That's right, I dropped the "H" bomb. Knowing how to read the Bible is just as important as reading it. I've heard too many Christians say they read it but don't get it. It's not just a lack of spiritual understanding, it's a lack of a hermeneutic. So...
What are your Big 5 books on biblical hermeneutics?
These are books on biblical interpretation, understanding biblical genres, etc. There is a range from text books all the way down to the very practical for average Christians. Don't list books on biblical languages...that's another list. Don't just list reference books on the Bible either. Go!
I don't have a "Big 5" of hermeneutics yet, as I'm just starting to build that category of my library, but, I will say that Grasping God's Word by Duvall and Hays is a fantastic beginners' hermeneutics book. I first went through it about five years ago and still refer to it often
Posted by: Rae Whitlock | 08/28/2008 at 02:36 PM
Grasping God's Word - Hays & Duvall - a GREAT entry level book. The step above "How to read the Bible for all it's worth".
Hermeneutical Spiral - Grant Osborn - still chewing on this one 5 years later.
The Right Doctrine from the Wrong Text? GK Beale
Exegetical Fallacies - DA Carson
Gospel Centered Hermeneutic - Graeme Goldsworthy
Is there Meaning in this Text - Vanhoozer - this would be my #6 book, but worthy of being in the top 5.
Posted by: Chris Meirose | 08/28/2008 at 02:42 PM
In no particular order:
1. How to read the Bible for all its worth.
2. The Hermeneutical Spiral.
3. Is There a Meaning in This Text.
4. Living By the Book.
Posted by: jason allen | 08/28/2008 at 02:52 PM
no special order...
1. Biblical Interpretation (Bray)
2. Basic Bible Interpretation (Zuck)
3. Biblical Hermeneutics (Kaiser & Silva)
4. Living By The Book (Hendricks)
5. Exegetical Fallacies (Carson)
Posted by: Matt P. | 08/28/2008 at 03:18 PM
I'll go with three:
1. Grasping God's Word
2. Gospel Centered Hermeneutic
3. The Hermeneutical Spiral
Posted by: Danny | 08/28/2008 at 03:23 PM
1. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation by Moises Silva [sort of cheating, as this is 6 books in one--but it is very good. Changed the way I read the Bible forever].
2. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Douglas Stuart and Gordon Fee.
3. Exegetical Fallacies by Don Carson.
4. Biblical Words and their Meaning by Moises Silva.
5. The Interpretation of the New Testament 1861-1986 by Stephen Neill and Tom Wright.
Posted by: Keith Williams | 08/28/2008 at 03:42 PM
1. De Doctrina Christina - Augustine
2. New Horizons in Hermeneutics - Thiselton
3. The Art of Reading Scripture - Davis/Hays
4. Biblical Interpretation in the Early Church - Simonetti
5. On the Apostolic Preaching - Irenaeus (Because dogmatic biblical theology is the best hermeneutic!)
Posted by: Michael | 08/28/2008 at 04:05 PM
1. Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics - Goldsworthy
2. Living and Active - Telford Work
3. The Conversion of the Imagination - Richard Hays
4. The Art of Reading Scripture - Davis/Hays
5. First Theology - Vanhoozer
Posted by: Brian Brown | 08/28/2008 at 05:00 PM
1. Gospel-Centred Hermeneutics - Goldsworthy
2. Gospel-Centered Hermeneautics - Goldsworthy (note that the spelling of "centered" indicates the clearly-inferior, Americanized edition)
3. Listening to the Spirit in the Text - Fee
4. Gospel and Spirit - Fee
Posted by: Mick Porter | 08/28/2008 at 10:00 PM
I wish to add an all-time favorite...
Dan Doriani - "Putting the Truth to Work" - technically about biblical application, ultimately about interpretation as well. (Can they be separated? That's another post...)
Posted by: Ken in Virginia Beach | 08/28/2008 at 10:31 PM
I like a lot of those listed, esp. Hays, Beale, and Bray. So I'll add some not listed:
Validity of Interpretation, Hirsch
How to Read a Book, Adler
Posted by: Jonathan Dodson | 08/28/2008 at 11:00 PM
Speaking God's word - Peter Adam
Feed My Sheep - A Passionate plea for preaching ISBN 1-57358-144-5
the above are simpler books, and I think would be ideal to give to any "lay preacher" or someone with the gift of teaching - but who does not have the experience and knowledge gained from any Bible School.
Posted by: 68guns | 08/29/2008 at 02:08 AM
Kingdom Prologue, Meredith Kline
Structure of Biblical Authority, Kline
these books really helped me to understand the Old Testament, which was such an enigma to me prior.
Posted by: Ben Pun | 08/29/2008 at 10:05 AM
1. Grasping God's Word--Great Intro to Hermeneutics
2. Cracking Old Testament Codes--sounds hokey but its genre studies are really helpful
3. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture--biblical theology informing hermeneutics
4. On Christian Teaching by St. Augustine--it really deals with interpretation and is a helpful look at how Christian's have interpreted the Bible in the past.
5. Putting the Truth to Work--so helpful in the application of Scripture. Application is called a step in good hermeneutics but it is usually neglected. This is amazing.
Posted by: JF Radosevich | 08/29/2008 at 11:23 AM
Best for me have been:
1. Playing with Fire by Walt Russell (excellent!)
2. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Douglas Stuart and Gordon Fee
3. Biblical Exegesis by John Piper (really short)
4. The Hermeneutical Spiral by Grant Osborne (thick!)
Want to get into Goldsworthy's trilogy.
Adler's How to Read a Book is also a must-read.
Posted by: Jeff Patterson | 08/29/2008 at 03:00 PM
Hermeneutical Spiral (Osborne)
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Fee & Stuart)
Exegetical Fallacies (Carson)
Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics & Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture (Goldsworthy)
Institutes of the Christian Religion and Commentaries (Calvin - Just to see how the "father of modern exegesis" interpreted Scripture)
Posted by: Brian G. Hedges | 08/30/2008 at 07:44 PM
1. He Gave Us Stories by Richard Pratt
2. God-Centered Biblical Interpretation by Vern Poythress
3. The Structure of Biblical Authority by Meredith Kline
4. Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul
5. Playing by the Rules by Stein
I'm sure I'd have Goldsworthy's book there if I had read it. It is on my list and I greatly look forward to reading it.
Posted by: cavman | 09/02/2008 at 09:27 AM
Here's my 5...
A Guide to Interpreting the Bible by Stein - copies on our church book table because people need it
How to Study the Bible by MacArthur - (I really got one thing from this book, read and reread and reread a text. Changed my whole approach to understanding Scripture
Interpreting the Pauline Epistles by Schreiner - Holy cow, so important for me. Best help for tracking logical argument I've found.
Exegetical Fallacies by Carson - of course
The Gagging of God by Carson - why not
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 09/02/2008 at 09:48 AM