Vern Poythress on Interpreting Scripture

In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible, I sat down with Vern Poythress, professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary to talk through his book Reading the Word of God in the Presence of God: A Handbook for Biblical Interpretation.

Over the course of the conversation, Poythress explains steps for sound interpretation as well as mistakes Bible teachers often make. He offers keys to using a commentary wisely and to identifying analogies and types of Christ in the Old Testament.

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Books by Poythress include:

Mentioned by Poythress in this episode:

- The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament by Edmund Clowney
- Preaching Christ in All of Scripture by Edmund Clowney

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Vern Poythress (PhD, Harvard; DTh, Stellenbosch) is professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he has taught for 39 years, and is editor of the Westminster Theological Journal.

Nancy Guthrie (MATS, Reformed Theological Seminary) teaches the Bible at her home church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as at conferences around the country and internationally, including through her Biblical Theology Workshop for Women. She is the author of numerous books and the host of the Help Me Teach the Bible podcast from The Gospel Coalition. She and her husband founded Respite Retreats for couples who have faced the death of a child, and they’re cohosts of the GriefShare video series.