Category Archives: Hermeneutics

God’s Wrath

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Alastair Roberts

In an article for the latest issue of First Things, I review Paul Copan’s recent book, Is God a Vindictive Bully? Reconciling Portrayals of God in the Old and New Testaments, and discuss responsible handling of narratives of divine violence … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Controversies, Guest Post, Hermeneutics, NT Theology, OT, OT Theology, Theological | Leave a comment

The Church’s Book—A Theopolis Conversation with Brad East

Posted on August 12, 2022 by Alastair Roberts

In the latest Theopolis Conversation, I discuss Brad East’s recently published work, The Church’s Book: Theologies of Scripture in Ecclesial Context, which explores the relationship between bibliology (the doctrine of Scripture) and ecclesiology in the work of Karl Barth and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church History, Controversies, Hermeneutics, My Reading, Reviews, Scripture, Technology, The Church, Theological, Theopolis | Leave a comment

Reading Scripture ‘Like a Berean’ May Look Different Than You Think

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Alastair Roberts

A piece of mine has just been published over on the Gospel Coalition website. Our relationship with the Scripture can also be flattened out. We don’t (or shouldn’t) merely read the Bible. We sing the psalms. We pray the Lord’s Prayer. We practice the Lord’s Supper. We meditate on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church History, Guest Post, Hermeneutics, Scripture, Society, Technology, The Church, Theological, Worship | 1 Comment

Exegetical Rules

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Alastair Roberts

In the latest round of our Theopolitan Conversations, Peter Leithart kicked off a discussion of exegesis and exegetical method. I wrote the first response, which was published yesterday. In the absence of articulated rules and principles, the authority of Scripture … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Controversies, Guest Post, Hermeneutics, Scripture, Theological, Theopolis | Leave a comment

Being Biblical™: When the Bible Becomes a Brand

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Alastair Roberts

I have written a post over on the Davenant blog, in which I discuss some of the dangers in certain uses of the term ‘biblical’ in some conservative Reformed and evangelical circles. The term ‘biblical’ has come to function as … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Experience, Controversies, Culture, Davenant Institute, Ethics, Guest Post, Hermeneutics, Scripture, Theological | 1 Comment

Discussion on Classical Theism with Jeff Meyers and Peter Leithart

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Alastair Roberts

Over the last few days in Monroe, Louisiana, I’ve enjoyed a discussion on the subject of classical theism with Peter Leithart and Jeff Meyers, hosted by Church of the Redeemer. We’ve had some great and challenging debate. You can see … Continue reading →

Posted in Christology, Controversies, Doctrine of God, Hermeneutics, The Triune God, Theological, Video | 31 Comments

Iain Provan, ‘In Defence of Protestant Hermeneutics’ (and responses, including mine)

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Alastair Roberts

I am one of the speakers responding to Iain Provan (who has just written this book) in this Davenant Institute event on Protestant hermeneutics.

Posted in Bible, Controversies, Davenant Institute, Hermeneutics, Lectures, NT Theology, OT Theology, Scripture, Theological, Video | 3 Comments

Yoram Hazony and the Deception of Isaac

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Alastair Roberts

A post of mine has just been published over on the Theopolis blog. Within it, I engage with part of Yoram Hazony’s superb The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture, bringing him into conversation with James Jordan’s Primeval Saints on the question … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Samuel, Bible, Genesis, Hermeneutics, OT, OT Theology, Scripture, Theological | 2 Comments

Video: Jairus’ Daughter and the Woman with the Issue of Blood

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Alastair Roberts

Today’s question: What’s going on with the story of the healing of Jairus’ daughter and the woman who touches the hem of Jesus’ garment? I know there are similarities between the two, but I’m not sure what to make of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Hermeneutics, Luke, Mark, Matthew, NT, NT Theology, Podcasts, Questions and Answers, The Gospels, Theological, Video | Leave a comment

Video: Richard Rohr on Scripture

Posted on October 28, 2018 by Alastair Roberts

Today’s question: I came across this post from Richard Rohr on how Jesus interpreted scripture (https://cac.org/jesus-interpreted-scripture-2017-01-10/). Here is a quote from the post: “Jesus consistently ignored or even denied exclusionary, punitive, and triumphalistic texts in his own inspired Hebrew Bible in … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Bible, Controversies, Ethics, Hermeneutics, NT, NT Theology, Podcasts, Questions and Answers, Scripture, Theological, Video | 7 Comments