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How Should You Interpret What You Read?
In a world where it is fashionable to believe that all meaning is relative and that written texts mean only what the reader thinks or feels they mean, this book delivers a wake-up call and provides a helpful primer on the rules of interpretation. The Joy of Interpretation asks us to thoughtfully consider something we do every day—interpret texts. We constantly interpret, but seldom pause to contemplate the act of interpretation or whether we are doing it correctly. Some of what we read does not have a large impact on us. Make a mistake in interpreting a Shakespearean play or a Robert Frost poem and it is unlikely to entail significant consequences. However, similar laxity in interpreting the US Constitution and the Bible can result in severe consequences, seeing they make authoritative demands on our behavior and beliefs. This book offers guidance to help readers more successfully navigate the interpretive landscape.
About the Author
Steve F. Richardson has a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana. He has taught hermeneutics classes in various churches and prison ministries. His interests in church/state relations and First Amendment religion issues arise from decades of advocating for political and religious freedom. He has owned and operated Richardson’s Refinishing and Antiques in Panama City, Florida for fifty years.
Steve F. Richardson
Author
Endorsements
“In this accessible yet erudite volume, the author has built a strong case for his thesis that there exist universally valid principles for interpreting texts, and that these principles make it possible for readers to apprehend the original intended meaning.”
Larry D. Bruce, PhD
We all process in our minds all that we read. But how do we interpret it all? We need a baseline for the interpretation of current affairs, history, and the Word of God. Steve Richardson takes you on a very thorough walk through how to interpret our times, the Bible, and the documents that helped form our nation.
Doug Dees, Pastor, Author of Fish Prison
There are few things in today’s social and political climate more relevant than the matter of interpretation. The recent overturn of Roe v. Wade has brought to the forefront the issue of how we as a nation interpret the Constitution. The Supreme Court ruled that the subject of abortion was not to be decided on the Federal level, but on the State level. For religious leaders, the question was not if this was a Federal or State issue. The question centered on the status of the unborn. These leaders have turned to the Bible for their interpretation of the rights of the unborn.
This is just one example of a practical application that the book The Joy of Interpretation can address. Steve Richardson’s academic overview of interpretation is thorough and helpful. The book seeks to define Interpretation, its role, its relevance, and its vocabulary before delving into a look at Biblical interpretation and Constitutional interpretation.
If you are serious about your study of either the Constitution or the Bible, this book will set you on solid ground in interpreting what you study.
Faithe Thomas, Owner, Master Design Publishing,
Author of the Color Thru History series
As a former Maine State Representative caught between conflicting party ideologies and as a pastor/theologian caught between heaven and earth, the call to careful interpretation of both the words of God and the commands of Caesar are most welcome. If nothing else, Steve Richardson urges caution before jumping to ill-informed conclusions concerning the Kingdom of God or nation-state. That not only keeps us centered but helps us become good listeners to the neighbor with conflicting points of view.
As I read The Joy of Interpretation, I was reminded of a statement regarding biblical inerrancy that came from an evangelical denomination in the 1960s: “The Bible is inerrant in all that it intends to teach.” If we ask of either Scripture or civil law, “What does this intend to teach?,” it pushes us to broader research and understanding of the history and intent of verse or law. With Scripture deriving from divine inspiration and civil law deriving from highest collaborative intention, rigorous interpretation can help us see more clearly the points of intersection between Kingdom and nation-state while remaining faithful to Jesus’ command to render separate allegiance without compromise or merger.
Rev. Stan Moody, Ph.D.
Pastor Emeritus, Columbia Street Baptist Church
Founder and President, Columbia Street Project
Not many people question whether they are correctly interpreting what they read, but Richardson’s The Joy of Interpretation will have readers paying close attention to the original context, meaning, and intent of an author’s work in order to avoid misinterpretation. Specifically regarding the Bible and the US Constitution, Richardson explains how easy it is to misinterpret the true meaning of these authoritative texts and thus create unintentional and potentially damaging consequences. Through this book, Richardson reveals the true joy in learning to correctly interpret what we read so that we can have faith and assurance in our understanding and application of written words to life.
Ashley Niro, Editor
“Communication problems” are too often cited for dividing marriages, closing businesses, and starting wars. The human and financial cost is staggering. Thanks to The Joy of Interpretation I realized that misinterpretation is the spark of fiery relationships. Learning the science and art of interpretation as presented in this book holds great promise for living more peacefully and productively in service to the Common Good.
