And_CJC with_PRP that_DT0 we_PNP come_VVB to_PRP our_DPS definition_NN1 of_PRF existentialism_NN1 ._SENT To_TO0 choose_VVI is_VBZ to_TO0 be_VBI free_AJ0 to_TO0 create_VVI the_AT0 much-needed_AJ0 identity_NN1 and_CJC meaning_NN1 in_PRP our_DPS quest_NN1 to_TO0 overcome_VVI the_AT0 pressing_AJ0 meaninglessness_NN1 of_PRF our_DPS postmodern_AJ0 world_NN1 ._SENT To_TO0 restrict_VVI such_DT0 free_AJ0 choice_NN1 is_VBZ ,_PUN therefore_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 height_NN1 of_PRF violence_NN1 ._SENT To_TO0 stop_VVI someone_PNI from_PRP "_PUQ discovering_VVG themselves_PNX "_PUQ is_VBZ to_TO0 wipe_VVI away_AV0 their_DPS only_AJ0 chance_NN1 at_PRP identity_NN1 creation_NN1 and_CJC meaning-making_NN1 ._SENT 
This_DT0 philosophical_AJ0 climate_NN1 has_VHZ impacted_VVN hermeneutics_NN2 in_PRP at_PRP least_AV0 two_CRD ways_NN2 ._SENT First_ORD ,_PUN one_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 most_AV0 influential_AJ0 New_AJ0 Testament_NN1 scholars_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 twentieth_ORD century_NN1 is_VBZ Rudolf_NP0 Bultmann_NP0 (_PUL 1884_CRD –_PUN 1976_CRD )_PUR ._SENT 
Bultmann_NP0 cared_VVD deeply_AV0 about_PRP the_AT0 historical_AJ0 rootedness_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 biblical_AJ0 text_NN1 (_PUL thinking_VVG like_PRP a_AT0 "_PUQ higher_AJC critic_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ briefly_AV0 described_VVN above_AV0 )_PUR ,_PUN but_CJC also_AV0 argued_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 biblical_AJ0 worldview_NN1 is_VBZ simply_AV0 no_AT0 longer_AV0 believable_AJ0 in_PRP our_DPS scientifically_AV0 advanced_AJ0 world_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP said_VVD ,_PUN "_PUQ We_PNP cannot_VVB use_VVB electric_AJ0 lights_NN2 and_CJC radios_NN2 and_CJC ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 event_NN1 of_PRF illness_NN1 ,_PUN avail_VVB ourselves_PNX of_PRF modern_AJ0 medical_AJ0 and_CJC clinical_AJ0 means_NN0 and_CJC at_PRP the_AT0 same_DT0 time_NN1 believe_VVB in_PRP the_AT0 spirit_NN1 and_CJC wonder_VVB world_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 New_AJ0 Testament_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ The_AT0 New_AJ0 Testament_NN1 envisions_VVZ a_AT0 three-tiered_AJ0 universe_NN1 :_PUN heaven_NN1 ,_PUN earth_NN1 ,_PUN hell_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC these_DT0 three_CRD tiers_NN2 are_VBB permeable_AJ0 ;_PUN persons_NN2 and_CJC communications_NN2 run_VVN between_PRP them_PNP ._SENT Revelation_NN1 ,_PUN angels_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC even_AV0 God_NP0 himself_PNX come_VVN down_AVP from_PRP heaven_NN1 ._SENT Satan_NP0 and_CJC legions_NN2 of_PRF demons_NN2 come_VVN up_AVP from_PRP hell_NN1 ._SENT Even_AV0 Paul_NP0 and_CJC John_NP0 are_VBB "_PUQ taken_VVN up_AVP "_PUQ into_PRP heaven_NN1 and_CJC sent_VVD back_AVP down_PRP (_PUL 2_CRD Cor_ITJ 12_CRD :_PUN 2-4_CRD ;_PUN Rev_NP0 4_CRD :_PUN 1-2_CRD )_PUR ._SENT But_CJC can_VM0 the_AT0 modern_AJ0 man_NN1 believe_VVB any_DT0 of_PRF this_DT0 ?