Walton is a favorite OT scholar of mine because he's extremely attentive to both text and context -- and because he's willing to go out on a limb. Even though I frequently disagree with him, I find that he's worth reading. So a book where he lays out principles of OT exegesis sounds great! And, as is often the case, I found I couldn't always agree with Walton here. At times, I nodded my head in firm agreement, while at others I shook my head in frustration. I don't have the time or inclination for a detailed survey of what I thought was good and bad, so I'll just name what I think are the root pros and cons.

The root pro is that Walton is very serious about prioritizing the literary sense of the Scriptures. This is absolutely right. God inspired these words; we have to start here.

The root cons, I think, are these: First, Walton limits the meaning of a text to what the human author could have consciously intended. While I think the human authors intentions ought to be the first thing we look for, because they give us the parameters within which we may attempt to dig deeper, it is also vital that we recognize God as the divine author, and he may have literary intentions that exceed (but don't contradict) those of the human author. Seeking those additional, divine intentions is a slippery slope into flights of fancy; it's done by attentiveness to the canon as a unified whole -- a whole which few (if any) of the human authors could have anticipated.

Second, I think Walton arbitrarily limits the propositional truths contained in any passage to those that are explicitly stated. In his mind, nothing implicit in the text can be held forward as something to be believed. This leads to his pessimism about building systematic theology or ethics on the sole foundation of the text. This also leads him to drive a wedge between the text's meaning and it's application, which he seems to think of as loosely connected subjective musings on the text rather than implications drawn from the meaning.

I think this book can be read with profit. I profited, for sure. But I think Walton's theological method just doesn't go far enough.

In the realm of biblical interpretation, it is indeed refreshing to encounter a work as meticulously researched, comprehensively structured, and as enlightening as the one offered by the author in "Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation". As a reader, you will find this book to be an intellectually and spiritually enriching journey that is far more than a simple rehashing of established theological concepts.

Right from the table of contents, the book's structure is immediately intriguing, neatly segmented into three main sections: "General Principles", "Genre Guidelines", and "A Way Forward". This logical division allows the reader to journey progressively from foundational principles of biblical interpretation, through the nuances of different biblical genres, to practical application of these principles.

The book opens strongly with an accessible yet profound exploration of key tenets and commitments in interpreting biblical texts. The five principles for faithful interpretation provide readers with a solid foundation that is applicable to any religious text, not just the Bible. This section cleverly encompasses wide-ranging topics from understanding a text's original meaning, the dangers of instinctual reading, to the implications of translation on interpretation. Each topic was given its due attention, carefully examined with an insightful balance of academic rigor and practical wisdom.

The author then transitions to "Genre Guidelines", where he unravels the specificities of the Pentateuch, narratives, wisdom literature, psalms, prophecy, and apocalyptic literature. This section is a goldmine for those looking to delve deeper into the individual genres of the Bible, providing readers with a robust understanding of each type's unique characteristics, context, and interpretive challenges. The writer masterfully demystifies complex concepts like understanding creation as order rather than material, or how prophecy reveals God's plans more than it predicts the future.

The final section, "A Way Forward", is a fitting conclusion to this expansive journey, offering practical guidance on applying the knowledge acquired from the preceding sections. It provides the reader with key characteristics of faithful reading and some common pitfalls to avoid. It also explores how to integrate these principles into daily life, making the section an invaluable resource for those seeking to live according to Scripture.

Throughout, the book is imbued with a deep respect for the inherent complexities and nuances of the Bible, a sentiment that is both refreshing and inspiring. The author's clear, articulate prose and thoughtful examples make even the most intricate theological concepts accessible to both scholars and laypersons. This book respects its readers, challenging them to think critically and engage fully with the text.

What strikes me most about this book is its uncompromising commitment to nuance and clarity. The author’s thoughtful and provocative perspectives often inspire readers to reconsider long-held assumptions about the Bible and its interpretation. The occasional surprising statement, such as "The Old Testament is not about Jesus, but it drives us to Jesus," serves to engage the reader, provoking thought and inspiring deeper exploration.

In conclusion, "Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation" is an insightful, comprehensive guide that will be a valuable asset to anyone interested in the Bible's interpretation and understanding. This is a book that deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone – clergy, scholars, or curious readers – who seek to deepen their understanding of the Bible and its application to their lives.

Walton's reading of the OT has greatly impacted many, myself included. This volume provides the framework for his interpretive method and will prove useful for so many.

ARC provided

The Bible is not simply a book of good advice. Neither is it just a book of archaeology, cultural, or historical discourse. It is the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, recorded for the world through many human authors, and fully revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, the Bible has consistently been a bestseller. With modern electronic Bibles, the Word of God has also gone digital. Whatever the medium or the language used, we need wisdom in order to read, interpret, and understand the Word. With genres ranging from apologetics to history; narratives to proverbs; genealogies to parables; prose to poetry; etc, the Old Testament alone can prove challenging to interpret. We need not mere techniques or methods of interpretation. We need wisdom even to read the Old Testament properly. What better way than to learn from one whose life's work is all about learning from the Old Testament, and teaching us from the fruit of his labor. Professor Walton begins with a general overview of the interpretive process, giving us one quest, two caveats, three essential commitments, four fundamental concepts, and five principles for faithful interpretation. The "quest" is about "faithful" interpretation. The caveat explains the need for faithful rather than "absolutely right" interpretation, simply because imperfect persons cannot claim to be absolutely right. The commitment is toward basic accountability, consistency, and controls. The four concepts are about the need to recognize the four basic contexts (linguistic, literary, cultural, and theological); the need for interpretation; the awareness of gaps; and while acknowledging the complicated nature of interpretation, one also needs to see the clear big picture of the Bible. The five principles revolve around the authors' audience, background, contexts, intent, and how to find our place in God's story.

