Can a gospel convey truth? : an examination of the epistemology of New Testament hermeneutics with special reference to the Gospel of St Mark
This thesis explores the hermeneutical implications of a Barthian epistemology, so that the givenness (of knowledge, ontology, talk of God and Scripture, the community of the Church) is paramount. This priority challenges both 'liberal' despair and fundamentalist arrogation of true reference to theological language and appropriate Biblical interpretation. This hermeneutical position also faces the postmodern challenge that there can be any truth at all, and, in particular, truth brought through the deconstruction of textuality as a medium. Thus knowledge, and especially knowledge of God, the language used to communicate that knowledge and that language as Scriptural textuality are important features of the discussion. There is an exploration of the role of inter-subjectivity (and thus community) as a prerequisite for knowledge and truth claims, critical assessment of these, and a discussion of the different ways that various 'communities' interpret Scripture (focusing on St. Mark's Gospel). The presuppositions of the different starting places are brought into view and the appropriateness of methodologies and approaches discussed. Questions regarding certainty and critical control of this community-generated
Papaphilippopoulos, Rosalind
Philosophy
Can a gospel convey truth? : an examination of the epistemology of New Testament hermeneutics with special reference to the Gospel of St Mark. This thesis explores the hermeneutical implications of a Barthian epistemology, so that the givenness (of knowledge, ontology, talk of God and Scripture, the community of the Church) is paramount. This priority challenges both 'liberal' despair and fundamentalist arrogation of true reference to theological language and appropriate Biblical interpretation. This hermeneutical position also faces the postmodern challenge that there can be any truth at all, and, in particular, truth brought through the deconstruction of textuality as a medium. Thus knowledge, and especially knowledge of God, the language used to communicate that knowledge and that language as Scriptural textuality are important features of the discussion. There is an exploration of the role of inter-subjectivity (and thus community) as a prerequisite for knowledge and truth claims, critical assessment of these, and a discussion of the different ways that various 'communities' interpret Scripture (focusing on St. Mark's Gospel). The presuppositions of the different starting places are brought into view and the appropriateness of methodologies and approaches discussed. Questions regarding certainty and critical control of this community-generated
gospel convey truth examination epistemology new_testament hermeneutics special_reference gospel mark explore hermeneutical implication barthian epistemology knowledge ontology talk god scripture community church paramount priority challenge liberal despair true reference theological language appropriate biblical_interpretation hermeneutical position also face postmodern challenge truth particular truth bring deconstruction textuality medium thus knowledge especially knowledge_god language_use communicate knowledge language scriptural textuality important_feature discussion exploration_role inter subjectivity thus community prerequisite knowledge truth claim critical_assessment discussion different_way various communities interpret scripture focus mark gospel presupposition different start place bring view appropriateness methodology approach discuss questions regard certainty critical control community generated