Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World

by John Shelby Spong

Overview

In Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World, bishop and social activist John Shelby Spong argues that 200 years of biblical scholarship has been withheld from lay Christians. In this brilliant follow-up to Spong’s previous books Eternal Life and Jesus for the Non-Religious, Spong not only reveals the crucial truths that have long been kept hidden from the public eye, but also explores what the history of the Bible can teach us about reading its stories today and living our lives for tomorrow.

Sarah Sentilles, author of Breaking Up With God: A Love Story, applauds John Shelby Spong’s Reclaiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World, writing that “pulsing beneath his brilliant, thought-provoking, passionate book is this question: can Christianity survive the education of its believers?…A question Bishop Spong answers with a resounding yes.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062011299
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/05/2013
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	741,423
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

John Shelby Spong, the Episcopal Bishop of Newark before his retirement in 2000, has been a visiting lecturer at Harvard and at more than 500 other universities all over the world. His books, which have sold well over a million copies, include Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy; The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic; Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World; Eternal Life: A New Vision; Jesus for the Non-Religious, The Sins of Scripture, Resurrection: Myth or Reality?; Why Christianity Must Change or Die; and his autobiography, Here I Stand. He writes a weekly column on the web that reaches thousands of people all over the world. To join his online audience, go to www.JohnShelbySpong.com. He lives with his wife, Christine, in New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Part I Setting the Stage: Posing the Problem

1 Examining the Bible's Mystique 3

Part II The Formation of the Torah

2 Breaking Open the Books of Moses 21

3 The Yahwist Document: The Original Narrative 29

4 The Elohist Document: The Torah Expands 37

5 The Deuteronomic Writers: The Third Strand of the Torah 45

6 The Priestly Document: The Fourth Strand of the Torah 51

Part III The Rise of the Prophets

7 The Transitional Books: Joshua, Judges and Samuel 63

8 The Story of Nathan: All Are Subject to the Law 71

9 I and II Kings, Elijah and Elisha: Step Two in the Prophetic Tradition 77

Part IV Introducing the Writing Prophets

10 The Prophetic Principle: Ancient and Modern 85

11 The Isaiahs I, II and III 91

12 Jeremiah: Prophet of Doom 105

13 Ezekiel: Prophet of the Exile 111

14 Daniel: Misplaced but Potent 117

Part V The Minor Prophets: The Book of the Twelve

15 Hosea: The Prophet Who Changed God's Name to Love 125

16 Amos: The Prophet Who Changed God's Name to Justice 131

17 Micah: The Prophet Who Turned Liturgy into Life 137

18 Jonah: Definer of Prejudice 143

19 I and II Zechariah: Shapers of the Jesus Story 149

20 Malachi: The Dawn of Universalism 155

Part VI The Bible's Protest Literature

21 Job: Icon of a New Consciousness 163

22 Ruth: The Myth of Racial Purity 169

Part VII Liturgical Books and Wisdom Literature

23 The Book of Psalms 177

24 Wisdom Literature: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon 183

25 Lamentations and Esther: Books Designed for Liturgical Observances 189

26 The Chronicler, Ezra and Nehemiah: National Mythmakers 195

Part VIII Introducing the Christian Scriptures, Commonly Called the New Testament

