The Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies

My Journey with Inductive Bible Study

James C. Miller — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 15:22:04 PDT

Construing Culture as Composition—Part 2: Robert Traina’s Methodology

Lindy Backues — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 15:21:56 PDT

Streeter Versus Farmer: The Present State of the Synoptic Problem as Argument for a Synchronic Emphasis in Gospel Interpretation

David R. Bauer — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 15:21:46 PDT

From the Editors

Fredrick J. Long — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 15:21:38 PDT

Journal in Entirety

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 15:21:30 PDT

Hermeneutics: Interpreting Sacred and Living Texts

Anthony J. Headley — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 16:18:03 PST

Interpretive Anarchy, Ecclesial Fragmentation, and Doctrinal Chaos: IBS in the Present Pluralist Age

Kenneth W. Brewer — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 16:17:56 PST

Construing Culture as Composition-Part 1: The Narrative Nature of Truth

Lindy D. Backues — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 16:17:50 PST

From The Editors

David R. Bauer — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 16:17:43 PST

Journal in Entirety

David R. Bauer et al. — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 16:17:34 PST

The Story of My Work with IBS

Brian D. Russell — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:24:40 PDT

Contemporary Hermeneutics: An Examination of Selected Works of John D. K. Ekem on Mother Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics for the African Context

DANIEL NII ABOAGYE ARYEH — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:24:33 PDT

This essay examines the mother tongue biblical hermeneutics (MTBH) of selected works of the Ghanaian scholar, John D. K. Ekem. Contextual principles, approaches, and methods have been advanced by biblical scholars to elucidate the meaning of Scripture. However, many of the principles, approaches, and methods do not adequately address the socio-cultural context of Ghana (or Africa) since they are products developed in and for another context. Hence, Ekem’s assertion that biblical interpretation must critically engage and dialogue with local socio-cultural norms in the process of biblical interpretation in Africa. Not surprisingly, MTBH shares several principles with inductive biblical studies (IBS). Although MTBH faces numerous challenges, it has the potential to help African Christians to better apply the texts of the Bible to their existential situations. This essay honors the work of Ekem in an effort to bring awareness to MTBH and advance its growth in the African context.

The Role of Hebrews 1:1–4 in the Book of Hebrews

Rick Boyd — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:24:27 PDT

This essay considers the complex structure of Hebrews, focusing on the role of the opening statement of the book. The study finds causation with parallel instances of particularization, the author providing general statements in both the cause (1:1–4) and effect (10:22–25) which are then subsequently unpacked through the rest of each main unit of material. Emphasis is placed on the role of 1:1–4 in the context of the author’s argument regarding God’s eschatological revelation in the Christ-event. This revelation is made ἐν υἱῷ (1:2a), an expression long undervalued by scholars but one that provides the basis for and understanding of the various themes in Hebrews.

The Chiastic Arrangement of the Lukan Temptation Narrative

Caleb T. Louden — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:24:20 PDT

What constitutes a chiasm is a debated area of research and more often neglected within biblical studies. In response to this, Craig Arnold Smith has produced a work that provides new insights into how to determine whether an author intentionally employs a chiasm. Working from Smith’s method, this paper argues that the Lukan temptation in the wilderness narrative is structured as a chiasm. It also demonstrates how the temptation functions to emphasize certain Lukan themes. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the chiasm of Luke 4:1–14a enhances the interpretive significance of the passage by revealing a literary function that has consequences for the reading of the entirety of Luke-Acts. These functions in turn validate the chiasm of Luke 4:1–14a, illustrating the value of Smith’s methodology.

Vital Relations and Major Structural Relationships: Heuristic Approaches to Observe and Explore Biblical and Other Discourse

Fredrick J. Long — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:24:13 PDT

In their book, The Way We Think: Conceptual Blending and the Mind’s Hidden Complexities (2002), Gilles Fauconnier and Mark Turner describe within Conceptual Integration Theory (CIT) a set of “vital relations” (VRs) at the core of meaning making that compress and blend ideas simultaneously. “Compression in blending networks operates on a surprisingly small set of relations rooted in fundamental human neurobiology and shared social experience. These vital relations, which include Cause-Effect, Change, Time, Identity, Intentionality, Representation, and Part-Whole, not only apply across mental spaces but also define essential topology within mental spaces” (xiii). Additional VRs include Role, Analogy, Disanalogy, Property, Similarity, Category, Intentionality, and Uniqueness. Taken as a whole, these VRs correspond quite well with Major Structural Relationships (MSRs) as used in Inductive Bible Study (IBS), which include Recurrence, Comparison, Contrast, Introduction, Causation, Substantiation, Generalization, Particularization, Summarization, Problem-Solution, Instrumentation, Pivot, and Climax. These MSRs are ubiquitous and observable across all types of human communication. The observation of MSRs occurs at all levels of discourse (phrases, clause, paragraph, sections, units, and discourse as a whole). In written discourse, these relations are both explicitly marked through conjunctions and particles and implicitly indicated through literary arrangement and inference. This article explores how VRs and MSRs mutually inform one another, and illustrate through many examples how the application of VRs and MSRs may successfully instruct students of Scripture, not only to make acute observations of biblical materials, but also of all human discourse.

From the Editors

Fredrick J. Long — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:24:06 PDT

Journal in Entirety

Wed, 23 May 2018 12:23:59 PDT

Autobiographical Reflections on IBS

Alan J. Meenan — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:02:03 PDT

“Except for the LORD” An Exposition of Psalm 124

Stanley D. Walters — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:02:00 PDT

Chapter X: A Critical Estimate of St. Paul’s Pedagogy

Howard Tillman Kuist — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:01:57 PDT