For decades—and in some sense, still today—the guild of biblical studies has operated under the shadow of a detached, "objective" ideal—one that often silences the interpreter. The Intersecting Life breaks this silence, arguing that the most profound exegetical insights emerge not from detachment, but from the visceral collision of life and text.
This volume introduces a rigorous framework of autobiographical inquiry and discovery. Each contributor—ranging from established voices to emerging scholars—navigates a specific three-fold movement: the critical discovery of a life-altering personal reality, the rigorous interpretation of biblical texts through that lens, and the resulting transformation of both the reader and the reading. From the depths of trauma and the complexities of identity to the shifting landscapes of global migration, this volume demonstrates that the scholar’s subjective journey is not a bias to be overcome but a hermeneutical catalyst to be embraced. Ultimately, this volume aims to spark pedagogical and guild-wide transformations.
This collection is a vital intervention for anyone seeking a biblical criticism that is as intellectually demanding as it is humanly transformative. It is an essential resource for scholars, educators, and students navigating the "subjective turn" in twenty-first-century hermeneutics.
