Restoring Our Spirits with the New Testament: Spirituality in Biblical Research

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the integration of New Testament studies and spirituality, on how a careful reading of the New Testament informs authentic spirituality, spiritual practice, and spiritual restoration in the Christian tradition. 

At the heart of any hermeneutical endeavor is an attempt to discover both what the text meant and what the text means, the author’s intended meaning and its contemporary significance.  The historical-grammatical approach has dominated the landscape of New Testament studies, and while such an approach is vital to rightly interpreting a text’s original meaning and import, the lens of interpretation has been largely focused on discovering authorial intent, to the neglect of contemporary significance.  In short, New Testament studies, as a discipline, struggles to bridge the gap between knowledge and spiritual formation.

In the last few decades, several voices within the discipline have begun questioning whether there is any spiritual value in the interpretation of sacred texts according to the historical-grammatical approach alone.  Handling a text hardly ensures that a person will be transformed by that text.  The structures and methods used to interpret the New Testament are largely concerned with the cognitive sphere while ignoring any affective and behavioral import.  What spiritual benefit is there to this kind of study?

This issue assumes that the intention of critical study of the New Testament is to lead to spiritual transformation.  The purpose of New Testament studies is not to enable one to do more biblical studies, but rather to uncover spiritually formative and restorative knowledge that imparts life.  Paul of Tarsus, the most prolific author in the New Testament, saw spiritual growth as a combination of “knowledge and depth of [moral] insight” for the ultimate purpose of a demonstrated holiness (Philippians 1:9).  This Special Issue aims to provide a platform by which to do just that:  return to the sacred writings of the New Testament (in a critical and studious manner) as a pedagogue for spiritual renewal and demonstrated holiness. 

In what ways does a serious study (historico-grammatically) of the New Testament lead to spiritual transformation?  What might be learned and practiced from a critical study of prayer, scripture reading, liturgical practices, discipleship, community, and spirituality?  What methods of interpretation might subvert a knowledge-based elitism in favor of spiritual vitality?  And how does the study of these ancient texts and traditions form the contemporary practice of spirituality?  These (and other) questions form the core of this Special Issue.

Outside the scope of this Special Issue are texts and spiritual disciplines outside the Christian tradition, and while the writings of the early church fathers are helpful for documenting the way the New Testament was practiced in the second century and beyond, those texts are not the primary focus of this issue.  While such concerns are noteworthy, they are best suited for other endeavors.  Our work here focuses on the twenty-seven collected works of the New Testament as canonical sources informing the theology, practice, and spirituality of the Christian church.

We request that prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 150-200 words summarizing their intended contribution.  Please send it to the Guest Editor, Dr. Les Hardin, Professor of New Testament, Johnson University Florida ([email protected]), and CC the Assistant Editor, Ms. Violet Li ([email protected]).  Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue.  Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Les Hardin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• spirituality
• spiritual formation
• spiritual disciplines
• new testament
• Christianity
• prayer
• scripture
• restoration
• renewal