January 19th, 2010
- ISBN13: 9780061718625
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Whether watching political candidates quote Jesus or tracking court cases on how the stories of Adam and Eve should be taught in schools, we are surrounded by the legacy of the Bible in our contemporary world. Every person needs to know the core Bible stories—those biblical stories that have cultural, historical, or literary significance—that lie at the foundation of Western civilization. Professor Timothy Beal argues that without knowing these core stories, we cannot fully participate in the popular, political, and especially spiritual worlds that surround us.
Have you ever been told that you are the apple of someone’s eye? Have you ever described a disastrous situation as the blind leading the blind or easily predicted the future by reading the writing on the wall? Unbeknownst to most of us, all these common expressions have biblical roots.
In Biblical Literacy, Beal showcases the Bible stories that have most shaped history and our world and provides the key information we need to know for how to understand these profound stories. In addition, Beal delves into the important historical and cultural back-ground information so that readers can fully understand the impact of these stories on the world we live in now.
For a quick and fun reference, Beal provides the reader with a complete glossary of common phrases and images that have surprising biblical origins, as well as an easily navigable glossary of biblical keywords. Whether an atheist or a churchgoer, every person will benefit from this entry-level course into the heart of the most influential book of all time.
Biblical Literacy: The Essential Bible Stories Everyone Needs to Know
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5 Comments
This book provides a good survey of the Bible that skips over the parts which cause many people to struggle with maintaining focus. For readers who have not had as much direct reading in the Bible as they may have wished, the selections provide a fairly comprehensive overview that can be read in reasonably short amount of time. Naturally, one can quibble about the selections chosen by the author but on the whole they are good and representative of the parts from which they were selected. I personally would have selected the story of Gideon over that of Jepthath and I thought too much space was given to Revelation. Likewise, some excerpts from Nehemiah or Ezra would have been nice. But considering the breadth of the content, it is inherent that opinions will differ with respect to what should have been put in and what should have been omitted. The book has several sidebars that provide comments and ask questions about the various excerpts. I thought the author did an excellent job with the excerpts from Isaiah and the discussion about the gospel accounts is quite good. Overall, the author provides information that enables the reader to understand the excerpts in a sound context. For readers with little experience reading the Bible, this book will be a good resource for increasing familiarity with what the Bible actually says and, if desired, a good starting point for exploring other parts.
Rating: 5 / 5
Beal’s Biblical Literacy challenged me to think about these stories that I thought I already knew. There were many reminders, but many surprises as well. Informative and fun!
Rating: 5 / 5
If you know little or nothing about the Bible, this book might earn a 5-star rating.
If you are relatively familiar with the Bible, even in a general sense, this book might well earn a 1-star rating.
Hence, a somewhat shaky 3-star review.
For those who are not familiar with the Bible, this book, as promised in the subtitle, “The Best Bits Without All the Boring Bits,” is an excellent summary of the Bible, its key stories and terms that influence our culture, speech and interaction with each other on a daily basis.
If, however, you are generally familiar with the Bible and are looking for ways and examples on how it has shaped our cuture, this book is long on scripture and short on examples of cultural influence. In that sense it is woefully lacking and long on scripture, primarly a retelling of the old familiar, even semi-familiar stories.
The introduction to the book and introductions to the Old and the New Testaments and certain books therein are good and well worth reading, though a Biblical literalist will have trouble with them.
The Glossery of Key Biblical Words and the collection/explanation of Familiar Phrases and Images at the end may the best, most useful and generally informative part of the book.
Not a great book, but not a bad one. The less you know about the Bible, the better it is; the more you know about the Bible, the more lacking it is.
So, take your choice: To read or not to read, that is the question!!!
Rating: 3 / 5
This book is an excellent introduction to the Biblical text and stories for those who are not familiar with them and a good review with pertinent questions for those who know it well to think through and discuss with others. We have enjoyed it.
Rating: 5 / 5
Beal’s latest book is a wonderfully insightful read that will keep you thinking and laughing long after you close the cover. Not only for people of faith, this book will open your eyes to how biblical texts are used throughout culture. The “asides” add to one’s cultural education – a must for anyone who desires to be relevant. Beal is an excellent writer who will engage your brain and your soul.
Rating: 5 / 5
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