redzrx

I did not write this but I found it fitting.

The Bible Unauthorized

Two common misconceptions about the Bible are both amazing and disastrous. First, that the Bible can be understood by reading a literal translation. Second, that the commonly translated Bible is accurate. Most critics and defenders of the Bible refer to literal translations of the Hebrew; these translations have little to do with what the Bible truly means.

Bible translators took great care to make their versions beautiful in language, imitating as best they could the form of the original Hebrew. One of the very first translators, Jerome, openly stated, “So great is the force of established usage, that even acknowledged corruptions please the greater part, for they prefer to have their copies pretty, rather than correct.�

(The remainder is here -- Rob aka Mediancat)

mrmoderate

As long as we are not going into mysticism and numerology here I agree wholeheartedly.

The basics are made clear but the bible is a set of living stories that must be applied to individual events.

capnkirk

OK so long as you don't claim the individual events to be "historical".

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redzrx

There may have been and historical event, but may have been exaggerated beyond recognition of the event.. Like the tabloid do to stories. there may be some truth but it may be hard to find.

Or they could be made up..

Mario

capnkirk

There's plenty of both kinds. There are two books that I would highly recommend for someone who is seriously interested in Hebrew Bible (HB)scholarship, but aren't scholars themselves:

The first is an archaeological tour de force of the region from the Nile delta to the northern extremes of present day Israel with particular attention to the discoveries of the last 30 years: The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein.

The second is a literary study of the HB to determine who the authors were, what their priorities were, and when they wrote: Who Wrote the Bible? by Richard Friedman

For the New Testament, I recommend: Who Wrote the New Testament? The Creation of the Christian Myth by Burton Mack.

I would also recommend that you read the archaeological history before you start the literary study. Knowing what has been found (and not found) in the physical record will allow you much greater insight into the literary account, especially into the various authors' motives and agendas.

Good reading,

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redzrx

sorry could not resist..

Bible Unearthed is my next read..

Thanx for the others.

Mario

capnkirk

I found it fascinating as well as highly informative. Please consider following it directly with WWtB while the former is still fresh in your mind. It will help your Dx, Dr.

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