"Asking Better Questions of the Bible: A Guide for the Wounded, Wary, and Longing for More" (Marty Solomon)

TITLE: Asking Better Questions of the Bible: A Guide for the Wounded, Wary, and Longing for More
AUTHOR: Marty Solomon
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale House Publishers, 2023, (240 pages).

The Bible has been the bestselling book in the publishing industry for many years. It is the most read, researched, studied, and referred to book since the invention of the printing press. Even today, it continues to be the book of books of all time. Despite the best intentions, many people still find it difficult to read and understand the Bible, especially parts of the Old Testament. Desiring to understand the Bible better is a good thing. That is why this book has been written to help those who genuinely want to learn and obey its teachings. With his passion for teaching the Bible, author Marty Solomon writes this book to help readers ask better questions in order to learn and follow the teachings of the Bible. He begins with an affirmation of the divine inspiration of the Bible. This is a crucial presupposition because it differentiates the types of questions thrown at it. Some skeptics cast stones for the purpose of discrediting the Bible. Others manipulate questions and twist the Bible to fit their purposes. Academics can sometimes use textual criticism mechanisms that make the analysis cold and impersonal. Some laypersons comb the Bible for soundbites to pacify their fear and insecurities. However, people with a genuine desire to understand the Bible better will let the questions guide their learning and curiosity. This book is written for this group. This search for Truth begins with the presupposition that the Bible is the Word of God and is revealed to the world and especially to the people of God. The author does not settle for quick and easy explanations. In ten chapters, he gives us a framework for understanding the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. In the first chapter, he lays the foundation for biblical understanding and interpretation. Some important key questions include asking about language, time, culture, and literary genres. On the latter, he reminds us that we are often not the direct subjects in the Bible. We are simply "literary tourists" trying to understand the original contexts and subjects in order to better apply the ancient texts to our world. He helps us see the difference between Eastern and Western forms of thinking. From the author's multiple trips to the Middle East, he learns first-hand the unique Eastern thinking that sees words as pictures and how meaning is packed into words. They see numbers not as quantitative measures but as symbolic or qualitative meanings. Even phrases like "eternal life," "sin," "relationship," and the need to "prove" God are understood differently. The important thing is not about converting our mindsets but to be more appreciative of cultures different from ours. This paradigm shift continues throughout the book to train the Western mind in acknowledging biblical contexts. Solomon gives us several "keys" to interpret.

• Watch how literary devices are used;
• Understand history as prophecy; to see how the books are arranged not in a linear chronological manner but according to the spiritual formation of the people of God.
• Understand prophecy not as future-telling but as mouthpieces for God at that time.
• Ask questions about whether biblical writers are writing as journalists, historians, or as prophets.
• Wisdom books are like dance relationships with different steps to meander toward Truth.
• Prophetic books are not so much a book about fortune-telling. Instead, it is about speaking to the present, learning the lessons of the past, and maintaining hope for the future. 
• Understanding the prophetic books with the 5Ws: Who, What, When, Where, Why.
• Understand the unique intent of the gospel writers even as they piece together the different events, teachings, and narratives. 
• Be shaped by the texts rather than let our theological orientations influence the texts.
• Understanding the different parties and what they stand for helps us understand the first-century events in the gospels, the book of Acts, and the different epistles.
• Apocalyptic literature is less about predicting the future but about God revealing of His Purposes, His Plans, and Himself, using symbols, images, visions, and so on.
• .. and many more.

My Thoughts

This is a refreshing book about how to read the Bible by learning to wear the hat of the original audiences. Let me offer three thoughts. First, we need to state our presupposition up-front, just like what the author has done. Whether we are modernist scholar just looking for facts, a skeptic trying to find fault with the Bible, an unbeliever who honestly seeking truth, or a believer who has affirmed the Apostles' Creed, declaring our intent will determine how we are going to treat the Bible. For believers, this affirmation of faith in the inspired Word of God will anchor them to treat the Bible with reverence and not demote it unconsciously to some book for intellectual mining. I appreciate the way the author puts first things first when writing this book, the foundation being the divine authority and inspiration of the Bible. Our presupposition matters when it comes to asking better questions of the Bible. Many people, including academics and scholars, have begun from a position of academic arrogance and implemented a humanistic version of hermeneutical suspicion. The author is not writing to this group but to believers wanting to read the Bible well. 

Second, I like the way Solomon challenges us to change our Western paradigms when reading the Bible. By first removing our non-Eastern mindset and putting on the ancient mindset of the biblical contexts, we will become better Bible readers and interpreters. Those of us who are trained in the Western world will be familiar with how we tend to read and analyze things for facts in a deterministic fashion. Solomon tells us that when trying to understand biblical texts, we cannot wear our typical Western hats to read them. We need to learn new paradigms. This is the single biggest reason to read this book. Knowing the importance of reading the Bible in context is one thing. Actually reading and asking questions about the original contexts is another. We need not just more reminders but more training in this specific area. Solomon provides this book as a guide to help us to that. 

Finally, I am pleasantly surprised by the subtle twists and turns presented in the book. Not only are we challenged to remove our contemporary mindsets, but the author also urges us to adopt an Ancient Near East mindset in order to understand the contexts more clearly. From asking better questions of the Bible, there is a subtle twist that it is the Bible that is asking questions of us. As we go through the respective genres presented in the book, we learn that the key to better understanding is essentially humility to learn. By resisting the temptation to adopt modern humanistic questioning associated with data mining, we let the texts guide us instead of letting our scientific lens colour our views. 

There are many other good things that could be said but I should let readers discover the treasures for themselves.

Marty Solomon studied at Boise Bible College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries. He has served as a pastor and a mentor to many. He now serves at the Impact Campus Ministries headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana. 

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of NavPress, Tyndale House Publishers, and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.