How (Not) to Read the Bible
How (Not) to Read the Bible

Author: Dan Kimball

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2020-12-01

Total Pages: 336

ISBN-13: 0310113768

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Is Reading the Bible the Fastest Way to Lose Your Faith? For centuries, the Bible was called "the Good Book," a moral and religious text that guides us into a relationship with God and shows us the right way to live. Today, however, some people argue the Bible is outdated and harmful, with many Christians unaware of some of the odd and disturbing things the Bible says. Whether you are a Christian, a doubter, or someone exploring the Bible for the first time, bestselling author Dan Kimball guides you step-by-step in how to make sense of these difficult and disturbing Bible passages. Filled with stories, visual illustrations, and memes reflecting popular cultural objections, How (Not) to Read the Bible is a lifeline for individuals who are confused or discouraged with questions about the Bible. It also works great as a small-group study or sermon series.

The Bible Doesn't Say That
The Bible Doesn't Say That

Author: Joel M. Hoffman

Publisher: Macmillan

Published: 2016-02-16

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 1466864567

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A “witty and accessible look at Scripture” that explores what the Bible meant before two millennia of mistranslations and misinterpretations (Publishers Weekly, starred review). In this fascinating book, acclaimed translator and biblical scholar Dr. Joel M. Hoffman walks the reader through dozens of mistranslations, misconceptions, and other misunderstandings about the Bible. In forty short, straightforward chapters, he covers morality, lifestyle, theology, and biblical imagery, including: The Bible doesn’t call homosexuality a sin, and doesn’t advocate for the one-man-one-woman model of the family that has been dubbed “biblical.” The Bible’s famous “beat their swords into plowshares” is matched by the militaristic “beat your plowshares into swords.” The often-cited New Testament quotation “God so loved the world” is a mistranslation, as are the titles “Son of Man” and “Son of God.” The Ten Commandments don’t prohibit killing or coveting. What does the Bible say about violence? About the Rapture? About keeping kosher? About marriage and divorce? Hoffman provides answers to all of these and more, succinctly explaining how so many pivotal biblical answers came to be misunderstood.

A History of the Bible
A History of the Bible

Author: John Barton

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2020-08-04

Total Pages: 642

ISBN-13: 0143111205

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A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy Scripture," a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture.

Making Sense of the Bible [Leader Guide]
Making Sense of the Bible [Leader Guide]

Author: Adam Hamilton

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Published: 2014-09-15

Total Pages: 76

ISBN-13: 1501801325

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In this six week video study, Adam Hamilton explores the key points in his new book, Making Sense of the Bible. With the help of this Leader Guide, groups learn from Hamilton as his video presentations lead groups through the book, focusing on the most important questions we ask about the Bible, its origins and meaning.

How the Bible Actually Works
How the Bible Actually Works

Author: Peter Enns

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2019-02-19

Total Pages: 249

ISBN-13: 0062686771

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Controversial evangelical Bible scholar, popular blogger and podcast host of The Bible for Normal People, and author of The Bible Tells Me So and The Sin of Certainty explains that the Bible is not an instruction manual or rule book but a powerful learning tool that nurtures our spiritual growth by refusing to provide us with easy answers but instead forces us to acquire wisdom. For many Christians, the Bible is a how-to manual filled with literal truths about belief that must be strictly followed. But the Bible is not static, Peter Enns argues. It does not hold easy answers to the perplexing questions and issues that confront us in our daily lives. Rather, the Bible is a dynamic instrument for study that not only offers an abundance of insights but provokes us to find our own answers to spiritual questions, cultivating God’s wisdom within us. “The Bible becomes a confusing mess when we expect it to function as a rulebook for faith. But when we allow the Bible to determine our expectations, we see that Wisdom, not answers, is the Bible’s true subject matter,” writes Enns. This distinction, he points out, is important because when we come to the Bible expecting it to be a textbook intended by God to give us unwavering certainty about our faith, we are actually creating problems for ourselves. The Bible, in other words, really isn’t the problem; having the wrong expectation is what interferes with our reading. Rather than considering the Bible as an ancient book weighed down with problems, flaws, and contradictions that must be defended by modern readers, Enns offers a vision of the holy scriptures as an inspired and empowering resource to help us better understand how to live as a person of faith today. How the Bible Actually Works makes clear that there is no one right way to read the Bible. Moving us beyond the damaging idea that “being right” is the most important measure of faith, Enns’s freeing approach to Bible study helps us to instead focus on pursuing enlightenment and building our relationship with God—which is exactly what the Bible was designed to do.

