The Interpreting Spirit

Spirit, Scripture, and Interpretation in the Renewal Tradition

Hannah R. K. Mather

• Publisher: Pickwick Publications
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN:
  9781725273184
  9781725273191
• eBook ISBN:
  9781725273207
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

The Interpreting Spirit is both a consideration of the Spirit's role in the interpretation of Scripture and a celebration of renewal scholarship. It examines those who have focused on the Spirit's role in their hermeneutical considerations, recognizing common, uniting themes amidst the diversity of scholarly approach and opinion. Working on the principle that the Spirit communicates in ways that seek to unify and celebrate the other, Mather works diachronically from 1970, identifying and drawing together these common, uniting hallmarks into a collective understanding. Pivotal to Mather's argument is her emphasis that we do not just interpret Scripture, but that the Spirit through Scripture, and working in our lives in ways that lead us towards Scripture, interprets us. The Interpreting Spirit is the first comprehensive analysis of the conversation surrounding pneumatic interpretation that has been taking place, particularly among renewal scholars, since 1970. It seeks to answer the notoriously difficult question, "What does the Spirit do in the process of biblical interpretation?"

1

Laying the Foundations

1.1 Introducing a Historical and Pneumatological Analysis

How does the Holy Spirit work to communicate with us1 as we engage with scripture?2 This original work is an attempt to answer this question. It is the first comprehensive analysis of a conversation concerning this topic3 that has been taking place amongst renewal scholars4 since 1970. It highlights key voices, recognizing their individual importance, and yet arranges them in a collectively coherent way.

Accordingly, The Interpreting Spirit is an analysis5 of the Spirit’s role in the interpretation of scripture (pneumatic interpretation, outlined in 1.3). It is approached by engaging with a conversation surrounding this topic that has been taking place between renewal scholars since 1970 when renewed emphasis on and experience of the Spirit began to impact hermeneutical conversations. The work charts historical progress of the conversation6 and concentrates on identifying common, uniting features of scholarly thought amidst hermeneutical diversity. The purpose is twofold: 1) to build understanding of pneumatic interpretation by drawing on and developing—and in this process celebrating—such scholarly thought; and 2) to foster appreciation and understanding between scholars.

As stressed throughout, central to pneumatic interpretation is personal experience of and intimate relationship with the triune God through pneumatic encounter. Affect, ethics, and cognition are three dynamically interrelating7 aspects of this intimate relationship and therefore integral to consideration of pneumatic interpretation. Within this lies a paradox that whilst the Holy Spirit of God is all-powerful, receptivity to the Spirit’s communication through scripture is either helped or hindered by ethical action and choice. It also highlights that seeking understanding of the Spirit’s role in the interpretation of scripture requires consideration of the relational nature of the triune God from a pneumatic starting point. Consequently, the Spirit’s relationship with the Father is reflected on as well as the Spirit’s relationship with the Son. The work’s core emphasis is that pneumatic interpretation is holistic and cannot be restricted to interpretation of the scriptural text. The Spirit always works through and beyond the written words, interpreting and appropriating scriptural truth in our lives in ways that align with scripture and transform and draw us holistically into knowledge of God as Father, Son, and Spirit, to whom the scriptural narrative, and therefore the Spirit through scripture, ultimately points.

The Interpreting Spirit purposefully asks something about God and seeks to reflect aspects of the Spirit’s interpretive nature in its method and style.8 As such, it is both a historical and pneumatological analysis, charting historical progression of the conversation,9 and through this progression building a diachronic understanding of the Spirit’s role in the interpretation of scripture. This approach allows allusion to certain inherent aspects of the Spirit’s interpretive nature, and therefore of pneumatic interpretation: firstly, and most significantly for this work, that the Spirit never communicates directly but always through another object or movement;10 secondly, illustrated by the diachronic style of the analysis and the deliberately open-ended nature of the conclusions, that the Spirit unfolds truth over time; thirdly and fourthly, that the Spirit communicates in ways that unify and that celebrate the other.

I approach this analysis as a charismatic scholar working within the context and perspective of the renewal tradition. Insights from scholars outside the renewal tradition are considered as they identify with and/or assist renewal thought.11 Underlying my approach is the belief that discussions of pneumatic interpretation in the academy must ultimately be translatable to Christians (and non-Christians) outside the academy for this is a conversation relevant to all desiring personal relationship with God. The Interpreting Spirit is addressed to those within the academy, but those outside the academy were on the edge of my thinking throughout my writing and research.12 This is the necessary preface to that work of translation.

Considering the Spirit’s role in the interpretation of scripture by engaging with the historical conversation that renewal scholars have been having surrounding this topic, has enabled me to highlight the many varied and unique, yet also collectively coherent renewal voices. The work provides an answer to the question, “What does the Spirit do in the process of scriptural interpretation?” recognized as a notoriously difficult question to address.13 However, it is a hope that The Interpreting Spirit will also be seen as a celebration of renewal sc...

Table of contents

• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1: Laying the Foundations
• Chapter 2: Pneumatic Interpretation is Holistic
• Chapter 3: Through and Beyond Scripture I
• Chapter 4: Through and Beyond Scripture II
• Chapter 5: Hallmarks of Pneumatic Interpretation Amidst Scholarly Diversity
• Chapter 6: Reflections and Closing Analysis
• Bibliography