One
of the World's Best Bibles: And Some Books to Help You Read, Interpret, Understand
and, Yes, Even Enjoy it
If you are interested in deepening your
faith, nothing is more important than having a great Bible and the tools to explore
it. "The New Oxford Annotated Bible" is among the best and the companion
books reviewed here will give you all you need to become fully competent in reading,
understanding and even enjoying it. Why go it alone in your spiritual journey
when these great books can become your trusted companions?
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The New Oxford Annotated Bible The most
important part of any Christian's library is a good Bible. This is one of the
best. It features introductory essays by world class scholars; excellent footnotes
and maps. Whether you are reading alone or joining a study group, you'll be amazed
how much this volume helps. The team that put this Bible together is absolutely
first rate. A great gift. I use it every day. To read the
NOEB now ...
HarperCollins Bible Dictionary When you
come across a word you don't understand, or you want to learn more about a character,
place, or term you encounter while reading, you will need a good Bible dictionary.
This one by Harper Collins features contributions by nearly 200 leading scholars,
hundreds of photographs, scores of maps, drawings, diagrams and tables. A biblical
education in one volume.
HarperCollins Bible Commentary Should
you want to deepen your understanding even further, a Bible commentary is a must.
There are several multi-volume sets (see #10 below, for example), but if you are
just getting started, a one volume commentary such as this one will provide lots
of illumination as you explore familiar as well as unfamiliar terrain.
Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic
Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke, the earliest and most similar gospels,
printed side by side so that you can easily see similarities and differences between
and among all three. Very helpful in giving readers of the New Testament a sense
of what these books are all about. Every serious student of the Bible should own
this book.
An Introduction to the New Testament Raymond
E. Brown was one of the outstanding Biblical scholars of the 20th century. A Roman
Catholic, Brown taught at a Protestant Seminary. His writing is always fair minded,
thorough, clear and insightful; he was faithful to tradition while advancing the
horizons of understanding. You won't go wrong with this or any other book by Father
Brown.
Birth of the Messiah Another major work
from Raymond E. Brown, focusing on the birth narratives of the gospels. Buy this
for yourself, or for a loved one at Christmas and make the holiday one of substance,
not just tin and tinsel.
Reading the Bible Again For the First Time Marcus
Borg is a member of the controversial Jesus Seminar, and a dedicated New Testament
scholar who addresses the concerns of those who have questions about their faith.
If you've got an inquiring mind and have not yet found the Bible interesting or
engaging, this may be the way to discover why so many have found the Bible so
valuable for nearly two millennium.
Liberating the Gospels : Reading the Bible
With Jewish Eyes John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal Bishop, will either
make you angry or excited, but never bored. Here he liberates the Gospels from
literalism and addresses the basic question of why these accounts of the life
of Christ were committed to writing in the first place.
When Jesus Became God Not just about
the Bible, this book takes you into the early church as its leaders debated who
and what Jesus really was. That debate, illuminated here by Richard Rubenstein,
shaped the course of Christianity for years to come.
Genesis: A New Translation With Commentary If
you want to go all out, the "Anchor Bible Commentary" is a massive collection
covering the entire Bible, one book at a time. Few will want or need all the volumes
in the series, but start with this one exploring the first book of the Bible,
and then move along to volumes on the books you are most interested in exploring
in greater depth. It you make it through the Bible in this way, you are ready
for an advanced degree! First rate.
Charles Henderson
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The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and is the author of God and Science (John Knox Press, 1986).
A revised and expanded version of the book is appearing here. God and Science (Hypertext Edition,
2015).
He is also editor of a new book, featuring articles by world class scientists and theologians, and illustrating the leading views on the relationship between science and religion: Faith, Science and the Future (CrossCurrents Press, 2017).
Charles also tracks the boundry between the virtual and the real at his blog: Next World Design, focusing on the mediation of art, science and spirituality in the metaverse.
