ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by briefly discussing role and place for 'principles' in reading the Bible, particularly in light of the growing interest in 'theological hermeneutics' and 'theological interpretation'. Then it interrogates three myths about principles that attained prominence in the modern era and, to various degrees, still perdure. Three myths are myth of independence, myth of priority, myth of the ideal method. The chapter explores a single issue that explains a common denominator in the problematic nature of these myths and illustrates this problem by way of a brief re-engagement with the hermeneutical thought of Hans Frei. Finally, then, it offers a modest gesture towards a new model by which to properly frame our understanding of the act of reading the Bible and correct the deficiencies that have been the result of this problem; deficiencies that have been prevalent for centuries and remain remarkably insular to criticism.
