Opening the Bible

by Robert Kysar

Many people are looking at the Bible again -- or for the first time -- for meaning for their lives. They come with honest questions: -- Is the Bible the Word of God?-- Why are there so many differing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806635940
• ISBN13: 9780806635941
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishing
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Challenging to fundamentalists

Kysar uses scholarly research and common sense to open readers to the possibilities for truth in Scripture. Noting the importance of reason, experience, culture, and tradition along with the Bible as sources for determining what is true, Kysar urges the reader to engage in dialogue with other Bible students as each reads through the chapters. Discussing expectations of the Bible, as well as translations, interpretations, and meaning found in Bible-study, the author challenges outmoded, restrictive thinking based on literalism. This is an excellent source book for group Bible study, with useful questions related to each chapter appended.

Insightful and helpful

Robert Kysar's book is a terrific guide for both those who are beginning to interact with the Bible as well as seasoned veterans. Individuals (and groups) who have found the Bible to be troubling, overwhelming,inaccessible, or irrelevant are likely to benefit from Kysar's insights. For instance, while he affirms that the Bible has authority for our lives, he gently asserts that it does not have EXCLUSIVE authority nor does it have ALL the answers to our contemporary problems and pressing issues such as homosexuality, the environment, and the abortion debate to name but three. In addition to turning to the Bible for GENERAL guidance, he encourages us to turn to other sources of wisdom including our experiences, reason, and tradition for more SPECIFIC guidance. We live in a completely different culture than the ones that the Spirit-led, yet culturally bound, writers of the Bible lived in. We need to consider what the Bible has to say about a particular issue but also take into account knowledge, even Spirit-inspired knowledge, that the human race has acquired since bibical times.

Very Helpful and Enlightening

This book was just what I needed! I read the New Testament, then started on the Old Testament. I found myself confused by quite a bit of what I read. This book validated my issues, and gave a lot of background information that I lacked. I found it to be extremely enlightening, liberating, and truly a blessing.