_SENT No._NN1 We_PNP have_VHB advanced_VVN so_AV0 far_AV0 in_PRP our_DPS knowledge_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 world_NN1 that_CJT it_PNP is_VBZ now_AV0 impossible_AJ0 to_TO0 believe_VVI it_PNP is_VBZ really_AV0 connected_VVN to_PRP those_DT0 worlds_NN2 ._SENT Thus_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 New_AJ0 Testament_NN1 cosmology_NN1 can_VM0 only_AV0 be_VBI described_VVN as_PRP myth_NN1 ._SENT Bultmann_NP0 ,_PUN therefore_AV0 ,_PUN proposed_VVD a_AT0 method_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ demythologization_NN1 "_PUQ for_PRP understanding_VVG and_CJC applying_VVG the_AT0 New_AJ0 Testament_NN1 today_AV0 ._SENT It_PNP is_VBZ an_AT0 approach_NN1 to_PRP recognizing_VVG such_DT0 "_PUQ unbelievable_AJ0 "_PUQ elements_NN2 and_CJC reinterpreting_VVG them_PNP in_PRP terms_NN2 of_PRF postmodern_AJ0 sensibilities_NN2 —_PUN to_TO0 take_VVI the_AT0 mythological_AJ0 elements_NN2 out_AVP ._SENT For_PRP example_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 incarnation_NN1 —_PUN the_AT0 belief_NN1 that_CJT the_AT0 second_ORD person_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 eternal_AJ0 Trinity_NN1 has_VHZ visited_VVN the_AT0 world_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 man_NN1 Jesus_NP0 Christ_NP0 —_PUN is_VBZ reinterpreted_VVN to_TO0 reflect_VVI the_AT0 future_AJ0 hope_NN1 that_CJT anyone_PNI can_VM0 become_VVI more_AV0 (_PUL truly_AV0 )_PUR human_AJ0 through_PRP decision-making_NN1 ._SENT Or_CJC the_AT0 biblical_AJ0 doctrine_NN1 of_PRF justification_NN1 by_PRP faith_NN1 alone_AV0 can_VM0 no_AV0 longer_AV0 be_VBI believed_VVN as_PRP God_NP0 's_POS declaration_NN1 from_PRP heaven_NN1 that_CJT exonerates_VVZ sinners_NN2 on_PRP earth_NN1 ._SENT Rather_AV0 ,_PUN it_PNP discourages_VVZ the_AT0 pallid_AJ0 human_AJ0 attempts_NN2 at_PRP security_NN1 through_PRP anything_PNI in_PRP this_DT0 world_NN1 ,_PUN be_VBB they_PNP riches_NN2 or_CJC reputation_NN1 or_CJC revenge_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC so_AV0 on_AVP ,_PUN and_CJC teaches_VVZ a_AT0 humble_AJ0 trust_NN1 in_PRP one_PNI 's_POS own_DT0 fearless_AJ0 authenticity_NN1 ._SENT Thus_AV0 ,_PUN Bultmann_NP0 has_VHZ "_PUQ [_PUL restated_AJ0 ]_PUR the_AT0 existential_AJ0 truth_NN1 contained_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 myth_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Second_ORD ,_PUN this_DT0 is_VBZ another_DT0 example_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 Zeitgeist_NN1 haunting_VVG the_AT0 halls_NN2 of_PRF our_DPS hermeneutics_NN2 ._SENT Bultmann_NP0 seems_VVZ not_XX0 to_TO0 have_VHI de_NP0 mythologized_VVN the_AT0 New_AJ0 Testament_NN1 as_CJS much_AV0 as_CJS he_PNP has_VHZ re_PRP mythologized_AJ0 it_PNP to_TO0 fit_VVI his_DPS philosophical_AJ0 precommitments_NN2 ._SENT Bultmann_NP0 has_VHZ been_VBN influential_AJ0 in_PRP many_DT0 other_AJ0 ways_NN2 than_CJS described_VVN here_AV0 ._SENT But_CJC he_PNP serves_VVZ the_AT0 purposes_NN2 of_PRF this_DT0 brief_AJ0 historical_AJ0 survey_NN1 in_PRP providing_VVG another_DT0 example_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 way_NN1 the_AT0 philosophical_AJ0 waters_NN2 in_PRP which_DTQ the_AT0 interpreter_NN1 swims_NN2 have_VHB rushed_VVN over_PRP his_DPS hermeneutical_AJ0 gills_NN2 with_PRP decisive_AJ0 results_NN2 ._SENT Existentialism_NN1 in_PRP ,_PUN existentialism_NN1 out_AVP ._SENT 
