Synopses & Reviews
The way many Christians read the Bible actually prevents them from hearing all that God wants to say to them. By falling back on past assumptions and preconceptions about the Scripture and relying on routine interpretive methods, believers often fail to find the deeper layers of meaning for their lives.
But in his new book, Epiphany, pastor and Bible teacher Chuck Smith, jr., opens readers’ eyes and ears to receive fresh, life-changing meaning from God’s Word. The Bible is divinely inspired–it is living and active. It possesses multiple layers of meaning and deeper applications. And readers miss all of that if they limit their Bible study time to the same rote approach.
To counteract this malaise, Smith demonstrates a variety of cutting-edge approaches to studying the Scriptures. These include looking within, around, and through the text, paying attention to types of literature, noticing narrative details, discovering the historical background and cultural realities, being aware of one's own reactions to the text, and more. Readers will learn new ways to hear God. And the end result will be a richer understanding of the Word and a life-changing encounter with God.
Synopsis
In his new book, pastor and Bible teacher Smith opens readers' eyes and ears to receive fresh, life-changing meaning from the Bible. This book encourages readers to discover the Bible's multiple layers of meaning and deeper applications.
About the Author
Chuck Smith, jr., is founding pastor of Capo Beach Calvary Chapel in Capistrano Beach, California. The church began nearly three decades ago as a small Bible study group meeting in Chuck’s home. Today nearly 3,000 people attend the services every weekend. Chuck grew up during the Jesus movement of the 1960s and 70s, and today he combines the spiritual pursuit of making sense of our changing world with the practical experience of leading a vibrant church. The author of The End of the World as We Know It, Chuck is married to Barbara and has five children and four grandchildren.
Table of Contents
Layers of meaning: paying attention to what lies within the biblical text -- Is it an apple or an orange?: paying attention to classes of biblical literature -- "And it came to pass": paying attention to the elements of story -- The unheard voice: paying attention to what is not spoken -- What does the Bible do?: paying attention to your own reactions -- What does the text say-and how?: paying attention to the formal details -- Much about history: paying attention to the historical backdrop -- Resident aliens: paying attention to cultural realities -- Lectio divina: paying attention to the inner voice -- The missing forest: overinterpretation and hyperliteralism -- Conclusion: the source of authority: why we need to practice the skills of interpretation.