in thorough) and there are many terms related to the rules (principles) of biblical interpretation that take some getting used to.
For each principle, there is a corresponding fallacy (mistake in reasoning) when that principle is violated. Lisle lays the groundwork for why it's necessary to analyze, interpret and defend scripture correctly. He explores common hermeneutical principles and fallacies.
Principles include:
Contextual
Explicit Constrains the implicit
Substitution
Fact-Value
Red Letter
Accommodation,
Progressive Revelation
Text
Silence
Translation Principle and Bible Translations
Fallacies include:
Incidental
Superfluous Distinction
Reliability of Ignorance
The Point Is
Root
Semantic Anachronism
From this groundwork Lisle explores the early chapters of Genesis, as discussed by Dr. Hugh Ross (a leading old-age 'creationist') and Dr. Francis Collins of BioLogos (a leading theistic evolutionist). Lisle refutes both beliefs with ease, especially Collins. Much material from these particular chapters was familiar to me, as I've read a book by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati that refutes Dr. Hugh Ross' beliefs and does an excellent job of it.
Lisle's book ends with two appendices. In the first, he dialogues with a heretic. This appendix is probably the highlight of the book. Over the course of some 90 pages, Lisle (lovingly, but firmly) defends the truth of the Trinity in relation to the Gospel. It really is a must-read. The second appendix, concerning formal fallacies, isn't nearly as compelling and much of it went over my head. Through reading this book, I've discovered that I have some wrong ideas about interpreting the Bible that I need to correct. This was both humbling and encouraging.
In short, while Understanding Genesis is comprehensive and rather dry, I believe it's a necessary read for all Christians, so they can explore the Word logically (with correct reasoning) and better discern false teachings when they encounter them. That said, an abridged version may be necessary. This isn't a book to rush. Read it slowly and you'll appreciate it more. Highly recommended.
9/10
Understanding Genesis: How to Analyze, Interpret, and Defend Scripture by Dr. Jason Lisle is excellent for what it is (a book concerning biblical hermeneutics), but it's a very, very dense (as in thorough) and there are many terms related to the rules (principles) of biblical interpretation that take some getting used to.
For each principle, there is a corresponding fallacy (mistake in reasoning) when that principle is violated. Lisle lays the groundwork for why it's necessary to analyze, interpret and defend scripture correctly. He explores common hermeneutical principles and fallacies.
Principles include:
Contextual
Explicit Constrains the implicit
Substitution
Fact-Value
Red Letter
Accommodation,
Progressive Revelation
Text
Silence
Translation Principle and Bible Translations
Fallacies include:
Incidental
Superfluous Distinction
Reliability of Ignorance
The Point Is
Root
Semantic Anachronism
From this groundwork Lisle explores the early chapters of Genesis, as discussed by Dr. Hugh Ross (a leading old-age 'creationist') and Dr. Francis Collins of BioLogos (a leading theistic evolutionist). Lisle refutes both beliefs with ease, especially Collins. Much material from these particular chapters was familiar to me, as I've read a book by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati that refutes Dr. Hugh Ross' beliefs and does an excellent job of it.
Lisle's book ends with two appendices. In the first, he dialogues with a heretic. This appendix is probably the highlight of the book. Over the course of some 90 pages, Lisle (lovingly, but firmly) defends the truth of the Trinity in relation to the Gospel. It really is a must-read. The second appendix, concerning formal fallacies, isn't nearly as compelling and much of it went over my head. Through reading this book, I've discovered that I have some wrong ideas about interpreting the Bible that I need to correct. This was both humbling and encouraging.
In short, while Understanding Genesis is comprehensive and rather dry, I believe it's a necessary read for all Christians, so they can explore the Word logically (with correct reasoning) and better discern false teachings when they encounter them. That said, an abridged version may be necessary. This isn't a book to rush. Read it slowly and you'll appreciate it more. Highly recommended.
9/10
