Dr. Robert Sumner passed away in December 2016. The Biblical Evangelist newspaper is no longer being published and the ministry of Biblical Evangelism has ceased operation.

The remaining inventory of his books and gospel tracts was transferred to The Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles and may be ordered here.

AN INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL EVANGELICAL HERMENEUTICS
by Mal Couch

AN INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL EVANGELICAL HERMENEUTICS by Mal Couch, General Editor; Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI; 23 Chapters, 371 Pages; $15.99, Paper

Subtitled, A Guide to the History and Practice of Biblical Interpretation, contributors to the volume, in addition to the editor, are Larry V. Crutchfield, Thomas O. Figart, Bobby Hayes, Ron M. Johnson, Russell L. Penney and Paul Lee Tan. Couch, currently founder/president of Fort Worth’s Tyndale Theological Seminary and Biblical Institute, previously taught at Philadelphia College of the Bible, Moody Bible Institute, and Dallas Theological Seminary.

The work is divided into 4 parts: “God Has Spoken” (6 chapters), “Interpretive Systems Throughout History” (5 chapters), “Interpreting the Church” (9 chapters), and, “Interpreting Prophecy” (3 chapters). In short, this is not merely biblical interpretation, but a history of interpretation, with special emphasis on dispensational hermeneutics – starting in the early church. Standing firm on biblical inerrancy for interpretation, special emphasis is given to the symbols and types in biblical prophecy.

We thought especially fine the chapters “Symbols and Types in Prophecy,” “Is the Church Grafted into Israel, as Some Allegorists Believe?” “Why the Church Is Not Referenced in the Olivet Discourse” (especially its 13 reasons why neither rapture nor church are referenced in this discourse), and, “Thoughts on Allegorical Interpretation and the Book of Revelation.” There is also a valuable Appendix, “A Comparison of Views Between Covenant Theology and Dispensational Theology,” giving Covenant, Dispensational (and where applicable, Rabbinical) views.

One problem we had was in trying to figure out who wrote what. In cases where a chapter was adapted from another writing (usually a theological journal) it is clear. Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine! Most preachers will appreciate the way the book gives various theories of the hermeneutic on different subjects, then offers what the authors feel is the proper interpretation.

While we doubt lay people will want or need this book, we highly recommend it to all preachers and teachers!