A lively introduction to biblical studies that emphasizes reader engagement
How Then Shall We Read? equips students with the interpretive tools they need to engage the Bible faithfully. This innovative textbook bridges the gap between two traditionally separate fields: New Testament introduction and biblical hermeneutics. It invites students to reflect critically on how their own traditions, experiences, and theological commitments shape their encounter with the biblical text, while underscoring the value of both scholarly analysis and personal spiritual growth. In doing so, it addresses a common challenge in biblical studies courses: helping students see connections between rigorous academic work and meaningful personal engagement with Scripture.
The book begins by exploring why interpretation matters, both practically and theologically, before guiding readers through key aspects of biblical interpretation. Students are introduced to the historical process by which the Bible came to be, the importance of historical-critical methods, and the New Testament's cultural and literary contexts. The book's distinctives include a fresh, reader-friendly approach to questions of genre and language, as well as a model for embracing the unity and diversity of the canon. The book also incorporates insights from across Christian traditions and global contexts, inviting students into a rich, ongoing conversation about what it means to read the Bible today. Written specifically for the newest generation of undergraduate students, How Then Shall We Read? provides an up-to-date and accessible entryway into academic biblical interpretation--one that is grounded in the conviction that the ultimate aim of studying Scripture is to grow in the knowledge and love of God.
About the Author :
Max Botner is associate professor of biblical studies at Jessup University. He also directs the Center for Bible Study, a nonprofit initiative to expand accessibility to biblical studies, and hosts the center's On the Way podcast. His first book, Jesus Christ as the Son of David in the Gospel of Mark, won the Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise. Botner is also the author of Beyond the Greek New Testament: Advanced Readings for Students of Biblical Studies and coeditor of Atonement: Jewish and Christian Origins.
Review :
"How Then Shall We Read? is a fresh, inviting guide that helps readers move beyond easy assumptions and step into a richer, more honest engagement with Scripture. Max Botner blends clarity, depth, and pastoral warmth as he shows how interpretation, theology, history, and community come together to form faithful readers. It's a book that doesn't just teach you how to read the Bible--it helps you love it more deeply."
--Elizabeth E. Shively, professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University
"It is immediately clear that How Then Shall We Read? draws deeply from Botner's rich classroom experiences. This is far more than a mechanical how-to guide for exegesis. Botner shows how love--of God, neighbor, and text--belongs at the heart of faithful interpretation. This well-rounded textbook will serve students well and thus is a gift for teachers."
--Nijay K. Gupta, Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary
"With a capacious structure that covers a plethora of fascinating and vital topics, Max Botner provides a fresh approach to New Testament introduction as well as hermeneutics. His hermeneutic of love is not saccharine, but probing. Because sections are brief and tools for engagement are frequent, How Then Shall We Read? allows educators and students to engage with the issues he presents from a wide range of perspectives. I look forward to putting this into the hands of my students to kick-start a conversation--where we might agree or disagree, but without question, where we will be excited and equipped to engage."
--Amy Peeler, Kenneth T. Wessner Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College
"Botner provides us with an excellent resource for understanding the New Testament. He balances various methods, attends to contemporary issues, and updates students on the state of New Testament studies along the way."
--Madison N. Pierce, associate lecturer in the School of Divinity, University of St. Andrews
"This guide to interpreting the New Testament is a great gift to both students and teachers. Drawing on the best of scholarship and his experience as a teacher, Max Botner provides a comprehensive introduction that is clear, accessible, and compelling. He casts a vision that holds together the development of interpretive skill and the cultivation of Christian virtue. It's a guide I wish I had available to me as a younger student of Scripture and that I'll certainly be using in courses on New Testament interpretation."
--Timothy Gombis, affiliate professor of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
"Max Botner sets out in this book to instill a love of Scripture through guided learning. There are not many scholars who would be able to deliver on the promise to treat wide-ranging and significant components of responsible biblical interpretation that are at the heart of this book--spanning hermeneutical, historical, theological, linguistic matters--but Botner succeeds in a way that is just as engaging as it is informative. This book will become a mainstay in my classroom; I look forward to the 'faithful embodiment' its wisdom cultivates."
--Kara Lyons-Pardue, professor of New Testament, Point Loma Nazarene University
"In our time, New Testament interpretation can be bewildering for students because of the variety of assumptions and approaches used in this field of study. Sure and steady guidance is needed to help newcomers navigate the difficult landscape. Thankfully, Max Botner provides this much-needed guidance. Writing in a conversational style and offering practical examples, Botner leads students step by step toward a reliable method of interpretation. I wish I had had this book to assign when I was teaching New Testament interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary."
--Peter R. Rodgers, former teacher of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