Easy Bible Marking Guide
Easy Bible Marking Guide

Author: Randy A. Brown

Publisher:

Published: 2019-04-14

Total Pages: 58

ISBN-13: 9781093892734

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The goal of this book is to help you create your own marking system that's easy to use. If you've tried other inductive study methods and found them too tedious then this book is for you. This book will show you how to mark your Bible with a simple, easy to remember method that will help you grow deeper in God's Word.Bible marking is an effective inductive method of Bible study. It can be simple or complex. It can be confusing or systematic. It can be haphazard or methodical. To get the most out of Bible marking it is best to be systematic and methodical, but it doesn't have to be complex. Many Christians want to mark in their Bibles but they're not sure how to mark and what to use. This marking guide will teach you:*Bible marking for deeper Bible study*What marking tools to use for writing in your Bible*12 marking techniques*20 things to mark*How to develop your own color code*How to develop your own symbols

Permission Granted--Take the Bible into Your Own Hands
Permission Granted--Take the Bible into Your Own Hands

Author: Jennifer Bird

Publisher: Presbyterian Publishing Corp

Published: 2015-04-07

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 1611645700

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Millions of people around the world look to the Bible as a source of encouragement and faith formation, a reminder that God is love and is in control, and a guide to living one's life the way God desires. But this treasured book has also been misused and manipulated by many, placed on a pedestal of untouchability, and protected from questioning and honest engagement. In Permission Granted, Jennifer Grace Bird encourages people of faith to explore the texts on their own, freed from long-held myths and misconceptions; experience the Bible anew; and appreciate this holy book for what it isâ€"not what we think it should be. With the sensitivity of one who has discovered this freedom herself, Bird invites readers to engage what the Bible really says about twelve key issues, including sin, sex, and the role of women.

Christ and the Bible, Third Edition
Christ and the Bible, Third Edition

Author: John Wenham

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2009-08-01

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 1725226413

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Defense of the Bible begins with rational proofs for the historicity and accuracy of its documents. Christ and the Bible places the argument for the authority of scripture squarely on Jesus. With uncluttered logic and straightforward prose Wenham marshals Gospel evidence to show Jesus' own view of Scripture-that it is (1) historically accurate, (2) authoritative, (3) the standard for ethics, and (4) the verbally inspired revelation of God. He then considers why we should listen to Jesus when he makes such claims and why "Christ's view should be the Christian view." The study substantiates Jesus' reliability influence on all New Testament writers. Finally, Wenham considers two related problems: first, which writings really belong in the Bible; second, the reliability of the text as now available. The presentation is easy to read and understand. This third edition updates and dialogs with recent developments.

A Children's Bible: A Novel
A Children's Bible: A Novel

Author: Lydia Millet

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Published: 2020-05-12

Total Pages: 193

ISBN-13: 1324005041

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Finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction One of the New York Times' Ten Best Books of the Year Named one of the best novels of the year by Time, Washington Post, NPR, Chicago Tribune, Esquire, BBC, and many others National Bestseller "A blistering little classic." —Ron Charles, Washington Post A Children’s Bible follows a group of twelve eerily mature children on a forced vacation with their families at a sprawling lakeside mansion. Contemptuous of their parents, the children decide to run away when a destructive storm descends on the summer estate, embarking on a dangerous foray into the apocalyptic chaos outside. Lydia Millet’s prophetic and heartbreaking story of generational divide offers a haunting vision of what awaits us on the far side of Revelation.

The Book of Bibles
The Book of Bibles

Author: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783836559133

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Discover 50 of the most exquisite and important medieval bible manuscripts, at once art historical treasures and precious religious artifacts. Published in partnership with the Austrian National Library, this stunning collection spans every epoch of the Middle Ages, revealing both the evolution of the Bible and the shifting history of the age.