Individualism has become a great evil bemoaned by cultural critics everywhere in the West. Many preachers have joined the chorus by offering communitarian values as an alternative. But what if we’re drawing these conclusions from our cultural milieu rather than the Bible?

Don Carson raises this concern with John Piper and Tim Keller as they continue their discussion on biblical interpretation and authoritative preaching. The Bible corrects and constrains our teaching as God stands sovereign over every culture and its ever-changing preferences.

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This free-wheeling discussion also touches on the value of hermeneutics, the surge of interest in systematic prolegomena, and how you best train preachers to trust in the authority of God’s Word.

Be sure to check back for the third installment (of four) as the conversation gets pointed over the value of studying the historical context of Scripture for help in explaining the meaning of a passage.

Don Carson (BS, McGill University, MDiv, Central Baptist Seminary, Toronto, PhD, University of Cambridge) is emeritus professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and cofounder and theologian-at-large of The Gospel Coalition. He has edited and authored numerous books. He and his wife, Joy, have two children.

John Piper (BA, Wheaton College; BD, Fuller Theological Seminary; ThD, University of Munich) serves as founder and lead teacher at Desiring God and is chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, Piper served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, and he is a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He has authored more than 50 books, and more than 30 years of his preaching and writing are available free of charge at desiringGod.org.

Tim Keller (MDiv, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) was founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Manhattan, chairman of Redeemer City to City, and co-founder of The Gospel Coalition. He wrote numerous books, including The Reason for God. He and his wife, Kathy, had three children.