Bible Question: Hello! I'm an English teacher, and I am planning to do a unit on how the application of literary study techniques to the study of Scripture can enhance our understanding and appreciation of the Bible. I'm looking for some resources. First, does anyone know of a good "Bible as Literature" textbook that is written from the assumption that the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God? I'd also prefer one that uses a conservative chronology and that leans towards inerrancy rather than a more "liberal" interpretation. Also, I'm planning to take my students through the table of contents in their Bibles and discuss the genre of each book -- not to start a controversy (so we won't get into the "Genesis as mythology" conversation, I shouldn't think), but just to answer factually "What kind of writing is this?" Do you know of any study helps for this quest? Thanks very much! |
Bible Answer: Dear Admonit :: An edition of the Scriptures well worth knowing is "The Bible Designed To Be Read as Living Literature." The copy I own is an updated version of the original edition of the 1930s work of Ernest Sutherland Bates, who undertook an assignment from Simon and Schuster to devise an edition of the King James Bible in a format that would allow the reader to begin in Genesis and read all the way through Revelation without being detracted by footnotes, side-bar blurbs and other distractions. The font is large (12 or 14 points I'd guess) and there is sufficient leading between the lines of print to spare the page the cramped, crowded look of most Bibles. Moreover, the reader won't find the distraction of chapters and verses either, and the page is cast into single columns with normal paragraph indentions. Prose is formatted as prose and poetry as poetry. The editor gives very brief introductions to the books, but they can be skipped or ignored, and probably should be in view of their liberal slant on certain things. I do want to make it clear that my recommendation of this edition is limited to the biblical text and the format; I sharply disagree with some of the editor's conclusions in his brief introductions to the books. Frankly, I'd be even more enthusiastic about the work if it didn't have the book introductions, about which the most civil thing I can say is that they're mercifully brief. ..... And I may as well be candid. When it comes to viewing the Bible as literature -- and superb literature it is --I'm heavily biased in favor of the King James Version. No other English version before it or since has been able to exceed or even to equal this majestic version for sheer literary excellence. It seems such a pity that children and many adults are never exposed to this towering monument of English prose but are spoon fed the bland and insipid diet of travesties such as we have in many of the modern versions, particularly the paraphrastic ones. To illustrate the point: Some time ago I happened upon an interesting rendition of a segment of the 23rd Pslam that appeared in one of the modern paraphrases of Scripture that purported to be as easy to read as today's newspaper. (Considering the low literary quality of the typical newspaper, I don't count that claim as having much merit at all). Be that as it may, the segment that struck me as being simply ridiculous and inept was this: "Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid, because you are with me; your rod and your walking stick comfort me." ...... If we juxtapose the King James, we read, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." I'd like for someone to be able to convince me that the mundane paraphrase is clearer or in any other way superior to the King James. ....... The volume I've cited may still be in print, or if not can likely be purchased through one of the on-line used-book resources such as abe.com. The ISBN for the hardcover volume I own is 0671879596. --Hank |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Bible general Archive 4 | Author | ||
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seirra2 | ||
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ljcarr | ||
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chula | ||
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Admonit | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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bowler | ||
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Hank | ||
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C.Marie | ||
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Pliskin | ||
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Jesus_Keeps_Me | ||
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Mariel | ||
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Mariel | ||
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Mariel |