In this revised and expanded edition of UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE, the author surveys the major trends in the major theories in biblical interpretation from ancient times to the present, and notes the contributions and limitations of each period. He shows how the Bible itself interprets earlier texts and he places into coherent perspective the diverse and often contradictory interpretations of scripture, culminating with a detailed examination of Dei Verbum of Vatican II and the Pontifical Biblical Commission’s The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church. Highlights: • unparalleled comprehensive overview of biblical interpretation in historical perspective • a must for anyone teaching the Bible, since it deals with the assumptions with which we approach every biblical text • solid scholarship without being overly technical †