With_PRP that_DT0 ,_PUN we_PNP turn_VVB to_PRP relativism_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP is_VBZ not_XX0 hard_AJ0 to_TO0 see_VVI how_AVQ the_AT0 existentialism_NN1 described_VVN above_AV0 gathers_VVZ fuel_NN1 from_PRP individualism_NN1 and_CJC in_PRP turn_NN1 further_AV0 strengthens_VVZ individualistic_AJ0 penchants_NN2 ._SENT To_TO0 "_PUQ choose_VVI to_TO0 do_VDI otherwise_AV0 "_PUQ necessitates_VVZ that_CJT each_DT0 person_NN1 makes_VVZ their_DPS own_DT0 choices_NN2 ._SENT In_PRP fact_NN1 ,_PUN there_EX0 is_VBZ a_AT0 sense_NN1 that_CJT any_DT0 external_AJ0 influence_NN1 is_VBZ suspected_AJ0 of_PRF inhibiting_VVG that_DT0 authentically_AV0 personal_AJ0 choice_NN1 in_PRP light_NN1 of_PRF any_DT0 matter_NN1 ._SENT Therefore_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 discovery_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 good_AJ0 ,_PUN the_AT0 true_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 beautiful_AJ0 is_VBZ relative_AJ0 to_PRP each_DT0 person_NN1 ._SENT No_AT0 one_PNI can_VM0 tell_VVI another_DT0 how_AVQ to_TO0 define_VVI and_CJC discover_VVI the_AT0 good_AJ0 ,_PUN true_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC beautiful_AJ0 ._SENT That_DT0 would_VM0 stall_VVI the_AT0 process_NN1 of_PRF self-_AJ0 creation_NN1 ._SENT Thus_AV0 truth_NN1 ,_PUN ethics_NN0 and_CJC the_AT0 vision_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 good_AJ0 life_NN1 depend_VVB on_AVP —_PUN are_VBB relative_AJ0 to_TO0 —_PUN each_DT0 individual_NN1 ._SENT 
All_DT0 this_DT0 gets_VVZ us_PNP to_PRP the_AT0 final_AJ0 point_NN1 regarding_PRP postmodernism_NN1 :_PUN reader-response_AJ0 hermeneutics_NN2 ._SENT As_CJS might_VM0 be_VBI expected_VVN ,_PUN with_PRP the_AT0 new_AJ0 search_NN1 for_PRP truth_NN1 in_PRP individual_AJ0 choices_NN2 ,_PUN many_DT0 have_VHB recently_AV0 argued_VVN that_CJT meaning_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX0 reside_VVI in_PRP the_AT0 text_NN1 (_PUL or_CJC in_PRP the_AT0 author_NN1 who_PNQ —_PUN like_PRP the_AT0 ultimate_AJ0 Author_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 universe_NN1 —_PUN is_VBZ now_AV0 dead_AJ0 )_PUR but_CJC in_PRP the_AT0 experience_NN1 of_PRF reading_VVG the_AT0 text_NN1 ._SENT That_DT0 is_VBZ ,_PUN meaning_NN1 resides_VVZ in_PRP one_PNI 's_POS private_AJ0 interpretation_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 text_NN1 as_CJS they_PNP bring_VVB their_DPS existential_AJ0 precommitments_NN2 to_TO0 bear_VVI ._SENT The_AT0 text_NN1 is_VBZ there_AV0 as_PRP a_AT0 servant_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 reader_NN1 's_POS agendas_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC meaning_NN1 is_VBZ thus_AV0 found_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 response_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 reader_NN1 ._SENT Hence_AV0 the_AT0 name_NN1 ._SENT Thus_AV0 ,_PUN these_DT0 recent_AJ0 developments_NN2 make_VVB it_PNP increasingly_AV0 hard_AJ0 to_TO0 establish_VVI priorities_NN2 among_PRP conflicting_AJ0 interpretations_NN2 ._SENT Of_PRF course_NN1 the_AT0 text_NN1 or_CJC the_AT0 author_NN1 cannot_NN1 have_VHB control_NN1 ;_PUN that_DT0 would_VM0 inhibit_VVI the_AT0 reader_NN1 's_POS freedom_NN1 for_PRP self-creation_NN1 and_CJC self-determination_NN1 ._SENT All_DT0 this_DT0 is_VBZ custom_NN1 built_VVN to_TO0 serve_VVI any_DT0 Zeitgeist_NN1 where_AVQ the_AT0 text_NN1 can_VM0 fit_VVI any_DT0 reader_NN1 's_POS philosophical_AJ0 penchant_NN1 —_PUN oftentimes_AV0 without_PRP knowing_VVG it_PNP ._SENT 
