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Some books on how to read the Bible are academically informative, but their rationality can make God seem distant. Other books are spiritually vibrant but provide few tools that truly help God's people read the Bible better. Readers need a guide that combines the academic with the spiritual--that integrates textual analysis with the illuminating and transformational work of the Holy Spirit.
Drawing from his experience training students to study the Bible, Andrew Abernethy provides a holistic method that helps readers listen carefully to what God was saying to the original audience and what God is saying to us today. Using clear examples, he lays out six steps:
Chapters provide guidance on interpreting biblical genres, factoring in historical backgrounds, reading each passage in context, tracing the redemptive storyline of Scripture, and more. Then, building on a strong grasp of Scripture's meaning, readers engage the traditional practice of lectio divina and consider how to respond faithfully to the text. The goal, Abernethy says, is to encounter God and to be shaped by the Word as we savor its richness.
Filled with practical features such as illustrations, maps, timelines, and discussion questions, Savoring Scripture is a valuable guide for students and anyone who wants to study the Bible more effectively. God has given us a Bible that is for the hungry--for those willing both to depend on God for provision and to put in the mental effort to enjoy the feast.
About the author
Andrew T. Abernethy is Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. He is the author of Eating in Isaiah: Approaching Food and Drink in Isaiah's Structure and Message (Brill), co-editor of Isaiah and Imperial Context: The Book of Isaiah in Times of Empire, and has published numerous articles, essays, and reviews on topics pertaining to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Psalms, and biblical theology.
Summary
Christians who want to study the Bible need a resource that is both academically informative and spiritually vibrant. Using six practical steps, this guide helps students build a strong grasp of Scripture's meaning and then engage the practice of lectio divina as they consider how to respond faithfully to what God is saying to us today.
