"A Short Guide to Reading the Bible Better" (George H. Guthrie)

TITLE: A Short Guide to Reading the Bible Better
AUTHOR: George H. Guthrie
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2022, (176 pages).
 

Christians believe in the Bible. They declare it in their creeds. They study it in small groups. Many would spend their devotional time with an open Bible. Some would also be inspired to go to Bible School. For the layperson, while the spirit is willing, the know-how is weak. Many of us can read but not many know how to appreciate the different genres, interpretive methods, or basic reading skills. God's Word is life-giving but do we know how to receive this life-giving Word? Whatever it is, all if not most of us would agree on one thing: Whatever our stage of expertise, we all need to take our Bible reading to the next level. This short book helps us to do just that. Author and professor George Guthrie is a well-known teacher of the Bible. Having been involved in several Bible translations, he knows the nuances and skills necessary to read the Bible well. He starts off the book with an invitation to consider and ponder the power of words. Subtly, he hints at the following: If words can be such powerful tools to move the human heart, what about God's Word? Surely, that would move not only human hearts but inspire them to do greater things that no ordinary mortal being could do. Guthrie focuses on:

1. Spiritual Foundations for Reading Scripture
2. Learning how to read the Word with understanding
3. Reading the Bible in the community
4. Reading the Bible for Personal Transformation
5. Learning the grand story of Scripture
6. Learning to use the various tools to improve Bible reading

Guthrie reminds readers that the way to understanding the Bible begins not with the brain but with the heart. What are our motivations? Why do we want to read the Word of God? Are we prepared to be shaped by the Word? If our motivation is positive, the Word of God becomes a lamp of guidance, a sword of correction, a rock of stability, a delightful treat like honey, etc. In fact, the Word can do spiritual open-heart surgery on us. From the heart, we go to the ears to be trained the hear the Word. Learning to listen well is the art of understanding. We are warned of the dangers of having eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Spiritual listening requires us to practice contextual reading as well as getting a good translation. Guthrie gives us a list of different contexts and how to choose from the different kinds of translations available to us. Next, we read with eyes of awareness to the different genres. Guthrie shows us the uniqueness of different genres in both the Old and New Testaments. The type of literature we read determines the way we interpret them. Guthrie then shows us the importance to enter the story of the Bible and how it informs our stories at a personal level. He shows us three grand acts of Scripture that we can participate in God's Plan, Covenant, and Will. The final chapters of the book list some valuable tools we can use to further study the Bible. 

My Thoughts
This is one of the most readable primers on how to read the Bible. The instructions are clear and easily understood. As a guide, there are several things readers can benefit from. For the Community, this book is a resource for teachers, preachers, and facilitators to use in basic Bible learning and understanding. Sometimes, when we ask people to simply "read the Bible," we can get stumped by the amount of material to cover. From the 66 books, where do we start? This might discourage some readers from even starting to read the Bible. With this primer, we can start reading systematically and more importantly, intentionally. First things first, Guthrie is right in beginning with the heart. Attitude determines the altitude of understanding. Motivation drives the determination to read the Word, no matter how complex or difficult the Word might be to us. If the heart is not in the right place, understanding would be limited. If the heart is open and humble, the Holy Spirit illuminates our understanding. 

If I have any critique, it would be the lack of references to online material. With the pervasiveness of the Internet and the rise of online resources, we need help in discerning the use of such online materials. Questions remain with regard to what kinds of websites we can trust. Perhaps, the author could include an appendix that lists down some web resources, complete with their history, background, strengths and weaknesses. This need I believe will continue to grow exponentially. 

Finally, let this book be a call for us to actually read the Bible. Learning techniques and reading strategies alone do not necessarily lead to people reading the Bible. The danger in learning the techniques and methods is that these things can sometimes become an end in themselves. That is why reading the Bible well begins with the heart. A heart that loves to read and study the Word will not easily fall prey to the tools and devices. Use this book in community settings as well as for personal devotion. 

George H. Guthrie, author of Read the Bible for Life, is the Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. He helped establish and is now a Senior Fellow at Union’s Ryan Center for Biblical Studies, which is committed to promoting sound Bible reading, study, and interpretation at the grassroots level of the church. Guthrie has also participated in developing or revising several popular Bible translations including the HCSB, English Standard Version, and New Living Translation.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of B and H Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.