One_CRD particular_AJ0 philosophical_AJ0 penchant_NN1 today_AV0 is_VBZ the_AT0 habit_NN1 of_PRF deconstructionism_NN1 ._SENT Deconstructionism_NN1 is_VBZ complex_AJ0 ,_PUN but_CJC we_PNP can_VM0 define_VVI it_PNP here_AV0 simply_AV0 as_CJS an_AT0 attempt_NN1 to_TO0 read_VVI (_PUL and_CJC /_PUN or_CJC rewrite_VVB )_PUR narratives_NN2 (_PUL in_PRP texts_NN2 or_CJC anywhere_AV0 narratives_NN2 are_VBB told_VVN )_PUR in_PRP a_AT0 way_NN1 that_CJT moves_VVZ the_AT0 center_NN1 of_PRF attention_NN1 away_AV0 from_PRP traditional_AJ0 (_PUL and_CJC sometimes_AV0 obvious_AJ0 )_PUR interpretations_NN2 and_CJC give_VVB voice_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 characters_NN2 and_CJC ideas_NN2 at_PRP the_AT0 margins_NN2 ._SENT There_EX0 are_VBB social_AJ0 ,_PUN political_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC economic_AJ0 forces_NN2 at_PRP work_NN1 in_PRP all_DT0 this_DT0 that_CJT now_AV0 make_VVB it_PNP hermeneutically_AV0 in_PRP vogue_NN1 as_CJS well_AV0 ._SENT Take_VVB for_PRP example_NN1 the_AT0 recent_AJ0 TED_NP0 talk_NN1 by_PRP Malcom_NP0 Gladwell_NP0 about_PRP David_NP0 and_CJC Goliath_NP0 ._SENT Gladwell_NP0 tells_VVZ the_AT0 story_NN1 with_PRP particular_AJ0 emphasis_NN1 on_PRP minor_AJ0 details_NN2 ,_PUN like_PRP some_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 things_NN2 Goliath_NP0 says_VVZ that_DT0 might_VM0 suggest_VVI he_PNP had_VHD poor_AJ0 eyesight_NN1 ._SENT Also_AV0 ,_PUN Goliath_NP0 's_POS size_NN1 is_VBZ of_PRF course_NN1 a_AT0 major_AJ0 detail_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC Gladwell_NP0 brings_VVZ in_PRP the_AT0 "_PUQ heretofore_AV0 overlooked_VVN "_PUQ point_NN1 that_CJT his_DPS height_NN1 likely_AV0 meant_VVD he_PNP had_VHD a_AT0 serious_AJ0 disease_NN1 and_CJC was_VBD surely_AV0 very_AV0 clumsy_AJ0 ._SENT That_CJT he_PNP "_PUQ needs_VVZ "_PUQ an_AT0 armor-bearer_NN1 suggests_VVZ the_AT0 same_DT0 ._SENT Equally_AV0 ,_PUN David_NP0 is_VBZ small_AJ0 but_CJC his_DPS sling_NN1 would_VM0 have_VHI had_VHN the_AT0 accuracy_NN1 and_CJC deadliness_NN1 of_PRF today_AV0 's_POS handguns_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 location_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 story_NN1 too_AV0 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 kinds_NN2 of_PRF rocks_NN2 that_CJT were_VBD likely_AJ0 there_AV0 ,_PUN adds_VVZ to_PRP the_AT0 devastation_NN1 of_PRF David_NP0 's_POS sling_NN1 ._SENT Thus_AV0 ,_PUN whereas_CJS the_AT0 central_AJ0 themes_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 story_NN1 draw_NN1 readers_NN2 to_PRP the_AT0 conclusion_NN1 in_PRP 1_CRD Samuel_NP0 17_CRD :_PUN 45-47_CRD ,_PUN that_CJT the_AT0 God_NP0 of_PRF Israel_NP0 goes_VVZ to_TO0 battle_VVI for_PRP his_DPS people_NN0 and_CJC especially_AV0 his_DPS Messiah_NN1 (_PUL cf._VVB 1_CRD Sam_NP0 16_CRD :_PUN 13_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN Gladwell_NP0 has_VHZ given_VVN attention_NN1 instead_AV0 to_PRP the_AT0 peripheral_AJ0 