Bible Criticism

John Shelby Spong, best-selling author and popular proponent of a modern, scholarly, and authentic Christianity, argues that this last gospel to be written was misinterpreted by the framers of the fourth-century creeds to be a literal account of the life of Jesus when in fact it is a literary, interpretive retelling of the events in Jesus' life through the medium of fictional characters, from Nicodemus and Lazarus to the "Beloved Disciple."

This thought-provoking audiobook helps listeners reconcile the teachings of the Bible with the widely held evolutionary view of beginnings and will appeal to anyone interested in the Christianity-evolution debate.

Because you know it's nonsense, but were never sure why.

In Biblical Critical Theory, Christopher Watkin draws a winsome vision for biblical cultural engagement in which faithfulness to Scripture and sensitivity to culture walk hand in hand. If Christians want to speak with a fresh, engaging and constructive voice within our culture, we need to press deeper into the core truths of the Bible.

Robert McKee's screenwriting workshops have earned him an international reputation for inspiring novices, refining works in progress, and putting major screenwriting careers back on track. Quincy Jones, Diane Keaton, Gloria Steinem, Julia Roberts, John Cleese, and David Bowie are just a few of his celebrity alumni. Writers, producers, development executives, and agents all flock to his lecture series, praising it as a mesmerizing and intense learning experience.

The greatest of all Civil War campaigns, Gettysburg was the turning point of the turning point in our nation’s history. Volumes have been written about this momentous three-day battle, but recent histories have tended to focus on the particulars rather than the big picture: on the generals or on single days of battle—even on single charges—or on the daily lives of the soldiers. In Gettysburg Sears tells the whole story in a single volume.

We can go on a treasure hunt in the Bible, to not only know more about our Lord Jesus Christ, but also God’s plan and purpose for the body of Christ. We will find that when we understand the word of God rightly divided we can function properly, by His life working in and through us. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7). There is a supernatural interaction that takes place between the word of God and His Spirit in us when we believe it.

Like different artists who render the same subject using unique styles and points of view, the Gospels paint four distinctive portraits of the same Jesus of Nazareth. To Christians worldwide, he is the centerpiece of history, the object of faith, hope, and worship. Even those who do not follow him admit the vast influence of his life. With clarity and insight, biblical scholar Mark Strauss illuminates the four biblical Gospels.

In terms of authority in the Christian church on earth, textual analysts rank second to the men and women who produced the books of the Bible, for it is through the work of Christian textual analysts that the form of the New Testament books' text written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is recognized, verified, and protected from corruption. In this volume, written for adults, James Edward Snapp Jr. systematically explains the materials and methods that are used to produce and, for lack of a better term, authenticate the text of the books of the New Testament. He also confronts the ...

The Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John - are four accounts of Jesus' life and teachings while on earth. But should we accept them as historically accurate? What evidence is there that the recorded events actually happened? Presenting a case for the historical reliability of the Gospels, New Testament scholar Peter Williams examines evidence from non-Christian sources, assesses how accurately the four biblical accounts reflect the cultural context of their day, compares different accounts of the same events, and more.

It is often said, even by critical scholars who should know better, that “writing in the name of another” was widely accepted in antiquity. But New York Times bestselling author Bart D. Ehrman dares to call it what it was: literary forgery, a practice that was as scandalous then as itis today. In Forged, Ehrman’s fresh and original research takes readers back to the ancient world, where forgeries were used as weapons by unknown authors to fend off attacks to their faith and establish their church.

If you have ever had a discussion or debate with an atheist, you know that they often present very challenging assertions. I have engaged with atheists in more than one thousand debates over the last five decades. In every exchange where a challenge to the reliability of the New Testament has been presented, it is by the same claims that have been repeated over and over again since the first and second centuries. None of the modern attempts at impeaching the reliability of the New Testament by modern atheist scholars is different from those first asserted by atheists at the beginning of ...

What follows is not a translation in the ordinary sense of the word. It’s more like a paraphrase. Rather than worry over the letter of the text, the goal has been to illuminate the large scale patterns that structure it. The King James Version, for instance, renders Paul’s letter with uncanny beauty but is opaque as an argument. Modern translations tend to have the same problem. Their overriding concern is with the letter of the text, not with its logic. As a result, Paul’s forest is always getting sacrificed for the sake of his trees. But Paul’s work is too important, his good news...

(Version 1.4 March, 2023) The KJV Only (KJO) believers accuse modern Bibles of being corrupt because they remove many words and phrases and even whole verses, removing enough text to equal 1st and 2nd Peter, and make many other changes. So the author investigated the issue. The question he set out to answer was, are the claims of the KJO believers accurate, or are the modern Bibles more accurate than the KJV? The author never expected his investigation to turn into a book, because there are already several books supporting both sides. However, his skill-set is thinking outside the box and ...

In this addition to the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, two well-respected New Testament scholars interpret the Gospel of John in its historical and literary setting as well as in light of the Church's doctrinal, liturgical, and spiritual tradition. They unpack the wisdom of the Fourth Gospel for the intellectual and spiritual transformation of its followers and connect the Gospel with a range of witnesses throughout the whole history of Catholicism.

"INTERPRETING THE BIBLE: Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics" is a seminal book crafted by Edward D. Andrews to guide students, ministers, and anyone interested in understanding the Bible more deeply. This book is unique in its approach, as it not only delves into the principles of biblical interpretation inherent in the Bible but also paves the way for readers to interpret, teach, and preach God's Word with profound insight. Understanding the Bible goes beyond surface reading—it requires a careful analysis of its genres, historical context, and language. This book serves as a ...

Satan wants there to be cliques, factions, and denominations, but God wants us to have unity (1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6). Satan knows the strategy of divide and conquer. This problem occurs when members of the body of Christ do not follow Paul to follow the risen Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). God had some hidden wisdom and power in the cross that He kept secret from Satan and mankind until He saved Paul. Our ministry is not about us, but about what Christ accomplished by His death on the cross for our sins and resurrection. Our goal is to save the lost and share the ...

In Hear Ye the Word of the Lord, biblical scholar D. Brent Sandy explores how oral communication shaped the ways that biblical writers received God's message—and even more importantly, how the ancient and modern faithful receive it through hearing.

1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude is an in-depth Bible study that offers readers the opportunity to explore the Word of God and encounter its God. Written by Dr. Andrew C. S. Koh, this devotional and teaching aid is a comprehensive guide to the Scriptures, providing daily lessons with opening prayer, exposition, application, and closing prayer. Each lesson provides a unique perspective on the text, emphasizing its place in our faith and exploring its relevance to daily life. This book is perfect for believers looking to deepen their understanding of Scripture. It is an ideal companion for ...

What was a Galilean? And if the question of the ancestry and nationality of Jesus is possible to answer, what are its political and theological implications? These questions are dealt with in this volume, featuring works by the composer Richard Wagner, the British Germanophile historian Houston Stewart Chamberlain, the German-American Bible translator and groundbreaking Middle East scholar Paul Haupt, and the Romanian law professor and politician A.C. Cuza.