The End of Interpretation

“A still largely unrealized ambition of Vatican II was to foster a true revival of the Bible in the life of the Church. Inspired by the great ressourcement theologians, the fathers of the council wanted the Scriptures to inform every aspect of Catholicism. In this splendidly written and bracing text, R. R. Reno shows us what a truly ecclesial interpretation of the Bible looks like.”—Most Reverend Robert Barron, Bishop Elect of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota

“Reno here urges us to turn conventional exegetical wisdom on its head: instead of doing theology in accordance with Scripture, we should be reading Scripture in accordance with church doctrine. Protestants may (again) protest, yet the doctrines that guide Reno’s theological interpretation are themselves the result of the church’s painstaking attempt to read Scripture rightly. The End of Interpretation is both a bold claim about what it means to be biblical and a helpful illustration of the ‘state of the art’ of theological exegesis by one of its foremost proponents.”—Kevin J. Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“Reno has provided an excellent treatment of the ever-present tension that all thoughtful Christians feel between biblical exegesis and theological statements, between the desire to maintain the uniqueness of biblical authority while also respecting the church’s historic teaching. This book will be on the reading lists of my theology classes from now on.”—Carl R. Trueman, Grove City College

“With characteristic clarity, Rusty Reno dismantles the modern assumption that an intellectually responsible approach to the Bible requires setting theology aside and embracing some sort of mythical ‘objectivity.’ Instead, Reno here defends an approach to exegesis from within theology. He offers a collection of case studies that illustrate how such theological exegesis has and should function for Christians. Reno’s tone is both reasonable and pastoral. Overall, a hopeful and encouraging read.”—Laura A. Smit, professor of theology, Calvin University

“Reno is recalling exegetes and theologians to the original purpose of their task, but he is also calling for the abandonment of certain conditions that have been imposed on biblical interpretation: critical minimalism, for example, and the bracketing of faith commitments.”—Scott Hahn, Michael Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville

“This book may not have all the answers to the thorny questions of biblical hermeneutics after the demise of the historical-critical approach, but it at least points us in the right direction by advocating for the priority of ecclesial exegesis. Since the Bible was given to the church by God, it must be interpreted with its end, or purpose, in mind. Reno shows that true doctrine neither supersedes nor undermines the Bible but rather ‘accords’ with it. In premodern times, doctrine and exegesis informed each other, and they should do so again.”—Craig A. Carter, research professor of theology, Tyndale University; author of Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition: Recovering the Genius of Premodern Exegesis