Virtue and the Voice of God

Book excerpt: Theology's longest tradition is as a course of study that leads to wisdom. With the growth of the academy, however, theology fell into a fixation with the objective results of science. In this illuminating study Daniel Treier retrieves the older, deeper understanding of theology and connects wisdom in theological education to the theological interpretation of scripture, giving rise to a renewed understanding of the role of virtue in each. Dialoguing with a number of prominent proponents of theological interpretation of scripture, Treier builds on a biblical theology of wisdom that involves the daily lives of all God's people. Ultimately, Treier connects educational discussions of theology and hermeneutical discussions through a trinitarian understanding of wisdom. As a result, the increasingly diverse forms and social locations of theology can be integrated into the mainstream of theological reflection. Filled with interdisciplinary wisdom, Virtue and the Voice of God is a timely recovery of the essential conversation between theological education, virtue, and scriptural interpretation.