Part One is a crucial read as Walton presents 11 general tips to help us manage our interpretive tasks. Some of these include the need to avoid "instinctive reading" which places subjectivity before objectivity; meaning behind literal interpretation; the relationship between authority and genre discussion; hearing-dominant culture vs reading-dominant culture; and so on. Part Two is about Genre Guidelines. Moving both chronologically and by genre, Walton guides us through the Pentateuch, the Narratives, the Wisdom books, the prophetic books, and finally in Part Three, we learn of some helpful tips about the way forward.

My Thoughts
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Many people find reading the Old Testament difficult. Compared to the New Testament, there are passages about ancient laws, strange rituals, and portrayals of God that seem so unlike the God of love as modern people would prefer to see. While this book does not necessarily make it easier to understand the Old Testament, it equips us with useful paradigms on how to approach the texts. Let me give three thoughts about this book.

First, the book is a valuable guide to help us with reading the Old Testament. I am not talking about interpretation. I am talking strictly about "reading" per se. This is important because we often jump the gun to interpret the texts before actually reading it. This guide gives us the reading tools to read properly before interpretation. This is similar to the first step behind the popular Inductive Bible Studies: Observe the text. For a largely reading audience today, this is an even more important reminder. Of course, it is best to do both hearing the text followed by reading the text. In hearing the texts, we put ourselves into the shoes of the original hearers where the Word was read to them. In subsequent reading, we will observe the texts as best as we can. That way, we can gain the best of the hearing as well as the reading benefits. Learninng how to read well is crucial as far as genre understanding is concerned. If we could be patient to read before any premature intepretation, we will be better interpreters. Part One essentially gives us these reading tips, and I recommend that if pressed for time, readers should put Part One as their priority for reading this book.

Second, Part Two gives us not only tools for reading but also interpretation tips. For each genre, Walton gives us many good overviews to help us appreciate the big picture. It is also the most challenging part of the book as it can get quite technical and difficult for the lay reader. If we have not properly read the texts, interpretation would prove difficult, if not impossible. For instance, when Walton talks about the Torah being more about instruction rather than legislation, if we have read the texts properly, we will not be easily swayed by popular opinion in modern culture. In fact, many erroneous interpretation of the Bible stems from erroneous assumptions that the surrounding culture have placed upon us. These easily results in heresy. One such heresy is when people assume that the Old Testament is all about law while the New Testament all about grace. Walton's approach debunks such heresies and reminds us that the Old Testament is more instruction rather than law. Throughout the book, Walton compares and contrasts what is modern and what is biblical.

Finally, I like the way Walton maps out a way forward. Like the Inductive Bible Study's three-step process, if Part One is about Reading and Part Two is about Intepretation, then Part Three is about Application. In other words, he poses to us the basic question: What do we do with what we have learned? He reiterates the need for faithful reading amid an impatient culture that insists on absolute right from wrong. Humanly speaking, it is impossible to even claim to have absolute truth. Only God has absolute Truth. We can only understand as much as the Spirit reveals. Practice makes perfect. Mere reading of this book also requires us to practice the concepts taught in this book.

How do we read and understand the Old Testament? Let this book lead the way to remove the fear of the Old Testament toward faithful reading. This is a book for all readers. I highly recommend this for anyone desiring to improve their reading and interpretation of the Old Testament. Every page is filled with important tips to read the Old Testament well. For a modern culture filled with enlightenment paradigms, this book challenges our modern culture that blurs our faith. We need books like this to take us back to good-old down to earth appreciation of the ancient texts, without modernistic preconceptions that builds on doubts and suspicions. May this book be a necessary corrective against such negative mindsets.

John H. Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School. Previously he was professor of Old Testament at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for twenty years.

Rating: 5 stars of 5

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

Wise reading requires patient and careful study! John Walton has provided an excellent companion for Bible readers in this work. Readers will learn why context is key in reading the Bible, and ancient perspective taking is the first step in any careful reading of scripture. The book is guided by a number of general principles that Walton has found helpful for interpreting the Bible, and each principle is paired with thoughtful examples. Walton works carefully through his thoughts and guides the reader as the experienced teacher he is. The book is easy to follow, well structured, and would be useful for a lay person study, or even for more advanced readers. I'll be referring back to this one in the future!

I really enjoyed this book. I have a considerable interest in reading the Bible as literature and since I also teach, “Wisdom for Faithful Reading” was a perfect fit for me.

Walton’s book is nothing if not profoundly practical. Not only is the text itself compelling, but he has an appendix of “What to do with the Old Testament” featuring a graph of frequent mistakes and what to do instead; as well as FAQs. These final pages may be the most useful in the entire book, but they build on what Walton has set up in the preceding chapters.

While he certainly offers many worthwhile admonishments, the overall tone is gracious. Walton approaches with the perspective of one who wants to see his fellow Christians view God rightly and use His word properly.

One note: some with a fondness for typology might be troubled by Walton’s particular interpretation of the Old Testament. However, even if you find yourself disagreeing, I hope you can view it as a challenge rather than an offense.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

As a foremost authority on the Old Testament in context and application, John H. Walton brings us a wonderful discourse on the most important aspect of success in studying the Old Testament, “faithful interpretation”. He begins by highlighting the principles and concepts that he has found to be most effective in achieving faithful interpretation and then breaks down the Old Testament by genre and finishes with avoiding pitfalls in your studies and how to apply what your learn to your life. Everything was in a digestible format that doesn’t overwhelm or confuse. An excellent book for everyone from a high schooler in a Bible study to the most proficient scholar at Seminary.

Thank you, NetGalley!

An in-depth exploration of Old Testament interpretation and the tools needed for reading the Old Testament. A recommended read for Faith Leaders and Scholars.