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.
General
Imprint: |
Penguin USA
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
August 2020 |
Authors: |
John Barton
|
Dimensions: |
213 x 140 x 41mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
640 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-14-311120-7 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-14-311120-5 |
Barcode: |
9780143111207 |
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