Hans Boersma, Scripture as Real Presence: Sacramental Exegesis in the Early Church (Baker Academic, 2017).

Many are the tendencies and trajectories when approaching, reading and interpreting the Bible. The literal, grammatical, historic tradition and the higher-lower criticism approach have tended to dominate for many in the modern ethos. There has been a postmodern rebellion of sorts against such a reductionistic heritage, but such a leaning often lacks substantive depth and grounding. The decided and definite turn, in the last few decades, by those weary of the rather paper thin modern and postmodern approach to the Bible, has been to the wisdom and layered exegesis of the early church—Scripture as Real Presence stands within such a catholic and classical line and lineage.

How did the Fathers/Mothers of the early church read the Bible? Was it a one dimensional and rather flat approach or were there exegetical levels that were refined and nuanced? Scripture as Real Presence is a beauty and bounty of a tome that illuminates, in a pithy and poignant manner, portals through which, when walked in a meditative and participatory manner, new vistas in the relationship between text and experience, insight and transformation. The ten chapters are worthy of many a reread. Each of the Fathers of the Church (it might have been valuable to heed and hear some of the Mothers—there were many) are given their rightful due, place and space.