{"product_id":"how-to-read-the-bible-9780195161496","title":"How to Read the Bible","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMore people read the Bible than any other book. Indeed, many try to live their lives according to its words. The question is, do they understand what they''re reading? As Steven McKenzie shows in this provocative book, quite often the answer is, No.  McKenzie argues that to comprehend the Bible we must grasp the intentions of the biblical authors themselves--what sort of texts they thought they were writing and how they would have been understood by their intended audience. In short, we must recognize the genres to which these texts belong. McKenzie examines several genres that are typically misunderstood, offering careful readings of specific texts to show how the confusion arises, and how knowing the genre produces a correct reading. The book of Jonah, for example, offers many clues that it is meant as a humorous satire, not a straight-faced historical account of a man who was swallowed by a fish. Likewise, McKenzie explains that the very names Adam and Eve tell us that these are not\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e...the author has produced a worthwhile taster for the fruits of the historical-critical method and How to Read the Bible would be a valuable textbook to accompany biblical studies introductory modules. * Paul Middleton, Theology *\u003cbr\u003e...a remarkably readable, balanced, and clear set of arguments that can appeal as much to the non-theologian as to the biblical scholar...a very useful book, which this reviewer can warmly recommend to anyone interested in finding out how to read the Bible. * Reviews in Religion and Theology *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction JONAH AND GENRE Chapter One - NOT EXACTLY AS IT HAPPENED: Historiography in the Bible Chapter Two - FORTHTELLING, NOT FORETELLING: Biblical Prophecy Chapter Three - LIFE'S REAL QUESTIONS: Wisdom Literature in the Bible Chapter Four - NOT THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: Apocalyptic Literature in the Bible Chapter Five - ISSUES IN THE CHURCHES: The Letters of the New Testament Notes Bibliography Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51766886695255,"sku":"9780195161496","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780195161496.jpg?v=1758711552","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/how-to-read-the-bible-9780195161496","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}