Good Idea Past Me (New Testament Interpretation)

[wildeabandon]

A little while ago Mthr Alice recommended a few books to me from her theology degree, one of which was New Testament Interpretation by Ian Boxall. I read it fairly quickly initially, but it has a bunch of questions and exercises, which I knew perfectly well that no matter how good my intentions I wouldn't get round to actually doing by myself.

So I emailed a bunch of people I thought might be interested in reading it and working through them with me, expecting to get maybe one or two positive responses, and was both delighted and staggered when in fact almost everyone was keen. Tonight was our second meeting, looking at a chapter on where meaning is found, considering author-centred, text-centred, reader-centred, and community-centred approaches. The last of which is particularly pleasingly meta, when I consider how much more meaning I'm managing to find by reading in community. I'm so glad I started this group :)

Comments

[taimatsu]

Ian Boxall?! I was taught by him once in 1999!

[wildeabandon]

Oh cool! For some reason I had it in my head that you read English. He taught Mthr A at Staggers but I think had moved to a US institution since then.

[taimatsu]

I read English eventually at Reading but when I originally and unsuccessfully went to Oxford I was doing Theology.

[wildeabandon]

Ah, that fits. I don't think we really knew each other whilst you were at Oxford, so it's not surprising that my memory is a bit hazy. What did you think of him as a teacher? (And let me know if you think the group might be something you'd enjoy, and I'll invite you to the next chapter.)

[bunnypip]

I am very glad you started the group too - even though I have had one instance of not making it and one instance of tech fail part way through. I am very much looking forward to the next one, which I hope will be more straightforward for me in terms of successful attendance :)

Thank you.

[wildeabandon]

I am very much looking forward to hearing your thoughts at future sessions :)

[ludy]

Yay! Really glad it’s going well.
And yes since getting involved with HPST I am even more of a proponent of reading in community and the richness and depth it adds

(And I’m sorry our discussion will have to be postponed by my upcoming surgery)

[wildeabandon]

One thing that I'm also finding interesting is the different ways the richness comes out with group discussion vs one-on-one conversations, so I'm really looking forward to our HPST practice :)

[sfred]

I really enjoyed yesterday evening's. I had expected to feel quiet and awkward, and I didn't at all. Thank you. x

[wildeabandon]

Oh, I'm so glad :) I do feel like we've got a really good dynamic - I am very lucky to know such excellent people!

[sfred]

Yes :) Thank you for putting us together.