The Critical Meaning of the Bible

by Raymond E. Brown

Book Overview

Significant essays from this well-known biblical scholar. +

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809124068
• ISBN13: 9780809124060
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A Contemporary Catholic View of the Bible

Raymond Brown (1928-1998) was probably the best-known Catholic biblical scholar in the U.S. He was controversial because his views on the Bible were center to left, yet nonetheless his books earned the imprimatur of the Catholic Church and he even was appointed a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. While Fr. Brown appeared to support most of the Church's teaching, it's hard to imagine that his "critical" approach ever did much to increase the faith of Catholics. THE CRITICAL MEANING OF THE BIBLE (1981) is a collection of essays and addresses Brown gave from 1976-1981. They discuss various questions concerning the inspiration of scripture, the history of Catholic biblical interpretation, the authorship of the NT documents, the priesthood and ecumenical relations. Brown was a clear writer and, like many of his works, this book may be read by novices and more advanced readers. What is perhaps most annoying is Brown's constant attempt to place himself in the center and "disrespect" anyone who was to the right. Like many "centrists," Brown always seemed to get more worked up over conservatives (whom he often called "ultraconservative") than liberals. Someone like Bultmann (whom Brown casually describes as "left-of-center") is never held up to the ridicule of conservatives who "naively" believe in the historicity of the NT accounts of Jesus' life and publish their articles in "propogandistic" journals.