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About
Criticism of myth in the Bible is not a modern problem. Its roots go back to the earliest Christian theologians, and before them, to ancient Greek and Jewish thinkers. The dilemma posed by texts that ascribe human characteristics and emotions to the divine is a perennial problem, and we have much to learn from the ancient attempts to address it. Mark Sheridan provides a theological and historical analysis of the patristic interpretation of Scriptures anthropomorphic and anthropopathic language for God. Rather than reject the Bible as mere stories, ancient Jewish and Christian theologians read these texts allegorically or theologically in order to discover the truth contained within them. They recognized that an edifying and appropriate interpretation of these stories required that one start from the understanding that "God is not a human being" (Num 23:19). Sheridan brings the patristic tradition into conversation with modern interpreters to show the abiding significance of its theological interpretation for today. Language for God in Patristic Tradition is a landmark resource for students of ancient Christian theology. Wide-ranging in scope and accessible in its analysis, it demonstrates that those engaged in theological interpretation of Scripture have much to gain from studying their forebears in the faith.
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Reviews
"A superb study that sheds new yet ancient light on both the early Church Fathers and the cruxes and crises of modern biblical interpretation. A must for academic libraries and thoughtful readers."
Library Journal, December 2014
"Language for God in Patristic Tradition has the distinction of being both a marvelously clear introduction and a sophisticated exploration of the intellectual world and work of early Christianity in relation to one of the thorniest problems in Scripture: the use of human language-often violent language-to describe God. The book is suitable for students, scholars and thoughtful inquirers alike. It is lucid, interesting and instructive-illuminating a clear description of the history of the problem with fascinating examples of ancient, learned interpreters at work in a conversation that continues today."
Robin Darling Young, associate professor of spirituality, The Catholic University of Ameri
"Mark Sheridan has truly given the world a gift with his recent publication, Language for God in Patristic Tradition, published by IVP Academic. . . . With this book, Sheridan expertly navigates the reader through the interpretive strategies of the early church Fathers as they wrestled with our sacred texts."
Mike Skinner, Cruciform Theology, September 17, 2015