Make a Difference

Read Full Post »

How to Read the Bible

James Kugel’s book How to Read the Bible is actually deceptively titled.  The well-written book is not a basic introduction into how to read the Old Testament and New Testament scriptures, but is actually an academic introduction into the major ancient and modern interpretations of key texts throughout the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament only).  But don’t let the “academic” part of the book scare you away.  The text is very accessible and easy to read.  I used this book as one of my introductory texts at seminary.

This is one of the best books that I have read in a while. Chapter by chapter Kugel opens up the world of the Old Testament within its historical context and the modern concerns brought to the text.  Are the views unbiased? No, but they do give you a starting point for understanding how to wrestle with reading scripture.

One of the best features of this text is its entire premise of exploring the question: How do we read these very ancient texts today?  Modern critical scholarship doesn’t have to destroy scripture. Kugel presents a compromising view that acknowledges contemporary (and ancient) ways of the looking at the text, while still reading them as sacred texts.

This is a definitely a great book that will be useful for any pastoral or religious library.

 

Read Full Post »