INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE — Overview, Historical Context, and Cultural Perspectives by William A. Anderson (Ligouri: Ligouri Missouri, 2012, supplied by Pleroma Christian Supplies); $24.99. Reviewed by DANIEL J. STOLLENWERK.
There are two ways to begin the study of sacred Scripture: to seek an overview, a general idea of the
collection of all the books in the Bible, or to look at one book, even one passage, in detail.
Better is the second approach.
Better to feel the mystique of Genesis 1, the anguish of Jeremiah, the excitement of Pentecost, than
to begin one’s study with a theory of authorship, historical setting, date of composition and arguments about how many books are in the Bible.
Such questions will follow. And when they do it is time to pick up Introduction to the Bible.
The Ligouri Catholic Bible Study series, of which Introduction to the Bible appears to be the first, seems to agree. Via some 21 books, the series aims to help individuals or groups enrich their relationship with God, to know Christ better by praying with Scripture.
It suggests the time-honoured lectio divina — sacred reading: Read a passage aloud; meditate on it in
silence; pick out a word, phrase or idea and pray for that which comes to mind; return to a quiet, deeper silence, in communion with God.
But sacred reading should not be done without recourse to the intellect, the community, the Universal Church. And that is where Introduction to the Bible comes in. It takes up the general questions of
inspiration, revelation, canon, the Dead Sea Scrolls and translation before giving a brief
historical background to each of the books of the Old Testament.
In the New Testament it looks at the cultural, political and religious environment at the time of Jesus; form, source and redaction criticism; the synoptic problem; and the life and message of
Jesus.
It has been said that an introduction can only be understood at the end of the study. At any rate, such seems to be the case with Introduction to the Bible. It should not be the first book read when studying and praying through Scripture, but it is a good source to have at one’s side throughout and at a certain point will help place all the pieces of the biblical puzzle together.
Dan Stollenwerk is head of the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at St Peter’s College, Auckland.
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