pdf - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

Book Reviewsby the work of the Holy Spirit'who illuminates the mind andwitnesses to the veracity ofthedivine verities'" (p. 77).The same chapter emphasizesScripture's clarity, a Reformationprinciple which impliesthe ability of all God'speople to understand the sacredrecord (pp. 78, 79).In a chapter entitled "Usingand Abusing Language,"Moises Silva warns against misusingword studies in etymology,synonyms, etc., but carriesthe warning too far when herelegates many distinctions inScripture to mere rhetorical devices.Verbal inspiration meansthat the Holy Spirit used everyword with a purpose.Several chapters warnagainst making the understandingof Scripture difficult by amultitude ofdistinctions, exercisesin literary analysis, interpretingin the light of non-canonicalliterature (such as theJewish Mishnah), and imposingcomplicated literary frameworkson the text. But otherchapters (see, for example, pp.8 & 9) pile distinction on distinctionand exercise on exerciseas being essential to explainthe sacred text.Norman Geisler has anexcellent chapter entitled "The'Relation ofPurpose and Meaningin Interpreting Scripture."He warns against making purposedetermine meaning, ratherthan meaning dete~mine purpose.He points out, correctly,that the former leads to a nonliteralinterpretation of Scripture,as, e.g., in the interpretationof Genesis 1. Those whodetermine in advance that thepurpose of Genesis I isdoxological then proceed todeny its literal meaning. Hepoints out that the same thinghas been done with texts condemninghomosexuality, andBultmann's demythologizingwas the end result of makingmeaning dependent on purpose.It is a chapter every student ofScripture ought to read.WalterJ. Kaiser, Jr. pleadsin a chapter with the title, "TheSingle Intent of Scripture," forthe position that Scripture hasonly one meaning. That meaningis the obvious one, the oneobvious from the words andthoughts. It is, says Kaiser, the"surface" meaning, the "prosaic"meaning; and it is the correctone. Looking for othermeanings, he warns, reducesexegesis to a shambles. Thevery fact that a warning like thisNovember, 200 I71