Making Sense of the Bible: Difficult Texts and Modern Faith

Ancient Bible Modern Faith examines the traditions in Genesis 1-11 about humanity, Israel’s traditions about its ancestors, Israel’s traditions about Mount Sinai, enigma and the Book of Joshua, and reality and the Book of Samuel. The major point of this book is to indicate how current trends in scriptural scholarship may benefit modern faith.

Each topic is followed by a section on modern faith. Five topics are considered in the section on humanity: creation, the garden, Cain, flood, and Babel. While Israel’s traditions about its ancestors may have strongly legendary traits, a new perspective sheds light on these for the benefit of modern faith. Similarly, the otherwise unapproachable texts associated with Sinai are explored for their concern for relationship with God and the presence of God to people. The Book of Joshua, often associated with appalling devastation at God’s command, is explored for the reality of its text that is not about devastation and ethnic cleansing. Finally, the traditions about King David are subjected to careful scrutiny, providing a realistic picture of down-to-earth life and struggle before God.

The aim of this book is to make clear that critical study of the scriptural text is beneficial to modern faith and does not endanger it.