Struggling with Scripture

by Walter Brueggemann

Book Overview

Challenging the traditional meaning of Scripture is not easy, even in the face of issues that call into question those traditional interpretations. In these reflections, Walter Brueggemann says that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0664224857
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Length: 69 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.2" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

EXCELLENT!!

I have read a number of books recently on how to approach Scripture by N.T. Wright, Ben Witherington, Peter Enns, Peter Gomes and others. This very succinct, small book is the best of them all. The authors are brilliant scholars who write objectively and honestly about how subjective we all are when it comes to interpreting and applying the Bible. The fact is that every verse was written in specific historical circumstances. Every application of Scripture is an act of courage and imagination. This is the most honest, balanced and articulate evaluation of Scripture by great scholars who are also great believers. Highly recommended for all who struggle with how to interpret or apply certain verses. This is not a commentary on such verses, however, but a discussion about how to think about such verses.

One Common Struggle we all inherit !

When we chose Prof Bruegge's books to give away as Christmas gifts, one of those was Struggling with Scripture. It brings out one of his personal beginnings in the confirmation service by his Father. At that point he is given the Psalm verse, 119:105: "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." In his recorded memory, our good Professor says: "He did in that act more than he knew. Providentially, I have no doubt he marked my life by this Book that would be lamp and light..." One of our Prof's recurring themes comes often in his influence of the Holy Spirit: "The Spirit meets us always afresh in our faithful reading, in each new time, place, and circumstance. Anyone who imagines that reading is settled and eternally simple does not pay attention to the process in which we are all engaged, liberals or conservatives." In many lectures, classroom discussions he has often referred to the failure of any passage having only one single interpretation! (This struck me recently in his talk at First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta when he made a firm assertion he was neither liberal or conservative.) He touches Biblical Authority through the avenures of Inherency, Interpretation, Imagination, Ideology and Inspiration. In one of his first classes at Columbia Seminary, I was present when he used these five words beginning with I's. That immediately hooked me into signing-up for his Survey of Old Testament, next his Theology of the Old Testament. Brueggemann's first Chapter lives up to the Preface comments by William Sloan Coffin, where he introduces Prof Blount, then Prof Placher and finally in more detail Prof Bruegge. I cannot come close to adequately describe this gem of three chapters plus the delightful preface of William Coffin. When you have heard these two similarly dramatic speakers then you surely will want to digest their magically miraculous, wondrous descriptive words. Gratefully, Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

One Struggle we all have in Common!

When we chose Prof Bruegge's books to give away as Christmmas gifts, one of those was Struggling with Scripture. It brings out his personal beginnings in the confirmation service by his Father. At that point he is given the Psalm verse, 119:105: "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." In his recorded memory, our good Professor says: "He did in that act more than he knew. Providentially, I have no doubt he marked my life by this Book that would be lamp and light..."From his long and intimately personal love for the Psalms, he touches upon his early church tradition of "simple, irenic piety from the past..." One of those few pages in Bruegge's writings when he piles up adjectives and adverbs like, "seemingly, then utterly beyond me in its richness, concretely in my hands and unprecedented generativity!" When he comes out with creative linguistics and adds the emotion of his spoken words, it is enough to take you back into time and forward into what will surely follow...In his rapidly moving train of thought! He touches Biblical Authority through the avenures of Inherency, Interpretation, Imagination, Ideology and Inspiration. In one of his first classes at Columbia Seminary when I was present he used these five huge words beginning with I's. That immediately hooked me into signing-on for his Survey of Old Testament and next his Theology of the Old Testament. Brueggemann's first Chapter lives up to the Preface comments by William Sloan Coffin...where he introduces Prof Blount and then Prof Placher and finally in more detail Prof Bruegge. I cannot say enough good things about this little gem of three chapters and delightful preface of Bill Coffin's. When you have heard these two similarly dramatic speakers then you surely will want to digest their magically miraculous, wondrous descriptive words. Gratefully, Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

Breath of fresh air

This is a good read, I would not suggest is a quick read. The authors are biblical scholars in their right (Brueggmann, Placher and Blount) and they give the reader food for thought. The book will challenge your thinking and maybe the way you look at the world. Don't read it if you are not honest with your struggle.

Breath of fresh air

This is an excellent, short book. The authors have made it an easy read and it has a lot of food for thought. If you want to expand and challenge your mind, then this is a book for you. I would not recommend this book to anyone who does not want to be challenged or is not honest with their faith journey.