Why the Good Book Is a Great Read If you want to rightly understand the Bible, you must begin by recognizing what it is: a composite of literary styles. It is meant to be read, not just interpreted. The Bible's truths are embedded like jewels in the rich strata of story and poetry, metaphor and proverb, parable and letter, satire and symbolism. Paying attention to the literary form of a passage will help you understand the meaning and truth of that passage. How to Read the Bible as Literature takes you through the various literary forms used by the biblical authors. This book will help you read the Bible with renewed appreciation and excitement and gain a more profound grasp of its truths. Designed for maximum clarity and usefulness, How to Read the Bible as Literature includes * sidebar captions to enhance organization * wide margins ideal for note taking * suggestions for further reading * appendix: 'The Allegorical Nature of the Parables' * indexes of persons and subjects
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Why the Good Book Is a Great Read
If you want to rightly understand the Bible, you must begin by recognizing what it is: a composite of literary styles. It is meant to be read, not just interpreted. The Bible’s truths are embedded like jewels in the rich strata of story and poetry, metaphor and proverb, parable and letter, satire and symbolism. Paying attention to the literary form of a passage will help you understand the meaning and truth of that passage.
How to Read the Bible as Literature takes you through the various literary forms used by the biblical authors. This book will help you read the Bible with renewed appreciation and excitement and gain a more profound grasp of its truths.
Designed for maximum clarity and usefulness, How to Read the Bible as Literature includes * sidebar captions to enhance organization * wide margins ideal for note taking * suggestions for further reading * appendix: "The Allegorical Nature of the Parables" * indexes of persons and subjects
About the Author
Leland Ryken (PhD, University of Oregon) is professor of English at Wheaton College in Illinois, where he has twice received the 'teacher of the year' award.
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More About the Author
Leland Ryken (PhD, University of Oregon) is Professor of English at Wheaton College. He has authored or edited several books, including The Word of God in English, The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, and The Complete Literary Guide to the Bible. He is a frequent speaker at the Evangelical Theological Society and served as literary stylist for The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By Aaron Culp
Format:Paperback
Ryken does well with his introduction to the Bible as literature. This work is clear and tight, the way such a book ought to be. Perhaps its greatest virtue is that it works within the traditional western categories of literature, explaining them all along (for those of us who don't remember everything from our school days!). As such, the ideas and terms will ring familiar, at least faintly, with most of us educated in the States, and it will offer a sound introduction to the Bible as literature.
With this said, though, perhaps the greatest weakness of this book is that same characteristic. Traditional categories are a good place to start, but the reader must, at some point, go beyond these into the more Hebrew-specific realm of reading. The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament truly is, despite some opinion, a masterful work, but to understand it as such one must become familiar with just how it works. Wonderfully, there are writers, such as Robert Alter and Adele Berlin, who have written well on precisely this topic.
In the end, this book is a great place to start. It offers a well-grounded foundation for reading the Bible literarily, and as long as the reader knows its strengths and limitations, it will serve him well.
With this said, though, perhaps the greatest weakness of this book is that same characteristic. Traditional categories are a good place to start, but the reader must, at some point, go beyond these into the more Hebrew-specific realm of reading. The Hebrew Bible/Old Testament truly is, despite some opinion, a masterful work, but to understand it as such one must become familiar with just how it works. Wonderfully, there are writers, such as Robert Alter and Adele Berlin, who have written well on precisely this topic.
In the end, this book is a great place to start. It offers a well-grounded foundation for reading the Bible literarily, and as long as the reader knows its strengths and limitations, it will serve him well.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ryken's book, written by an Evangelical professor of literature, is an excellent introduction to reading the Bible. It is a short and simple handbook, separated into categories of biblical literature, which will help the reader understand how the different genres (types) of literature in the Bible "work." This is not a book on "interpreting" the Bible, but on "reading" the Bible. Many Christians miss that reading should always precede interpretation.
Reading involves more than words and grammar, we have to learn how genres work. Some genres we have to learn to appreciate (such as how to "read" the poetry of Emerson). Others are written so close to our methods of normal communication they come easily (such as newspapers or popular novels). The Bible contains genre which seems familiar (historical narrative), but some of the narrative leaves the reader with the feeling that she didn't quite "get it." Other genres in the Bible are terribly foreign; Hebrew poetry is dramatically different than English, prophecy is often completely alien to Western readers. By helping us understand how these types of literature communicate their message, Ryken helps us read the Bible in a way which makes it understandable.
