What is theological interpretation? An ecclesiological reduction

Abstract

This article addresses 'theological interpretation', first, by constructing a coherent narrative framework to account for its recent popularity via key players, common practices and a genealogy. Second, by addressing disagreements that remain within this movement via a kind of 'ecclesiological reduction', the article's descriptive starting point brings theological implications. In particular, strong parallels surface between the fortunes of theological interpretation and another essentially contested concept-'postliberal' theology. Both 'postliberalism' and 'theological interpretation' have fuzzy boundaries precisely due to their character as trans-denominational forms of scholarly ecumenism through which God may help renew the church's engagement with Scripture in the post-Christian West. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.