Bible Reading for the Biblically Illiterate - And We're All Illiterate (Part 2)
What is the Bible? Barth’s question of the nature of the Bible is critical and misunderstanding here leads to confusion all the way down the line. A symphony is my image for what the Bible is doing. Three further images help me to think through how the Bible works (or does not work) – a window, a mirror, and a stained glass art. [1] These images capture the three primary ways readers approach the Bible and picture the expectations they bring to their reading. The Bible as Symphony The Bible is one long sprawling story. It tells this story through many authors, most of them unknown. Further editors shaped the Bible into its final form. It contains many genres and styles of writing. Different views are found in its pages, due largely to the vast span of time the Bible covers. Ample diversity of form and thought must be factored into any viable view of the Bible. On the other hand, the Bible is not a mere misc...