Pautas para interpretar las Escrituras [Guidelines for the Interpretation of Scripture] (Lima, Peru: Idemerjos editors— Universidad Peruana Unión, 2015), trans. Joel Iparraguirre, xiv + 162 pp. US$10.00.

Modern hermeneutics is in a crisis! It is confused, disoriented, and in a state of revolution. Each exegete interprets as he thinks best, wanting his particular perspective to form one of the basic norms in the hermeneutic world, or at the least wanting his particular interpretation to be kept at the forefront of the academic world.

As Christians, how can we deal with this challenge? How can we know which method to use to interpret the Bible and what exegetical steps to use to understand it properly? Pautas para interpretar las Escrituras presents itself as an alternative that seeks to respond to this problematic issue. This book consists of three chapters, four appendices, and a selected bibliography.

The first chapter, “Pautas generales” [“General Guidelines”] shows a contrast between the historical-biblical method and the historical-critical method (pp. 1–11). Here, Mueller notes that “the historical-critical method is based on the principles of methodological doubt, analogy, correlation and others” (1) and, therefore, should be rejected. He prefers the historical-biblical method because it respects sola and tota Scriptura and other principles. However, it should be noted that in the opening pages it seems that Mueller overemphasizes the divine side of Scripture at the expense of the human side (pp. 2–3), which Ellen G. White so eloquently addresses.

“Pautas para interpretar un texto bíblico” [“Guidelines for Interpreting a Biblical Text”] is the second and longest chapter of this work, presenting ten steps for biblical interpretation (pp. 12–67). The rules and methodology for the exposition of the biblical material are explained from a consistent Adventist perspective. In addition, it is worth noting that in this chapter the main principles are illustrated by various examples and demonstrated in an easy, step-by-step format.

Finally, in the third chapter (pp. 69–77) some suggestions are given on how to prepare expository sermons. The appendices are written by others. Elias Brasil de Souza begins with the scope, relevance, and authority of the Bible (pp. 81–95). Following this emphasis, in the second appendix Gerhard Pfandl and Joel Iparraguirre give a fresh perspective on the relationship between the authority of the Bible and Ellen G. White’s writings (pp. 97–117). Then Ekkehardt Mueller and Gerhard Pfandl provide an outline of the major systems of interpretation used for understanding Daniel and Revelation and summarize the Adventist understanding of the prophecies of these books (pp. 119–134). Finally, by comparing the Nueva Versión Internacional with the Reina-Valera Bible (1960 edition), Marcos Blanco provides a valuable tool for Spanish Bible translations, explaining how each Bible version should be used (pp. 135–156).

Mueller should be commended for putting together this pertinent resource, which is an indispensable tool for Bible students who want to know how to properly, meaningfully, and accurately interpret the Holy Scriptures.