details_NN2 and_CJC hidden_AJ0 truths_NN2 ._SENT So_AV0 what_DTQ has_VHZ typically_AV0 been_VBN understood_VVN as_PRP God_NP0 's_POS fighting_NN1 for_PRP David_NP0 is_VBZ now_AV0 reread_VVN to_TO0 say_VVI Goliath_NP0 was_VBD greatly_AV0 outmatched_VVN ,_PUN and_CJC David_NP0 the_AT0 odds-on_AJ0 favorite_NN1 to_TO0 win_VVI from_PRP the_AT0 word_NN1 go_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC so_AV0 everything_PNI we_PNP thought_VVD we_PNP knew_VVD about_PRP the_AT0 story_NN1 is_VBZ exactly_AV0 opposite_AJ0 !_SENT 
What_DTQ is_VBZ the_AT0 point_NN1 ?_SENT Ours_PNP is_VBZ a_AT0 culture_NN1 that_DT0 is_VBZ increasingly_AV0 making_VVG efforts_NN2 to_TO0 push_VVI reigning_AJ0 social_AJ0 ,_PUN political_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC economic_AJ0 powers_NN2 out_AVP of_PRF the_AT0 center_NN1 of_PRF influence_NN1 to_TO0 open_VVI up_AVP paths_NN2 for_PRP the_AT0 historically_AV0 marginalized_AJ0 to_TO0 rush_VVI in_PRP ._SENT And_CJC that_DT0 is_VBZ ,_PUN in_PRP itself_PNX ,_PUN good_AJ0 ._SENT But_CJC here_AV0 is_VBZ another_DT0 clear_AJ0 example_NN1 where_AVQ the_AT0 Zeitgeist_NN1 has_VHZ put_VVN pressure_NN1 on_PRP interpreters_NN2 to_TO0 adopt_VVI a_AT0 hermeneutic_AJ0 (_PUL deconstructionism_NN1 )_PUR that_DT0 can_VM0 do_VDI the_AT0 same_DT0 with_PRP biblical_AJ0 texts_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 previously_AV0 ignored_VVN details_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 text_NN1 have_VHB now_AV0 been_VBN empowered_VVN and_CJC the_AT0 center_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 text_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN de-centered_VVN ._SENT Our_DPS postcolonial_AJ0 world_NN1 cheers_NN2 this_DT0 ,_PUN and_CJC so_AV0 it_PNP pops_VVZ up_AVP in_PRP our_DPS hermeneutics_NN2 too_AV0 ._SENT 
This_DT0 is_VBZ more_AV0 prevalent_AJ0 than_CJS maybe_AV0 we_PNP realize_VVB ._SENT Of_PRF course_NN1 ,_PUN many_DT0 would_VM0 not_XX0 follow_VVI the_AT0 philosophical_AJ0 path_NN1 that_CJT got_VVD us_PNP to_PRP this_DT0 place_NN1 in_PRP our_DPS survey_NN1 ;_PUN it_PNP began_VVD above_AV0 ,_PUN after_PRP all_DT0 ,_PUN with_PRP the_AT0 nonexistence_NN1 of_PRF God_NP0 ._SENT Nonetheless_AV0 ,_PUN any_DT0 fish_NN0 in_PRP any_DT0 river_NN1 is_VBZ carried_VVN —_PUN sometimes_AV0 unwittingly_AV0 ,_PUN but_CJC inevitably_AV0 —_PUN by_PRP the_AT0 current_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC that_DT0 current_NN1 is_VBZ affected_VVN by_PRP events_NN2 far_AV0 ,_PUN far_AV0 upstream_AV0 and_CJC quite_AV0 broadly_AV0 across_PRP the_AT0 watershed_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 fish_NN0 needs_VVZ a_AT0 high_AJ0 degree_NN1 of_PRF self-awareness_NN1 and_CJC strength_NN1 to_TO0 swim_VVI against_PRP the_AT0 flow_NN1 ._SENT So_AV0 too_AV0 ,_PUN today_AV0 's_POS Western_AJ0 Zeitgeist_NN1 is_VBZ characterized_VVN by_PRP existentialism_NN1 ,_PUN relativism_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC deconstructionism_NN1 ._SENT We_PNP are_VBB the_AT0 fish_NN0 ;_PUN those_DT0 are_VBB the_AT0 waters_NN2 ._SENT We_PNP need_VVB ,_PUN therefore_AV0 ,_PUN a_AT0 high_AJ0 degree_NN1 of_PRF self-awareness_NN1 and_CJC strength_NN1 so_AV0 as_CJS not_XX0 to_TO0 be_VBI swept_VVN away_AV0 with_PRP the_AT0 current_NN1 ._SENT 
