Reading Job: Ricoeur's Textual Theory and the Interpretation of Job

Abstract

<p>Biblical Studies is said to be in a time of crisis. This context requires a clearer understanding of the relationship between philosophical hermeneutics and biblical hermeneutics. Paul Ricoeur is a Christian philosopher who has intelligently articulated this relationship. This thesis offers a description, an evaluation and an application of his textual theory. Ricoeur identified four dimensions of textuality: (1) the text as a written communication; (2) the text as a structured work; (3) the text as a projection of a world; and (4) the text as a mediation of self-understanding. These dimensions are examined as they related to general hermeneutics (chapter 1), and to biblical hermeneutics (chapter 2). After an evaluation of Ricoeur's theory (chapter 3) each of these dimensions of textual interpretation are applied to the book of Job (chapters 4-7). Although Ricoeur's hermeneutics is not above criticism it does provide a creative way forward in a time of crisis.</p>