Pedagogy of the Bible: An Analysis and Proposal by Dale B. Martin

Pedagogy of the Bible: An Analysis and Proposal Reviews

• 
  Laura Lee

  I was not entirely sure what kind of star rating to give this book. I am not its intended audience, as I am not involved in theological education, but I do have an interest in the interpretation of scripture, so a lot of the book, and its prescriptions for changes in divinity school programs wasn't directly relevant to me.
  
  I was impressed by Martin's Sex and the Single Savior, and he presented many of the same theories on interpretation in that book. Because that title was more geared toward a general reader, perhaps, I found it more engaging. Perhaps I was less engaged because I have already been introduced to some of the ideas that are explored here and they were less surprising and new to me.
  
  As a layperson, I do find it interesting to get a view into how future members of the clergy are taught and also into the many different ways Christian scholars approach the Biblical text. What is most interesting to me as an "outsider" is how the great diversity within Christianity is obscured in our popular culture.
  
  Martin suggests a more open and creative way of interpreting scripture that acknowledges that there is no inherent single meaning in the Biblical text and that the search for the "one answer" is fruitless and sometimes dangerous. He offers a strategy to approach the text.
  
  "I have experimented with thinking of Scripture as a space we enter, rather than a bookish source for knowledge," Martin writes. "We should imagine Scripture, in my suggestions, as something like a museum or a sanctuary, perhaps a cathedral. Just as we enter a museum and experience both its building and its art as communicating to us-yet without any explicit rules or propositions being heard in the air-so we should imagine that when we enter the space of Scripture by either reading it alone or hearing it read in church we are entering a space where our Christian imaginations may be informed, reshaped, even surprised by the place Scripture becomes for us."
  
  I find this conception of interacting with scripture compelling. I also think that many people prefer certainty and finality and they would find this freedom of interpretation to be uncomfortable.
• 
  Crystal Karr

  Phenomenal book--I hope those higher ups in seminary education are paying attention. Martin has some great ideas--critques and suggestions for improvement. Not only for seminary educators but for the church as well. I will be incorporating some of his suggestions (especially helping folks to talk about what scripture means to them and the history of Christian Biblical interpretation) into my future Bible studies for church. It is a book rich with applicable material for helping others to read and delve deeply into scripture faithfully with both heart and mind.
• 
  Curtis

  Having limited exposure to this dialogue I found this a great introduction to the current state of theological education with it's (mostly) uncritical acceptance of historical criticism as the way to interpret Scripture. I feel I have been given new eyes with which to see Scripture and it's varied interpretations.
• 
  Kevin F

  Prof. Martin gives his take on how to improve curriculum in American theological schools by diversifying the way we read scripture. Although the blurb portrays this book as targeted only to educators in the theological schools, the book is also written with the layperson in mind, and has some interesting things to say about the way we read and interpret texts in the modern era.
• 
  Debra

  now that I've finished there is so much more I want to read... literary criticism, allegorical and analogical reading, etc. To me, wanting to keep going further is a sign of a good book. I only wish the bibliography were annotated.
• 
  Cindy

  Good for thought
  
  Much food for thought. Historical criticism does end up with a lop sided, often in Christian reading of scripture. The author does a good job of focusing on a faith based approach. It is recommended reading for anyone pursuing serious study of the Bible.