In this episode, we talk with Rachel Howell about Biblical interpretation. A scholar and missionary herself, Rachel has taken a deep dive into Alexander Campbell’s influence on Churches of Christ in the way we view and interpret Scripture, especially relative to the Holy Spirit’s role in the process. She will critique some areas of imbalance and suggest what it might look like to build a healthier hermeneutic as we move forward, more inclusive of both the Holy Spirit and the community of faith.
Full Interview
Conversation Highlights
- How we apply Scripture to our lives
- Key aspects of Alexander Campbell’s teaching about the role of Scripture and how it has impacted Churches of Christ
- Being more inclusive of the Holy Spirit in how we read and apply Scripture
- Appreciating the value of Christian community in how we encounter Scripture
- Suggested steps for how we can move forward
About Rachel Howell
Rachel is a native of College Station, Texas. Rachel, her husband Alan, and their children currently reside in Searcy, Arkansas where Alan is serving at Harding University as the Missionary in Residence. She has experience in campus ministry and spent fifteen years with her family working as missionaries in Mozambique.
Rachel has completed a masters degree in Historical Theology and is finishing a second in Old Testament at the Harding School of Theology.
Recommended Resources
Here are works that Rachel suggests for further reading. At Kingdom Upgrowth, we are an Amazon Affiliate, and appreciate your use of these links to make purchases, as a portion of what you buy helps make this website possible.
- The Holy Spirit and Biblical Interpretation: Alexander Campbell and Contemporary Hermeneutics by Rachel Howell
- Daniel Castelo, Pneumatology: A Guide for the Perplexed
- Christian Smith, The Bible Made Impossible
- James K. A. Smith, The Fall of Interpretation
- N. T. Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God
- Frances Young, Virtuoso Theology
- Nyasha Junior, An Introduction to womanist Biblical Interpretation
- Peter Goodwin Heltzel, Resurrection City: A Theology of Improvisation
- Amos Young, Spirit-Word-Community: Theological Hermeneutics in Trinitarian Perspective
- John Mark Hicks, Searching for the Pattern
- Allen and Swick, Participating in God’s Life
- Richard Hughes, Reviving the Ancient Faith
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