A Word About Mere Christian Hermeneutics

In retrospect, it may have been a mistake—a well-meant and maybe even propitious mistake. Excited by the very recent publication of Kevin J. Vanhoozer’s new book, Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically (Zondervan), I assigned it to my students taking an introductory course in biblical interpretation. Hot off the press in October 2024, it had already been named Christianity Today’s Book of the Year in Academic Theology (on December 3). Not only so, but Dr. Vanhoozer had been a professor of mine, though not as often as I could have wished, and has continued to be my teacher, albeit through his writings. My students, however, had a range of reactions. For some it was a challenge!