What They Don't Tell You: A Survivor's Guide to Biblical Studies [Paperback]

Michael Joseph Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

Michael Brown wants to help students understand the mind-set and presuppositions behind the academic discipline of biblical studies. He uses his experiences as both a student and a teacher to offer wise advice about what to expect if you want to be an astute reader of the Bible. Brown provides basic information about the Bible and biblical criticism. He defines the jargon and and presents the variety of perspectives students will encounter in the classroom. He also clarifies the difference between biblical studies and Bible study, gives a brief history of scholarship, and furnishes an overview of the methods of biblical interpretation.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Joseph Brown is Associate Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins and Director of the Graduate Division of Religion at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. He preaches and teaches in churches across the country, and has published various essays for the African Methodist Episcopal Review, The Christian Century, Sojourners, and the African Methodist Christian Recorder.

Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 1st edition (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 066422220X
• ISBN-13: 978-0664222208
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What Brown Does Tell You, August 14, 2002

By 

Chad A. Moore "Booksmoore" (Bloomington, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What They Don't Tell You: A Survivor's Guide to Biblical Studies (Paperback)

Faith threatened by Bible study? Well, it depends on what kind of Bible study you're speaking of. In the academic arena, the student of Scripture had better be prepared for more than Sunday School. Such a student will find a worthy introduction and guide to the field of biblical studies in what Brown has to say. I should add, that this is an introduction to the field as is it today represented in the mainline seminaries and universities, and therefore needs to be balanced with several conservative works for a fuller representation of the field. This said, the student of the Scriptures will get a good idea of where the field is at today.

The author, Michael Joseph Brown is a professor at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, with a M.Div. and Ph.D from the University of Chicago. Thus, he is more than qualified to offer the would-be student of academic biblical studies an intro to this field.

In the first chapter he outlines the purpose and method of academic biblical studies as opposed to the devotional study of the Bible. In the following chapters, he gives 28 rules of thumb for reading and interpreting biblical texts, and for understanding and surviving biblical scholarship. I would say that most of the rules are very sound...though not all. As Brown himself would say, read everything with a critical eye. However, the rules of thumb for understanding biblical scholarship are particularly good and, well, honest.

He writes from a moderately critical perspective, and though his persuasion is always evident, he does not aggressively push his conclusions on the reader. He is evidently aware of the limits of all biblical study...even his own. Certainly frustrating to the conservative student will be the obvious skepticism for the historicity of the events recorded in in the Bible, but I would say read on. Don't look here for a proper understanding of what the Gospel is, but rather to understand the methods, assumptions, and rules of critical scholarship. Whether you like critical scholarship or not, if you dare enter the field of biblical studies, this is what you will contend with.

Much biblical scholarship today, including critical scholarship, is full of overstated cases, imbalance, and arrogance, but Professor Brown comes across as equitable, sincere, and with a real desire to help the student study the Bible academically without losing their faith in God. Although I do not endorse all of what Brown says, I think that students desirous of entering the field could read this and benefit greatly from it. At the very least, it will wake them up to realize that seminary isn't Sunday School, and to their likely surprise will greatly challenge their faith.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful Book, September 11, 2011

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SW Ohio Shopper "SW Ohio Shopper" (Springfield, OH United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: What They Don't Tell You: A Survivor's Guide to Biblical Studies (Paperback)

This book was very helpful because the "radical" ideas it offers forced me to let go of some of my preconceived notions and reconsider the biblical texts. The "Rules of Thumb" allowed me to see how my mindset and approach affected what the Bible had to "say" to me, and as a result, I am now able to think through ideas that were once too threatening for me to consider. I had no idea, before reading this book, that much of my mind was already made up concerning the Bible. I am now able to bring an open heart AND an open mind to each of the biblical texts.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Service!, February 14, 2011

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Katie - See all my reviews

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This review is from: What They Don't Tell You: A Survivor's Guide to Biblical Studies (Paperback)

The book that ordered was for a class and it arrived right when they said it would! I was very pleased with the service and I would highly recommend them!