Out of Context: How to Avoid Misinterpreting the Bible

This book has many strengths, but one that stands out the most is Schultz’s use of scripture. Apart from his goals, the book addressed common misconceptions in many authors’ writings. Each chapter contains examples of authors who used scripture poorly and followed them with corrections drawn from Biblical instances. I found this helpful because authors often use their opinions rather than point to scripture. Schultz uses historical context and literary context analysis. He even briefly overviews topics such as “The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life,” difficulties in interpretation, human limitation and error, poor training, proof-texting, poetry features, figurative language, prophetic language, historical narratives, OT law, Proverbs, NT Epistles, and more. Thus giving the reader a great overview of important things to recognize when reading other writings or scripture.I would highly advise this book to new theologians wanting to understand the Bible better. Or even for people already acquainted with scripture who want a good reference book.

Richard Schultz's goal for this book is to promote reading the Bible with understanding and appropriate application.In the first six chapters, he presents and discusses specific examples of different types of biblical misinterpretation and misapplication, usually to make or reinforce a point that the author wants to make. Richard Schultz then shows how one can interpret biblical texts more accurately and apply them more appropriately.Then in the seventh and summary chapter (What's So Bad about "Textjacking"?), he makes a final plea for taking the divine and human authors' original intentions more seriously when handling Scripture.He then raises and discusses five possible objections to his approach: (1) that he is being judgmental, (2) that he is suggesting that only professional biblical scholars are able to interpret the Bible correctly, (3) that he is denying the role of the Holy Spirit in illuminating interpreters, (4) that he is ignoring the fact that there are competing interpretations of a given text, and (5) that he is more concerned with correct interpretation than with edifying the church of Jesus Christ.He argues that the problem cannot just be ignored because: (1) misinterpretation is a bad hermeneutical habit that should be stopped before it gets worse, (2) Christians instinctively want to use the Bible to ground their views in Scripture when Scripture is actually silent on many current issues, (3) Christians often derive the right doctrines or ethical principles from the wrong texts, (4) misinterpretation results in invoking biblical authority to support their own ideas, and (5) misinterpretation promotes a faulty view of how God speaks to the church today through his words.Richard Schultz finishes with seven tips for preventing textjacking: (1) care about understanding, (2) catch nuance, (3) clarify context, (4) check terms, (5) consider genre, (6) consult experts, and (7) correlate application.His book includes a short list of things to think about and suggested books for further study at the end of each of the seven chapters.I highly recommend this very readable book for anyone interested in the problems of biblical interpretation and application.

This is a book not so much to help you know how to interpret the Bible, as to help you avoid misinterpreting it. So you couldn't call it a basic course in hermeneutics, but an important way to train yourself to detect misleading and inappropriate uses of the Bible, and to avoid making such mistakes yourself! If I could make all people who teach the Bible read this book, I would! As a Bible teacher myself, I am constantly mindful of the warning in James 3:1 "Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment." One can quibble about a few of his examples, but this book is sure to increase your discernment and sense of responsibility when you read, listen, or teach the Word of God.

This book should not only be read by academic students of the scriptures, but I believe would also help the entirety of the church as we engage the tests God has given us.

GREAT READ! Well written and thought out. Nice scripture references to support authors writing. Always the guide to a books solidarity with Christianity. If you wish to properly interpret scripture, then get one of these. They explain and analyze subjects very well. Will put to good use in my studies, lessons and sermons so all are properly understood and presented! Pastor, teacher, or layman get a copy and start understanding what you read in God's word a little more easily, and much more accurately.

This is a good introductory level book on bible interpretation and how to avoid misinterpreting it yourself. The author gives several examples of other authors misinterpreting bible verses or applying g them wrongly. Obviously this won't interest everyone but I found it informative and interesting.

I had gotten this book at my school's library and read it for a hermeneutics class this semester. This book is easy to read, biblically accurate, and points out errors in people's hermeneutics with accuracy and gracefulness. I learned a lot through this book and am now able to be more discerning when I come across Christian books, blogs, etc. Schultz is a very intelligent writer and has a heart for the Word of God.

This book takes a practical look at the ways that the Bible is used, and at times twisted, to fit into modern day times and situations. The author does an excellent job of showing how the Bible is often misinterpreted and why it is so important to handle God's word properly.

Makes you think and also to realise that past assumptions aren’t necessarily true. Challenges to think in context and to understand the original audience

Excellent book!