Scripture & Theology

We are witnessing the emergence and proliferation of terms associated with ‘theological reading of Scripture.’ This happens against the backdrop of a certain loss of confidence in the direction of historical-critical methods and their distinction over against theology as a discipline—precisely as the term ‘systematic theology’ also suffers a loss of clarity and purpose. Alongside this one can also see entrenchment and defence of the older paradigms and distinctions.

The general theme of the Scripture-Theology seminar is an investigation into this development and its relationship to Biblical Theology. Biblical Theology was in part a creation of the very distinction now under interrogation; it was the hoped-for bridge between historical-critical methods and dogmatics, especially in German-speaking contexts. But it also has a distinctive history and a genuine life as a genre of sustained reflection. How is it to be understood against the newer appeals to ‘theological commentary,’ ‘scripture and theology,’ ‘theological hermeneutics,’ and so forth?

A second goal of the seminar is more practical: we wish to involve PhD students in a more direct way, as readers of papers and organisers of individual sections. We also have a guest, Dr David Stubbs, who is writing a commentary on Numbers in the theological commentary series being published by Brazos Press (I have been assigned the Colossians commentary). Dr Nathan MacDonald is involved in the Two Horizons project and Dr Mark Elliott in the Blackwells series. A particular feature of the Scripture-Theology seminar in St Andrews has been its interest in the history of interpretation (Psalms and the Book of the Twelve have been the subject of detailed work). These individuals make an investigation by the Seminar into newer forms of ‘theological reading of scripture’ natural and obvious. We have also invited a prominent defender of this appeal to a new approach (with his own particular interests), Professor Walter Moberly of Durham.

I am working on a book that raises the question of the relationship between appeals to canon and the divide between Systematics and historical-critical labours. We see interest in the use of the Old Testament in the New as a candidate for ‘Biblical Theology’ or a ‘theology of Christian Scripture.’ Sometimes this is even under-girded by a concern for reading the Old Testament ‘canonically’—viz., in order better to grasp its reception history at the time of the formation of the NT (an aspect obscured by the usual historical-critical approaches to the OT interested in ‘original setting’ or ‘authorial intention’). But such a concern is rarely if ever carried over into the New Testament—and is the OT something more than its reception history in the NT?

What does it mean to hear the voice of Paul, both in Acts and in letters associated with him, but then also in the context of the fuller NT canonical witness? Here Hebrews presents a particular challenge because its authorial voice is obscure in the nature of the thing, and its distinctiveness as a witness is part of its canonical reality.

What are the implications of this for Dogmatics and for wider theological reflection? How does one hear a single witness in relationship to other witnesses in the NT, and as a part of Christian Scripture as a whole? The canonical and the dogmatic aspects may in the end be related concerns, but reflection on this still needs to take place. Early sessions will pick up on this concern in the light of a conference on Hebrews held earlier in the summer. The concern is to move this discussion into a wider context of reflection, one that is already at the centre of much of the present climate of biblical and theological studies, and to bring greater precision to it.

Professor C Seitz, Convener
Scripture-Theology Seminar, St Mary’s College, St Andrews

Fall 2006 Seminar Schedule:

Week 1 – September 27

General Orientation

Week 2 – October 4

Hebrews and Biblical Theology
Hebrews Conference Discussion – Diller et al.
— joint with the Biblical/NT seminar

Week 3 – October 11

Hebrews and Biblical Theology
Vetus Testamentum in Novo Receptum? – Seitz

Week 4 – October 18

Biblical Theology in Overview – Elliott

Week 5 – October 25

Seeing the Word
Studies in Theological Interpretation – Markus Bockmuehl

Week 6 – November 1

Theological Commentary on the Pentateuch
Two Horizons Commentary Session – MacDonald

Week 7 – Reading Week

Week 8 – November 15

PhD candidate paper

Week 9 – November 22

AAR-SBL Recap

Week 10 – November 29

“Adam’s Glory, Christ’s Glory, Christian’s Glory: A Test Case for the Role of the Pseudepigrapha in Theological Readings” – Macaskill

Week 11 – December 6

PhD candidate papers — Driver, Moon

Week 12 – December 13

Prophecy and Discernment by W Moberly – Moberly (Durham)