Focusing on the Message

Reflecting the methodological shift in the reading of biblical texts that has evolved over some years, the focus is on understanding the New Testament message and not on the origins and prehistory of the text. The contribution of other disciplines such as communication science, linguistics, as well as literary and sociological studies to biblical exegesis also receives thorough attention. The fifteen chapters move from theory to the process of explaining and understanding texts, including contributions on hermeneutics, textual and redaction criticism, discourse analysis, narrative criticism, reception criticism, speech act analysis and rhetorical criticism and concludes with a chapter on Bible translation studies. Numerous diagrams and examples are included to illustrate theoretical concepts and extensive bibliographies refer the reader to recent as well as classic publications on the various topics. The contributors are, in addition to our editor, South African academics that have published internationally on New Testament exegesis: Bernard Lategan, Johannes Vorster, Herman du Toit, G.J.A. Jordaan, Andries van Aarde, Jan van der Watt, Stephan Joubert, Bernard Combrink, Eugene Botha and John Roberts.REVIEWS "Hermeneutics is the art of text interpretation. Traditional hermeneutics is the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law. A type of traditional hermeneutic is biblical hermeneutics which concerns the study of the interpretation of the Bible. In religious studies and social philosophy, hermeneutics is the study of the theory and practice of interpretation. The terms exegesis and hermeneutics have been used interchangeably. However, hermeneutics is a more widely defined discipline of interpretation theory, because it includes the entire framework of the interpretive process, encompassing written, verbal, and nonverbal communication. Exegesis, on the other hand, focuses primarily on written text. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by New Testament scholar Andre du Toit, "Focusing on the Message: New Testament Hermeneutics, Exgesis and Methods" is an erudite 640 page compendium fourteen informed and informative articles by experts in their fields of study and ranging from Andrie du Toit's 'New Testament exgesis in theory and practice'; to Jan van der Watt's 'Reading New Testament imagery'; to J. H. Robert's 'Bible translation - with special reference to the New Testament'. Of special note is Andries van Aarde and Stephan Jourbert joint article 'Social-scientific criticism. Enhanced with indexes of Subject, Author, and Text, "Focusing On The Message" is a highly recommended addition to personal, seminary, pastoral, and academic library Advanced New Testament Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists"Midwest Book Review, 2013/04