There is a long-unquestioned assumption that to understand biblical texts, one must first understand the original historical contexts. However, early Christian Bible readers didn't share this assumption and often interpreted biblical texts allegorically. Does this mean that interpretations of the Bible from before the Enlightenment are irrelevant today? In this lecture, Devin will examine how Biblical Scholars are, for the first time in two hundred years, reexamining the “original historical context” assumption, often in conjunction with ancient Christian Bible readers. He'll show, for example, how reading ancient interpretations of Romans solves problems that have eluded modern readers for centuries. Finally, he'll conclude by offering some suggestions for how you, as non-specialists, can read and benefit from ancient Christian exegesis.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:

Dr. Devin White is a Fellow in Biblical Studies at the Lumen Center. He is also the Associate Pastor of Christian Education at High Point Church in Madison, WI. A scholar of the New Testament and Early Christianity, Devin is the author of Teacher of the Nations: Ancient Educational Traditions and Paul’s Argument in 1 Corinthians 1-4 (De Gruyter, 2017), and a forthcoming monograph on the Apostle Paul’s biblical interpretation.