One of the books I've used most in my years of interest in (and teaching of) hermeneutics is a wonderful entry-level work by Southern Baptist seminary professor Robert H. Stein. It is entitled, Playing by the Rules: A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible.
In this book, Stein takes a decidely author-centered approach to Scripture interpretation. In so doing, he emphasizes that the Scripture text means (universally) what the author intended it to mean. No intentional fallacy silliness. No modernist preoccupation with the reader's "feelings" or intuition. Stein offers just a straightforward hermeneutic structure that appreciates culture, history, grammar, literary genre, word usage and other pertinent information about the author's world and language tools.
The book is divided into two sections; the first dealing with the general rules of interpretation and the second which explores in greater detail the techniques of interpreting (respectively) proverbs, prophecies, poetry, idioms, hyperboles, parables, narratives, epistles, covenants, laws, and songs.
Playing By The Rules by Robert H. Stein is an excellent book for anyone interested in a better understanding and appreciation of the Bible. And, like I have for the last several years, I heartily recommend it.
