knight4yshua,

Western philosophy has entered a period identified by the phrase “the linguistic turn.” No universal consensus exists yet on criteria for the interpretation of texts, but major advances have taken place. I do not yet know the details of this development, but I am certain that it traces back to Biblical scholarship. Not only have the disciplines of translation benefited from Bible study, the openness of conflicting interpretation has cleared a workspace. In secular studies, the wider field is already so lush with an abundance of product growth that areas of specialization have formed.

On the question of the Biblical canon, an important issue is whether faith is a form of knowledge. In philosophy the goal is knowledge. But it would be a mistake to reduce philosophy’s knowledge to mere information. Belief plays a necessary role in interpretation of any text.

An illustration of one recent philosophical problem can be found in the work of the late Donald Davidson. His analysis of meaning confronts a dilemma. He shows how on the one hand we cannot understand what another’s words mean unless we understand what that person believes. Simultaneously, we cannot understand that person’s beliefs unless we understand the meaning of the words used.

My suggestion is that from philosophy’s struggle with such questions (and there’s enough work to keep us all busy for a long, long time) the appreciation and understanding of Biblical texts can benefit. There’s a great gettin’ up mornin’ comin’ if we can avoid worldwide social chaos. (Christianity’s job is to warn against the immanentization of the eschaton. We know that return to Eden is not an option.) But we need those who can hold things together so the work of communion through communcation can continue. It is what I pray for every day. As the psalmists sang, "Establish, Thou, the work of our hands. Yea, the work of our hands, establish, Thou, it."