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The Bible: The Biography

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: Karen Armstrong

March 01, 2008
This book provides an overview of the story of the Bible, not the text itself, but how it was written, how the canon was selected and how it has been interpreted and used over the centuries. Spanning the millennia from the writing to the present, it gives a view of the place of the Bible in the world that is often missing when reading about a particular book or thene of the Scriptures.

Author Karen Armstrong introduces, or reminds, the reader, about the sources of the Old and New Testament, the multiple authors of Isaiah and the way the Bible shaped the Jewish self-image. As it progresses, she cites comments by many writers, Christian and Jewish, including Sts. Augustine and Jerome, Martin Luther and many others.

I ... Read More:

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The Message Bible [International Paperback]

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: Eugene H. Peterson

June 22, 2007
A friend gave me a copy of this book a few years ago and I started to read it. It did not take long to see that this book fails on so many levels.

Firstly and most importantly, It is NOT a Bible translation. It is the opinion of Eugene Peterson of what the Bible means. So from the start you are dealing with a highly subjective work. Which in effect plays right into the hands of those who say "you can't trust the Bible - its been translated so many times that the real message is lost". Which is exactly what has happened here, ironically, with The Message.

My advise to anyone thinking of getting this book is to seriously consider WHY you are buying it. If you want to study the Bible then get a modern (accurate) translation ... Read More:

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Unlocking the Bible

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: David Pawson

November 03, 2003
For anyone who's ever scratched their heads trying to make sense of the bible, this is the book for you.

David Pawson's clear, easy to follow, erudite prose opens up the bible. He doesn't pretend the bible is a simple document, but does shine a light on the text to make it easier to get to grips with.

The book is filled with examples and stories, and it also tracks Pawson's own journey in trying to understand scripture.

There's a great explanation of "Song of Songs", which Pawson says he avoided for years because it just seemed to be too carnal: about the sexual relationship between a man and a woman. To find out his refreshing conclusion about the Song of Solomon, buy this book!

It's rare to find ... Read More:

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The Usborne Children's Bible (Mini Usborne Classics)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: Heather Amery

October 27, 2000
I was mislead by the title and expected a bible (well, ok, extracts)for children. I did not expect retellings of the stories with inaccuracies thrown in. Correct me if I am wrong, but nowhere, for example, does it specify THREE Kings in the Nativity. Three gifts, yes, but not kings. Or Magi. Nit picking? Probably, but why make up details that are not in the original text?
IF the book had been titles "stories from the Bible" I would not have bought it and would have avoided disappointment.
On the plus side the illustrations are very pretty and 'tis true my children enjoy listening to the stories, even if they are read by a grumpy old pedant like me.

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How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: Gordon D. Fee, Douglas Stuart

November 01, 2003
This is certainly a good introduction to reading and studying the Bible. It is not the sort of book you would read from cover to cover in one go; but rather a book that you would delve into as and when you need to some guidance on a particular genre of literature.

When this book was originally publish it was quite dry, but the latest edition has been made more readable.

The recommended commentary list in the back of the book is not the best. For better help on choosing commentaries see my other reviews.

In the original book there was a definite bias towards the NIV as the best translation. This has been replaced by the TNIV as the best translation for Bible study. I have no problem about authors having a preference for ... Read More:

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The Bible for Dummies (For Dummies)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: Jeffrey Geoghegan, Michael Homan

November 05, 2002
This was a reasonable introduction to the Bible written by Protestant Scholars.

I have several much heavier books at home e.g. "Mackenzie Dictionary of the Bible", "The New Jerome Biblical Commentary", "An Introduction to the New Testament" by Raymond Brown. I also use The New Jerusalem Bible with notes and the Holy Bible RSV Catholic Edition with notes.

There are just a few quibbles:

1 Although this is pitched at a basic level the authors could have introduced more debates from modern scholarship and to have accepted the more reasonable views while rejecting the more outlandish ones.

2 There are some passages where I think the authors have dogmatically accepted a non-Catholic interpretation even when this makes ... Read More:

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Cover to Cover Complete: Through the Bible as it Happened: Through the Bible as It Happened

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: Selwyn Hughes, Trevor J. Partridge

October 01, 2007
I am told that the average time a devotee of Harry Potter took to read the last and final 605-page book was 3½ days. The Lord of the Rings trilogy takes up to a fortnight if you stop occasionally to sleep, eat or wash. So why do we gasp in admiration when someone says, "This year I'm going to read the whole of the bible cover to cover, complete"

Well one reason is the bible is a little longer, the plot is quite simple, but the understanding is much harder. So if your new years resolution was to read the bible in a year, then I might have a very good suggestion. Read "Cover to Cover Complete, by Selwyn Hughes and Trevor J. Partridge, (well Selwyn and Trevor didn't actually write it, it is in fact the inspired word of God). This book is a one year chronological ... Read More:

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The Brick Testament: The Story of Christmas (Brick Testament)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: Brendan Powell Smith

2004-12
I am told that the average time a devotee of Harry Potter took to read the last and final 605-page book was 3½ days. The Lord of the Rings trilogy takes up to a fortnight if you stop occasionally to sleep, eat or wash. So why do we gasp in admiration when someone says, "This year I'm going to read the whole of the bible cover to cover, complete"

Well one reason is the bible is a little longer, the plot is quite simple, but the understanding is much harder. So if your new years resolution was to read the bible in a year, then I might have a very good suggestion. Read "Cover to Cover Complete, by Selwyn Hughes and Trevor J. Partridge, (well Selwyn and Trevor didn't actually write it, it is in fact the inspired word of God). This book is a one year chronological ... Read More:

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The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English: Complete Edition (Penguin Classics)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: Geza Vermes

June 24, 2004
Geza Vermes' book, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English, is a worthy capstone to a long and distinguished scroll career. Vermes entire career, from his student days to this present work, has been concentrated largely on the Dead Sea Scrolls and related topics. His doctorate in 1953 was completed with a dissertation on the historical framework of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is difficult to find any scholar with as complete a knowledge of the scrolls as has Vermes; it is impossible to find one who knows them better.

This book was released in 1997, 50 years from the time the first Arab shepherd climbed into a cave in search of a wandering animal and instead fell upon the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Following the 'revolution' of 1991 (to use Vermes words), everyone ... Read More:

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Holy Bible

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Criticism and Interpretation
by: -

December 31, 1983
While this book has produced quite a lot of cultural references still used in the modern world, there are ample examples of negativity, especially in Act 1 ('The Old Testament'). For instance, the maddened patriarch known as Yahweh (also rather confusingly referred to as 'God', 'Lord', 'Jehovah' and 'Jesus') bans a couple from a garden for scrumping apples. Later, he starts striking people down dead, floods the entire world and is even caught telling women they must marry their rapists.

There's a nice bit in the middle (see Act 2 - 'The New Testament)' about a guy who wants everyone to be nice to each other, but the author kills him off too quickly and the message his character was communicating gets lost.

Having passed this highlight, the book rambles ... Read More: