justinrossow.com

Metaphors pervade our thought, our culture, our way of living and interacting in the world. Metaphors permeate Scripture and are central to biblical proclamation. Reading, interpreting, preaching, and living the biblical witness means coming to grips with the metaphors that shape us, both in the text and in the world.

About This Blog

This blog explores metaphor in the Biblical text and in our contemporary culture. The same dynamics shape how we understand both the latest ad campaign and the nature of the Gospel. Being more aware of the interpretive process that most often happens behind the scenes allows us to interpret the biblical text and bring that message to bear on the lives of our hearers with more depth and precision. This a blog intended to raise questions, offer tools, and invite reflection.

About the Author

Justin Rossow is Senior Pastor at St. Luke–Ann Arbor, Stlukeaa.org.  He received his BA with a double major in English and Music from Concordia University­—Ann Arbor (1994) and his MDiv (2003) and PhD in Theology and Culture (2009) from Concordia Seminary—St. Louis, where he has taught pre-seminary, MDiv, and PhD courses related to preaching and metaphor theory.

Justin’s doctoral work focused on developing a narrative approach to metaphor theory for reading the Biblical text and for preaching. He continues to serve occasionally as a guest instructor.

Justin and his wife Miriam rejoice in God’s gift of four children, Naomi, Liz, Kate, and Caleb.

Selected Bibliography

“What the Bird Said and Why It Was the Gospel,” Concordia Journal 31 (April 2005): 132–139. (available online here)

“Lilies, Apple Trees, and the Hermeneutics of Metaphor: A Review of Christopher Mitchell’s Commentary on The Song of Songs.”  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Concordia Theological Symposium exegetical working group, Concordia Seminary,St. Louis, 19 September 2005. (pdf available here: here)

“If Jesus ‘Came Down from Heaven,’ Where Does That Leave Me?” Concordia Journal 32 (October 2006): 388–395. (available online here)

“Preaching the Story Behind the Image: The Homiletical Fruit of a Narrative Approach to Metaphor.” Concordia Journal 34 (January-April 2008): 9–21. (available online here)

Review of Envisioning the Word: The Use of Visual Images in Preaching, by Richard A. Jensen. Concordia Journal 34 (January-April 2008): 126–128.  (available online here)

Review of Because You Bear This Name: Conceptual Metaphor and the Meaning of 1 Peter, by Bonnie Howe. http://www.ConcordiaTheology.com, posted 16 April 2008.  (available online here)

Review of Metaphor in Culture: Universality and Variation, by Zoltán Kövecses.  http://www.ConcordiaTheology.com, posted 21 July 2008.  (available online here)

“Filled Up and Overflowing.” Sermon for the Holy Trinity; First Sunday after Pentecost, June 7, 2009.  Concordia Pulpit Resources.

“God Does What He Wants.” Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 6), June 14, 2009. Concordia Pulpit Resources.

“Preaching the Story Behind the Image: A Narrative Approach to Metaphor for Preaching.” Ph. D. diss., Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 2009.