The Living Word

The Living Word Synopsis

In this book, which began as the Griffith Thomas Lectures delivered at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, Professor Dunn first develops the theme of New Testament interpretation as a dialogue between the interpreter in his historical context and the biblical texts in theirs. He then goes on to explore the less familiar thesis that this dialogue was already happening within the biblical material itself, particularly within the New Testament. Other topics which he discusses are the importance of seeing the Gospels as oral tradition, and the problem of why New Testament books appear under pseudonyms. Provocatively, he asks, 'Was Jesus a liberal? Was Paul a heretic?' Included as appendices are two earlier essays which have caused considerable interest: 'The Authority of Scripture according to Scripture' and 'Levels of Canonical Authority'. The collection as a whole provides a valuable exposition of the title theme.