Contextual Meanings

With this issue, BTB introduces a new subtitle, A Journal of Bible and Culture. BTB has been distinguished for its frequent use of the social sciences for interpreting biblical texts in their social world contexts. Critical biblical scholarship long has been notable for its goal of interpreting texts in their literary, historical, canonical contexts. Each of these has lent perspective to meanings and has tended to relieve misunderstandings born of lack of knowledge or faulty assumptions. Using biblical texts out of context is to misconstrue meanings often based on prejudice, reading meaning into the text rather than from it.

While BTB continues to publish articles that employ a range of critical methodologies for biblical studies, it includes methods from the social sciences that delve into the meanings of culturally-embedded symbols and values inherent in biblical texts. As a Journal of Bible and Culture BTB thus acknowledges that cultural contexts significantly shape meanings and their appropriate applications.

In addition, it is our belief that it is important to distinguish and separately value both biblical studies and theology, biblical scholars and theologians. These two disciplines or groups of scholars may frequently include the same thinking, or people, but can also diverge quite strongly in their respective standpoints, their exegetical methods and approaches, and in their conclusions. BTB seeks to include and provide a forum for the expression of the best and most up-to-date thinking from those two strands of scholarly enterprise, particularly because of its desire to keep any and all interested readers in touch with the forefront of studies on the Bible and its interaction within human culture.

The current issue of BTB begins with a study by Robert K. Gnuse, “The Elohist: A 7^th Century bce Theological Tradition,” which examines how texts centered on the cult center of Bethel related to the destruction of Samaria and the exile of Israelites in 722 bce. Gnuse concludes: “A meaningful new articulation of the theological message of these tests may provide us with resources for theology in general.”

Edward A. Beckstrom's study, “The Mystery of Jesus' Teaching about ‘The Son of Man,’” notes that “Son of Man” occurs seventy-one times on the lips of Jesus in the four Gospels, and only in the Gospels, leading to the conclusion that it must have been original with Jesus. Following a detailed survey of sources, Beckstrom considers a possible solution to “the Problem” of meaning.

Prosper Grech, recently named a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of his distinguished career as a biblical scholar in Rome, revisits a foundational question in canonical biblical studies, “Further Reflections on Biblical Inspiration and Truth.” Grech identifies various kinds of truth, concluding “It is well to keep in mind that the Bible is not a history textbook, even though ‘Histories of Israel’ are based on it, helped by archaeology, epigraphy, philology, studies on folklore and the various ways of story-writing in the ancient world.”

Carolyn Osiek presents “The Women in Paul's Life,” in which she examines three current books on women in Paul's world by Richard Ascough, Joan Cecilia Campbell, and Marie Noël Keller, all helpful for expanding the awareness of the vital role of women in the formation of the early church communities.