Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did [Paperback]

Mark P. Shea (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1999

Take an Amazing Journey into the Depths of Scripture!

Reading the Bible in a way that is as old as Scripture itself, Mark Shea takes us on a "fly-over" of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation. He shows you how to explore the literal, allegorical, moral and anagogical senses of Scripture.

Whether you have been studying Scripture for years, or are encountering it for the very first time, "Making Senses Out of Scripture" is an invaluable tool that will help you see biblical revelation afresh, as Christians have done for 2000 years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...clearly explains not only the Old and New Testaments, but also the way Christians have understood Scripture over the last 2,000 years. -- David Morrison, New Covenant Magazine

A terrific book, accessible and valuable both to folks who are familiar with sacred texts and those who are not. Engaging and even entertaining. -- David Morrison, New Covenant Magazine

In readable, common-sense prose, Shea... makes the roots of the Christian world view accessible in the days of "dot-com." -- Helen Valois, National Catholic Register

Jesus and the Apostles discerned both the literal and spiritual senses of Scripture, but their rich method is lost on most modern Christians. Mark Shea has done us a good turn by teaching this lost art. Read this book; then read Scripture with new eyes. -- Mike Aquilina, Editor, New Covenant Magazine

Shea's effort...echoes St. Thomas Aquinas' basic work explaining the different ways we view Scripture and reflects much of his light as well. -- David Morrison, New Covenant Magazine

Shea's text is scholarly but not stuffy. His writing style is fresh, even breezy, demonstrating nicely that Bible study can be serious and fun at the same time. -- Nancy Hartnagel, Catholic News Service

Three cheers to Mark Shea! This is a book to be snapped up--and read--all the way through. The prose makes easy reading (a great virtue); but the depth and sweep of the material will draw any reader, beginner or expert, into rich vistas. I recommend it highly. -- Dr. Thomas Howard, author of "Evangelical Is Not Enough"

About the Author

Mark P. Shea is a staff writer for the Missionaries of Faith Foundation. He is the author of "By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Tradition" and "This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence."

Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: Basilica Press; 1 edition (November 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964261065
• ISBN-13: 978-0964261068
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #494,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dust Off Your Bible and Get Ready..., November 14, 2001

By 

"stpaulsapprentice" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did (Paperback)

I echo the words of a previous reviewer: this is a "fun" read. Not only is Shea bright and funny, but the tools with which he equips you in this book (almost without you even knowing it) will stay with you forever, and drastically change the way you read the bible.

Borrowing from the wisdom of the early Church Fathers, Shea shows us how to read the bible with a new pair of eyes, eyes that will penetrate deeper and deeper into these all-too-familiar texts.

As a newcomer to Catholicism, I've been absolutely reveling in this revolutionary (if something 2,000 years old can be called such) way of reading Scripture. I've begun to host bible studies using this method, and the attendents are loving it! I had one girl say, "I've never read the bible like this - this changes everything."

Let Shea introduce you to the early Christians, and let him show you how to read and learn the bible.

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent tool to use when reading the Bible, April 10, 2000

By 

Tim Drake "Author and Journalist" (Saint Joseph, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did (Paperback)

Building on the success of his earlier works, Mark Shea has written yet another easy- and enjoyable-to-read work that sheds light on the faith.

Shea teaches the reader the art of looking at Scripture in the way that the Apostles did. While Shea draws upon Old and New Testament resources and the riches of the Catholic faith, Shea's style of writing makes it easy for non-theologians to learn what he has learned.

Readers will come away from this book able to look at everything from Genesis to Revelation with newly opened eyes.

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From an instant fan of Mark Shea, May 12, 2000

By 

L. Kerr (Fort Worth, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did (Paperback)

This is the second of Mark Shea's books that I've read (the first being "By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition," which I loved even though I'm not now and have never been an evangelical)--and I can attest that his relaxed style, witty approach and--most important--breadth of knowledge of his subject shine through once again. This is a fun read! And yet it's also a serious overview, consistent with the Catechism's remarks on how to read Scripture and chock full of turns of phrase that both delight and make one say "Of course!" I highly recommend it.