Building a Community of Interpreters: Readers and Hearers as Interpreters

by Walter R. Dickhaut

Often, it seems, when we turn to Scripture or other written texts, we assume that the only meaning that exists is the meaning that abides in the text, and if we can just listen diligently enough, position ourselves in right relation to the text, it will surrender its meaning and we will be able to get a lesson or insight (or sermon) from it. If I squeeze a text hard enough, it will reward me with a treasure. But that’s not my experience. My experience is that texts are texts of memory (memory of ancient meanings) for particular communities of faith, at particular times in history, in particular sociopolitical contexts. A particular memory preserves meaning for particular times, places, and contexts—not necessarily the same for all times, places, and contexts. This is why there is, in the academic world, a history of interpretation.

Important. This is the premise of the entire book.