I have not yet found an Evangelical book which accomplishes this task better than Ryken's. I heartily commend it.
Reading involves more than words and grammar, we have to learn how genres work. Some genres we have to learn to appreciate (such as how to "read" the poetry of Emerson). Others are written so close to our methods of normal communication they come easily (such as newspapers or popular novels). The Bible contains genre which seems familiar (historical narrative), but some of the narrative leaves the reader with the feeling that she didn't quite "get it." Other genres in the Bible are terribly foreign; Hebrew poetry is dramatically different than English, prophecy is often completely alien to Western readers. By helping us understand how these types of literature communicate their message, Ryken helps us read the Bible in a way which makes it understandable.
I have not yet found an Evangelical book which accomplishes this task better than Ryken's. I heartily commend it.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By T. Dahlstrom
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As the author notes, the Bible is not a theological outline with proof texts attached. He states that we have been so preoccupied with the hermeneutical question of how to interpret what the Bible says that we have been left impoverished in techniques to describe and interact with the text itself. I have found this to be true in my life. This book brings out the richness of the Bible in introducing its literary forms and allowing the reader to get more out of the Bible as a result. It is a quick and interesting read which I recommend for any one interested in knowing more about this great book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Missing Pages
Purchased this book for a literature class. Unfortunately, when I reached a certain page, about 20 pages were missing from the reading.
Published 3 months ago by Pen Name
5.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting premise
As a believer, I have always felt the Bible was the inspried Word of God. When I first encountered this title, I was offended. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jean Arno
5.0 out of 5 stars
Remembering that Holy Literature Was Crafted by Master Artisans
This book was shocking! Some years ago when I first picked it up, it admonished me, a Bible believing evangelical, to read holy Scriptures in a manner I had never contemplated... Read more
Published 7 months ago by InHisHand
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent textbook
I teach a college course titled "Bible as Literature," a general education elective course aimed at all majors. Read more
Published 17 months ago by John Hodgson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice little overview
Most Bible students have little familiarity with the concept of differing literary genres of Scripture. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Brian Utermahlen
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Bible as Literature
Leland Ryken is excellent in pointing out nuances of the Bible that most people have never even seen (such as satire, tragedy and parables). Read more
Published 20 months ago by Stephen C. Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fresh reading of Scripture
A solid resource for the student and/or teacher of theology. Far too many readers of Scripture do not understand the different approaches necessary to for the different genres. Read more
Published on April 1, 2009 by Billy Tucker
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bringing the Bible to the masses, but then what?
Despite the fact that Ryken seems more theologically conservative than I find tasteful, this book does a good job of making the Bible accessible to the average reader as a matter... Read more
Published on January 29, 2005 by Jennifer M
3.0 out of 5 stars
much to do about nothing
The book is well organized, highly researched, and well written, but very boring! It simply analyzes biblical literature to death and makes many of the not so interesting and not... Read more
Published on May 16, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must-have!
This book will increase your hability to undertand the Bible. It will help you to consider the biblical narratives according to their different structures... A must-have !
Published on September 4, 2000 by "faubert"
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 59
books:
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29
books
cite this book:
See all 29 books citing this book
- New Testament in Literary Criticism (Library of Literary Criticism) by Leland Ryken on 7 pages
- Literature of the Bible by Leland Ryken on 6 pages
- Henry James : Literary Criticism -- Essays on Literature, American Writers, English Writers (The Library of America) (v. 1) by Henry James on 4 pages
- The Sword of His Mouth by Robert C. Tannehill on 4 pages
- How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee on page 26, and page 156
See all 59 books this book cites
- Expository Hermeneutics: an Introduction by Elliot Johnson on 12 pages
- A Complete Literary Guide to the Bible by Leland Ryken on 12 pages
- Parables & Prophecy : Unlocking the Bible's Mysteries (Willow Creek Bible 101 Series) by Bill Donahue on page 2, page 3, and page 19
- Parables in the Eye of the Storm: Christ's Response in the Face of Conflict by Stanley A. Ellisen in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text: Interpreting and Preaching Biblical Literature by Sidney Greidanus on page 177, and Back Matter
See all 29 books citing this book
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