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This collection of essays was originally planned to be published in early 1998. John Howard Yoder died unexpectedly on December 30 of 1997, while this collection was in the later stages of editing. We want to thank Anne Marie Yoder and the Yoder family for having been most gracious in allowing this publication to be completed.

Soon after the appearance of The Politics of the Jesus (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972, revised 1994), it became apparent that John Howard Yoder was being interpreted by some readers as the advocate of a distinct way of reading the Bible. He was cited as representative of a type in Birch and Rasmussen (The Bible and Ethics in the Christian Life [Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1976]), and again, differently, in their second edition (1989). Later he was labeled as a type by James Gustafson (Beckley and Swezey, James Gustafson’s Theocentric Ethics: Interpretations and Assessments [Macon: Mercer University Press, 1988] 220).

While protesting that there was nothing idiosyncratic, original, or sectarian about his reading of biblical texts, Yoder did respond to invitations to explain himself in various writings that have mostly remained unpublished until now.

This book is divided into three sections, all related to Yoder’s thoughts on his reading of Scripture. Section one offers up three exegetical studies. Yoder did not consider these pieces examples of “putting method to work,” as if he first chose a method and then used it. Instead, he saw these essays as examples of “straightforward” reading which lead (and which led, in fact) to people thinking that he should explain himself. Section two, entitled “Reading with Care,” is Yoder’s attempt to explain himself. The final section, “From the Archives,” is primarily a collection of dated but relevant essays that shed further light on why Yoder read Scripture as he did. An epilogue to the Archives is Yoder’s response to Richard Hays’s Moral Vision of the New Testament (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1996). John intended this material to be primarily a review of Hays and only secondarily an explanation of himself. As the essay evolved, Yoder became convinced that it would be more interesting to contrast himself with Stanley Hauerwas (who is also assessed by Hays in the book) than to defend himself with Hays. Although the essay was still in “rough” form when John died, we have nevertheless chosen to include it due to its relevance.

At one time a university press suggested that this collection should be entitled “How to Read the Bible.” Yoder rejected this title because he felt it was too methodologistic. Later, this material had been titled by Yoder himself as “How to be Read by the Bible.” The title needed changing because, according to Yoder, “the idea that what God is interested in is ‘reading me,’ is itself part of the problem.” He felt that it wrongly suggested subjectivism, as if he thought, as a pietist or a puritan, that the first agenda in Scripture reading is “my own being illuminated or ‘read’ or seen through.” By the time of his death, John had decided that “To Hear the Word” best expressed what he wanted these essays to address.

John Howard Yoder understood himself as very concerned about logic and about detail in exposition and argument. He was “Pennsylvania dutch Midwest”; his father was the first of his line to grow up speaking English. Both his parents and early schooling taught him to be careful about language. Given this reality, if John had lived longer, there is no doubt this collection would have evolved under several “fine tunings.” As it stands now, we have what we have. Hopefully readers will find clarification and needful edification in these essays.

Wipf and Stock Publishers

For further bibliographic assistance regarding John Howard Yoder’s approach to reading Scripture, we highly recommend:

Nation, Mark T. A Comprehensive Bibliography of the Writings of John Howard Yoder. Mennonite Quarterly Review, January 1997. This is also available from the London Mennonite Centre, 14 Shepherds Hill, Highgate, London N6 5AQ, England.