One of a series of 6 small books dealing in a short and accessible way with the key concerns for Christians. Again and again, we hear that such-and-such an opinion is not 'biblical', implying that the Bible speaks with a unified voice on any matter. With humour and examples drawn from art and life, Helen-Ann Hartley argues that our reading of this varied collection of writings has to be generous, not exclusive. To appreciate fully the Bible's richness and diversity, we have to wrestle critically and creatively with themes that attract us and repel us. Not only should we draw meaning from the Bible, we must let our lives contribute meaning to the stories it tells, engaging in conversation with those stories and allowing them to urge us into being -- to think, speak and act. Ultimately, to make sense of the Bible, we need to make sense of who we are in relationship to God.

Helen-Ann Hartley

Cover page

Title page

Imprint

Dedication

About the author

Preface

Introduction

1. Stories

2. Contexts

3. Encounters

4. Conversations

Conclusion

Notes

The Good Book Stall

Christians love their euphemisms. Take clergy job adverts. The moment one sees the phrase ‘church seeks sound biblical teacher’ we know that a conservative preacher is sought, someone who will read the bible literally. Making sense of the Bible”seeks to encourage us to view scripture more generously and imaginatively than this, specifically by encouraging us to ‘converse’ with the text with open hearts and minds.  
Helen-Ann Hartley seeks to broaden our biblical horizons by exploring how our understanding of scripture is enhanced by recognising how the stories, contexts, encounters and conversations within scripture can help us understand our own and vice versa.   
This is a valuable approach to scripture that has much potential to bring the Bible alive and even to enable the living Word of God to speak to us afresh. It can help prevent us from becoming stuck with inherited perspectives on familiar stories and gives us permission to discover the meaning of scripture for ourselves, independently of the teachers or leaders of our own church.  
Sadly however, I believe this short volume fails to provide the accessible and practical tools that lay Christians need. It is neither well structured nor comprehensive in its overview of imaginative ways to read scripture. In terms of approaches to textual analysis, it is somewhat dated.   
Making Sense of the Bible may be read by Modern Church readers and others in the liberal wing of the church, but may struggle to engage those who need to hear its liberating message. For Christians nurtured within the constraints of a narrow and didactic theology, this book is unlikely to attract their attention or provide the release they seek.

Making Sense of the Bible

Navigation Bar

Header Default

Download the Christian360 App to read eBooks and listen to Audiobooks bought at Christian360

Download the App

Making Sense of the Bible

Description

Need support?

Customer reviews

Download the App

Download the App