Biblical_AJ0 Theology_NN1 :_PUN A_AT0 Return_NN1 to_PRP Antioch_NP0 (_PUL Nineteenth_ORD –_PUN Twentieth_ORD Centuries_NN2 )_PUR 
There_EX0 have_VHB ,_PUN of_PRF course_NN1 ,_PUN been_VBN reactions_NN2 to_PRP these_DT0 trends_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 canonical_AJ0 approach_NN1 and_CJC theological_AJ0 interpretation_NN1 of_PRF Scripture_NN1 are_VBB two_CRD more_AV0 recent_AJ0 schools_NN2 ._SENT I_PNP will_VM0 conclude_VVI our_DPS survey_NN1 ,_PUN though_CJS ,_PUN by_PRP looking_VVG at_PRP a_AT0 very_AJ0 Antiochene_NN1 discipline_NN1 called_VVN "_PUQ biblical_AJ0 theology_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ This_DT0 is_VBZ an_AT0 approach_NN1 that_CJT understands_VVZ the_AT0 Bible_NN1 as_PRP the_AT0 record_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 "_PUQ history_NN1 of_PRF salvation_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ or_CJC "_PUQ redemptive_AJ0 history_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ a_AT0 witness_NN1 to_PRP God_NP0 's_POS actions_NN2 in_PRP history_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 salvation_NN1 and_CJC redemption_NN1 of_PRF humanity_NN1 ._SENT Here_AV0 interpreters_NN2 look_VVB for_PRP unity_NN1 across_PRP the_AT0 biblical_AJ0 narrative_NN1 —_PUN including_PRP recurring_AJ0 patterns_NN2 and_CJC the_AT0 presence_NN1 of_PRF typology_NN1 —_PUN as_CJS well_AV0 as_CJS the_AT0 diversity_NN1 of_PRF all_DT0 the_AT0 parts_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 result_NN1 is_VBZ an_AT0 appreciation_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 direction_NN1 the_AT0 Bible_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 whole_NN1 is_VBZ going_VVG (_PUL a_AT0 progress_NN1 through_PRP the_AT0 pages_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 Bible_NN1 )_PUR toward_PRP a_AT0 grand_AJ0 conclusion_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 pinnacle_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 narrative_AJ0 patterns_NN2 and_CJC types_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 Bible_NN1 is_VBZ ,_PUN of_PRF course_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 person_NN1 and_CJC work_NN1 of_PRF Jesus_NP0 Christ_NP0 —_PUN the_AT0 unifying_AJ0 point_NN1 to_PRP all_DT0 the_AT0 diversity_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ This_DT0 [_PUL leads_VVZ ]_PUR to_PRP the_AT0 conviction_NN1 that_CJT the_AT0 Bible_NN1 contain_VVB [_PUL es_NP0 ]_PUR both_DT0 history_NN1 and_CJC a_AT0 word_NN1 concerning_PRP the_AT0 ultimate_AJ0 meaning_NN1 of_PRF history_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
A_AT0 particularly_AV0 good_AJ0 example_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 is_VBZ found_VVN by_PRP reading_VVG Matthew_NP0 3_CRD :_PUN 13_CRD –_PUN 4_CRD :_PUN 11_CRD in_PRP concert_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 second_ORD book_NN1 of_PRF Moses_NP0 ._SENT Jesus_NP0 goes_VVZ through_PRP the_AT0 water_NN1 (_PUL Mt_NP0 3_CRD :_PUN 16_CRD )_PUR and_CJC is_VBZ declared_VVN God_NP0 's_POS "_PUQ Son_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL Mt_NP0 3_CRD :_PUN 17_CRD )_PUR ._SENT Immediately_AV0 the_AT0 Spirit_NN1 leads_VVZ Jesus_NP0 