Asking better questions of the Bible : a guide for the wounded, wary & longing for more

Asking better questions of the Bible A guide for the wounded, wary & longing for more

Marty Solomon

Book - 2023

"Too often when we come to the Bible, questions make us uncomfortable. But questions are often a good thing. When we stop viewing the Bible through the lens of our own agendas and ask the questions the Bible is asking, something extraordinary happens. We form a new and deeper way of thinking about Scripture and understanding the Bible. As we do, we move further into the depths and mystery of God. Asking Better Questions of the Bible is a journey into the original conversation of the inspired Text. In it, Marty Solomon (a host of The BEMA Podcast and the founder of the BEMA Discipleship ministry, a branch of Impact Campus Ministries) explores all the different portions of Scripture, examining how each is unique in structure and intent. ...When we ask the questions the Bible is asking, we will: understand the ancient Near Eastern perspective of words, numbers, and core principles like eternal life, truth, sin, and faith; recognize the literary devices and the reclamation of stories used in the Torah; read the historical books both as sources of inspiration and as cautionary tales; interpret the distinct genres in wisdom literature, such as psalms and proverbs; decipher the unique elements of prophetic literature; perceive the subversive nature of the Gospel accounts; and view the New Testament letters as inspired, authoritative interpretation of the story of God. God can be trusted with our doubts and invites us to question. Let Asking Better Questions of the Bible show you a better way forward for interpreting Scripture."--

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Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 220.6/Solomon Checked In
Subjects
Bible > Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Published
[Carol Stream, Illinois] : NavPress [2023]
©2023
Language
English
Main Author
Marty Solomon (author)
Physical Description
230 pages ; 21 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-230).
ISBN
9781641585705
  • 1. Seeing the Text in Context
  • The Case for Inspiration
  • 2. Playing with Both Hands
  • The Difference between Eastern and Western Thinking
  • 3. Letting Torah Read You
  • Looking for Literary Devices
  • 4. History as Prophecy
  • History Has an Agenda
  • 5. Reading Wisdom with Wisdom
  • Wisdom Utilizes a Genre with Limits
  • 6. Putting the Prophets in Their Place
  • The Who, What, Where, When, and Why
  • 7. The Good News about the Gospels
  • Understanding the Essentials of the Gospel Accounts
  • 8. Learning About The Letters
  • Refusing to Systematize the Theology of the New Testament Letters
  • 9. Apocalyptic Revelations
  • Reading Apocalyptic Literature without Losing Our Minds
  • 10. Throwing Dogma to the Docs
  • Understanding How Our Theological Filters Influence Our Interpretation
  • A Final Word
  • Hagah
  • Committing to Never Stop Devouring the Word
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In this enlightening debut, Bema podcast host Solomon seeks to help Christians engage more deeply with the Bible and, by extension, with God. Rejecting straightforward approaches to Bible study, Solomon argues that recognizing scriptural complexity helps believers appreciate "the bigness of God," and that asking hard questions, rather than signifying disbelief, can engender a more vibrant faith. His plan involves getting readers to recognize they are "literary tourists" who are studying the Bible, and also that they are not its intended historical audience. As well, Solomon suggests viewing the text through an "ancient Eastern perspective" so as to appreciate it within the cultural context it was created and to better perceive the individual perspectives and agendas of its writers. He also helps readers tackle anxieties that can arise from serious study, acknowledging one might initially feel one's regressed in biblical understanding or even unintentionally misled others spiritually in the past. Accessibly written and forthright (Solomon is frank about the struggles in his own process), this guide provides a useful spiritual toolbox to assist readers in broadening their Bible study, without being prescriptive or wedded to one philosophy. Christians seeking a fresh approach to scriptural study should give this a look. (Feb.)

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