Biblical Narrative in the Philosophy of Paul Ricoeur: A Study in Hermeneutics and Theology

by Kevin J. Vanhoozer

Although Paul Ricoeur's writings are widely and appreciatively read by theologians, this book offers a full, sympathetic yet critical account of Ricoeur's theory of narrative interpretation and its contribution to theology. Unlike many previous studies of Ricoeur, Part I argues that Ricoeur's hermeneutics must be viewed in the light of his overall philosophical agenda, as a fusion and continuation of the unfinished projects of Kant and Heidegger. Particularly helpful is the focus on Ricoeur's recent narrative theory as the context in which Ricoeur deals with problems of time and the creative imagination; and it becomes clear that narrative stands at the crossroads of Ricoeur's search for the meaning of human being as well as his search for the meaning of texts. Part II examines the potential of Ricoeur's narrative theory for resolving certain theological problems, such as the dichotomy betweens the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith.

Genres: Philosophy, Theology

324 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Kevin J. Vanhoozer is currently Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. From 1990-98 he was Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at New College, University of Edinburgh. Vanhoozer received a BA from Westmont College, an M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, England having studied under Nicholas Lash.

Reviews

[Jack Hayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning this is an extremely dense book and there is no way to avoid that because of its subject matter, Ricouer. Dr. Vanhoozer does a spectacular job of showing how Ricoeur is primarily a philosopher operating within the confines of Kant to Heidegger. This of course leads to constraints to what Ricoeur can be for the theologian. It is very hard to separate Ricoeur’s ideas from his philosophy.
This book is helpful seeing Ricoeur’s large corpus as unified, trying to realize hope, the ‘passion of the possible’ against the being toward death.
Dr. Vanhoozer also does an exceptional job showing that Ricouer’s idea of the passion for the possible is the driver for Ricoeur’s ideas, which his attraction as a philosopher of hope against the skeptic hermeneutics. A Christian must know that Ricoeur chooses to downplay the historical event by transposing it into testimony, favoring the poetic sense of a text over its historicity. Sense and reference become somewhat unbalanced. Which is a problem because we as Christians believe in a literal crucifixion and resurrection. Instead the poetic or the possibility of the resurrection are chosen instead.