into_PRP the_AT0 wilderness_NN1 (_PUL 4_CRD :_PUN 1_CRD )_PUR where_CJS he_PNP remains_VVZ for_PRP forty_CRD days_NN2 and_CJC forty_CRD nights_NN2 (_PUL 4_CRD :_PUN 2_CRD )_PUR ._SENT He_PNP is_VBZ there_AV0 tempted_VVN with_PRP food_NN1 (_PUL 4_CRD :_PUN 3-4_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN then_AV0 with_PRP "_PUQ testing_NN1 "_PUQ God_NP0 (_PUL 4_CRD :_PUN 5-7_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN and_CJC finally_AV0 with_PRP idolatry_NN1 (_PUL 4_CRD :_PUN 8-10_CRD )_PUR ._SENT Very_AV0 interestingly_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 book_NN1 of_PRF Exodus_NN1 reads_VVZ the_AT0 same_DT0 way_NN1 ._SENT There_AV0 ,_PUN Israel_NP0 is_VBZ called_VVN God_NP0 's_POS "_PUQ son_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL Ex_NN1 4_CRD :_PUN 22-23_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN goes_VVZ through_PRP the_AT0 water_NN1 (_PUL 14_CRD :_PUN 21-22_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN and_CJC is_VBZ then_AV0 led_VVN into_PRP the_AT0 wilderness_NN1 by_PRP God_NP0 himself_PNX (_PUL Ex_NN1 13_CRD :_PUN 17_CRD )_PUR where_CJS they_PNP are_VBB tempted_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 exact_AJ0 same_DT0 order_NN1 :_PUN food_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ testing_VVG God_NP0 ,_PUN "_PUQ and_CJC idolatry_NN1 (_PUL Ex_NN1 14_CRD –_PUN 32_CRD )_PUR ._SENT Thus_AV0 ,_PUN Jesus_NP0 '_POS baptism_NN1 and_CJC wilderness_NN1 temptations_NN2 look_VVB just_AV0 like_PRP Israel_NP0 's_POS exodus_NN1 ._SENT There_EX0 is_VBZ ,_PUN therefore_AV0 ,_PUN a_AT0 typological_AJ0 correspondence_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 shape_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 stories_NN2 to_TO0 invoke_VVI the_AT0 similarities_NN2 ,_PUN but_CJC also_AV0 to_TO0 present_VVI Jesus_NP0 as_PRP transcending_VVG the_AT0 old_AJ0 ._SENT That_DT0 is_VBZ the_AT0 work_NN1 of_PRF biblical_AJ0 theology_NN1 :_PUN to_TO0 describe_VVI the_AT0 similarities_NN2 and_CJC the_AT0 developments_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 movement_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Scriptures_NN2 —_PUN from_PRP start_NN1 to_TO0 finish_VVI —_PUN in_PRP christological_AJ0 terms_NN2 ._SENT God_NP0 has_VHZ providentially_AV0 moved_VVN both_DT0 history_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 writing_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Old_AJ0 Testament_NN1 to_TO0 highlight_VVI individual_AJ0 patterns_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC a_AT0 large_AJ0 sweeping_AJ0 arc_NN1 toward_PRP fulfillment_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 New_AJ0 Testament_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 benefit_NN1 of_PRF such_DT0 observations_NN2 is_VBZ to_TO0 elucidate_VVI how_AVQ God_NP0 has_VHZ been_VBN at_PRP work_NN1 in_PRP history_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC through_PRP revelation_NN1 ,_PUN to_TO0 demonstrate_VVI his_DPS plan_NN1 of_PRF redemption_NN1 that_CJT meets_VVZ its_DPS full_AJ0 purposes_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 person_NN1 and_CJC work_NN1 of_PRF Christ_NP0 ._SENT History_NN1 is_VBZ therefore_AV0 important_AJ0 because_CJS it_PNP is_VBZ the_AT0 stage_NN1 of_PRF God_NP0 's_POS glorious_AJ0 acts_NN2 of_PRF redemption_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC the_AT0 writing_NN1 of_PRF redemptive_AJ0 history_NN1 is_VBZ important_AJ0 because_CJS Christ_NP0 gives_VVZ meaning_NN1 to_PRP life_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 universe_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC everything_PNI ._SENT 
