The Four Senses of Scripture: Learning from Ancient Ways of Reading the Bible

Author:   Patrick Schreiner ,  Jonathan T. Pennington
Publisher:   Baker Publishing Group
ISBN:  

9781540968791


Pages:   288
Publication Date:   04 August 2026
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock.

Our Price $73.89 Quantity:  
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The Four Senses of Scripture: Learning from Ancient Ways of Reading the Bible


Overview

In the modern era, biblical hermeneutics has been dominated by the grammatical-historical method. This represents a departure from the interpretive approach commonly used during the prior 1,700 years of the church, the four senses approach (or quadriga). Those four senses are literal (grammatical-historical), allegory (Christological), tropology (moral), and anagogy (eschatological). Patrick Schreiner doesn't believe modern hermeneutics is wrong but believes that it is incomplete in ignoring these other aspects. Here he seeks to recover this ancient method by explaining it, defending it, and offering a coherent method for using it. With scholars, students, and pastors in view, he argues that this approach, with the senses in conversation with each other, better respects the nature, goal, and ecclesial setting of reading, interpreting, and applying the Bible. Schreiner begins by giving a brief overview of the four senses and why early Christians used this method. He then examines each sense in detail, exploring the what, why, and how, along with providing examples. Finally, he addresses anticipated exegetical, historical, and allegorical objections to his proposal. The book includes a foreword by Jonathan T. Pennington.

Full Product Details

Author:   Patrick Schreiner ,  Jonathan T. Pennington
Publisher:   Baker Publishing Group
Imprint:   Baker Academic, Div of Baker Publishing Group
ISBN:  

9781540968791


ISBN 10:   1540968790
Pages:   288
Publication Date:   04 August 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock.

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Author Information

Patrick Schreiner (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament and biblical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of numerous books, including Matthew: Disciple and Scribe and The Transfiguration of Christ.

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