The_AT0 rest_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 book_NN1 operates_VVZ within_PRP this_DT0 tradition_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP goes_VVZ back_AVP to_PRP Antioch_NP0 ._SENT It_PNP was_VBD certainly_AV0 appreciated_VVN by_PRP Augustine_NP0 and_CJC practiced_VVD by_PRP Aquinas_NP0 ._SENT It_PNP gained_VVD wider_AJC attention_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 Reformers_NN2 ._SENT And_CJC now_AV0 "_PUQ biblical_AJ0 theology_NN1 "_PUQ has_VHZ given_VVN it_PNP its_DPS most_DT0 recent_AJ0 shape_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 Hermeneutical_AJ0 Spiral_NN1 
The_AT0 payoff_NN1 from_PRP this_DT0 historical_AJ0 survey_NN1 is_VBZ that_CJT we_PNP can_VM0 draw_VVI two_CRD conclusions_NN2 about_PRP the_AT0 process_NN1 of_PRF interpretation_NN1 :_PUN (_PUL 1_CRD )_PUR We_PNP see_VVB in_PRP texts_NN2 what_DTQ we_PNP expect_VVB to_TO0 see_VVI ._SENT Our_DPS predispositions_NN2 ,_PUN presuppositions_NN2 ,_PUN biases_NN2 ,_PUN goals_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC expectations_NN2 heavily_AV0 influence_VVB how_AVQ we_PNP handle_VVB texts_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC can_VM0 actually_AV0 determine_VVI what_DTQ we_PNP see_VVB and_CJC what_DTQ we_PNP do_VDB not_XX0 see_VVI ._SENT They_PNP can_VM0 cause_VVI us_PNP to_TO0 see_VVI things_NN2 that_CJT are_VBB not_XX0 really_AV0 in_PRP the_AT0 text_NN1 (_PUL we_PNP import_VVB them_PNP from_PRP our_DPS own_DT0 worldview_NN1 )_PUR and_CJC conversely_AV0 miss_VVB things_NN2 that_CJT are_VBB in_PRP the_AT0 text_NN1 (_PUL our_DPS worldview_NN1 has_VHZ no_AT0 place_NN1 for_PRP them_PNP ,_PUN cannot_NP0 process_VVB them_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC so_AV0 we_PNP are_VBB just_AV0 blind_AJ0 to_PRP them_PNP )_PUR ._SENT So_AV0 strong_AJ0 are_VBB our_DPS philosophical_AJ0 precommitments_NN2 and_CJC therefore_AV0 reading_VVG proclivities_NN2 ._SENT And_CJC (_PUL 2_CRD )_PUR such_DT0 predispositions_NN2 ,_PUN presuppositions_NN2 ,_PUN biases_NN2 ,_PUN goals_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC expectations_NN2 are_VBB invariably_AV0 shaped_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 cultures_NN2 that_CJT made_VVD us_PNP and_CJC we_PNP currently_AV0 inhabit_VVB ._SENT A_AT0 jellyfish_NN0 does_VDZ not_XX0 know_VVI it_PNP is_VBZ floating_AJ0 in_PRP saltwater_NN1 ,_PUN nor_CJC that_DT0 freshwater_AJ0 is_VBZ such_DT0 a_AT0 thing_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC its_DPS membrane_NN1 is_VBZ so_AV0 thin_AJ0 it_PNP simply_AV0 takes_VVZ in_PRP the_AT0 saltwater_AJC as_CJS a_AT0 way_NN1 of_PRF life_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 larger_AJC culture_NN1 and_CJC subcultures_NN2 that_CJT we_PNP inhabit_VVB do_VDB the_AT0 same_DT0 to_PRP us_PNP ._SENT 