27 A New Beginning-An Old Theme 203

28 Dating the Historical Jesus 209

29 Dating the New Testament in Relation to the Life of Jesus 215

30 The Oral Period 221

Part IX Paul: The First New Testament Writer

31 The Witness of Paul 229

32 Paul's Secret Thorn 235

33 Paul's Early Epistles: I Thessalonians and Galatians 241

34 The Corinthian Letters 247

35 Resurrection According to Paul 253

36 Resurrection Through Jewish Eyes 259

37 Romans: The Gospel of Paul 265

38 The Theology of Paul as Revealed in Romans 271

39 Who Is Christ for Paul? The Gospel in Romans 277

40 The Elder Paul: Philemon and Philippians 283

41 Post-Pauline Epistles: II Thessalonians, Colossians and Ephesians 289

Part X The Synoptic Gospels

42 Exploring Mark: The Original Gospel 297

43 Mark's Use of Synagogue Worship Patterns 303

44 Mark's First Narrative of the Crucifixion: A Passover Format 309

45 Matthew: The Most Jewish Gospel 317

46 Matthew's Interpretive Secret 323

47 Matthew and the Liturgical Year of the Synagogue 329

48 Luke: Moving Toward the Gentile World 333

49 Luke's Vision of Universalism 339

50 Acts: The Spirit That Embraces the World and Drives Toward Wholeness 347

51 Paul and Early Christians as Viewed Through Acts 353

Part XI The Pastoral Epistles, Hebrews and the General Epistles

52 I and II Timothy and Titus: "We Have the Truth!" 361

53 The Epistle to the Hebrews 367

54 The General Epistles: James, I and II Peter and Jude 373

Part XII The Johannine Corpus

55 Introducing the Johannine Material 381

56 The Gospel of John: Not a Literal Book 387

57 The Raising of Lazarus and the Identity of the Beloved Disciple 393

58 The Epilogue of John 399

59 The Johannine Epistles and the Book of Revelation 405

Bibliography 411

What People are Saying About This

Andrew D. Scrimgeour

“A master teacher and story teller, Spong brings the best of current scholarship to free the books of the Bible from Sunday School naïveté and literalistic interpretations. The result is an introduction to the Bible that will engage readers who no longer sit in church pews.”

Gregory C. Jenks

“A masterful reading of these texts that have shaped the Western world. This book is filled with insights from a lifetime of deep engagement with Scripture. Highly recommended!”

Sarah Sentilles

“Bishop Spong has built a much-needed bridge between the academy and the pews. Pulsing beneath his brilliant, thought-provoking, passionate book is this question: Can Christianity survive the education of its believers?—a question he answers with a resounding yes.”

Katie Ford

“In Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World, Spong offers a way for critical and curious readers to discover the exquisite and profound ways the Bible can, in fact, lead towards abundant life. After a decade of feeling banished by the Bible, I am now drawn back.”

David Felten & Jeff Procter-Murphy

“If your addiction is the shallow, narrow, literal interpretation of the Bible doled out by most churches, then you need an intervention. Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religous World is like a treatment center in a box.”

Fred C. Plumer

“Bishop Spong’s newest book is not only for the ‘non-religious’ but it will find its way into churches, study groups, seminaries and the seekers. This book should renew a sincere interest in the biblical story that for too long has been lost in our corporate ignorance.”

Editorial Reviews

Brings biblical scholarship to those who sit in church pews, but without getting bogged down in debates about biblical minutiae .... This book is well paced, the arguments are easy to follow, and Spong accomplishes exactly what he set out to do. A compelling and thought-provoking read.” — Library Journal

“Spong tours Christianity’s sacred text, leaving little unexamined and [much] demythologized as he urges Christians to grow up and take the Bible seriously—just not literally. Spong . . . has the gift and motivation for making biblical scholarship accessible; he writes with charity and clarity.” — Publishers Weekly

“Spong here achieves what may be his most reader friendly, helpful book . . . a wonderful, illuminating adjunct to anyone’s Bible study.” — Booklist

“A masterful reading of these texts that have shaped the Western world. This book is filled with insights from a lifetime of deep engagement with Scripture. Highly recommended!” — Gregory C. Jenks, author of The Once and Future Bible

“Bishop Spong has built a much-needed bridge between the academy and the pews. Pulsing beneath his brilliant, thought-provoking, passionate book is this question: Can Christianity survive the education of its believers?—a question he answers with a resounding yes.” — Sarah Sentilles, Author of Breaking Up with God: A Love Story

“In Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World, Spong offers a way for critical and curious readers to discover the exquisite and profound ways the Bible can, in fact, lead towards abundant life. After a decade of feeling banished by the Bible, I am now drawn back.” — Katie Ford, Author of Deposition and Colosseum

“If your addiction is the shallow, narrow, literal interpretation of the Bible doled out by most churches, then you need an intervention. Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religous World is like a treatment center in a box.” — Rev. David Felten & Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy, creators of the Living the Questions series

“A master teacher and story teller, Spong brings the best of current scholarship to free the books of the Bible from Sunday School naïveté and literalistic interpretations. The result is an introduction to the Bible that will engage readers who no longer sit in church pews.” — Andrew D. Scrimgeour, Drew University, editor of Just Call Me Bob: The Wit and Wisdom of Robert W. Funk

“Bishop Spong’s newest book is not only for the ‘non-religious’ but it will find its way into churches, study groups, seminaries and the seekers. This book should renew a sincere interest in the biblical story that for too long has been lost in our corporate ignorance.” — Fred C. Plumer, President, ProgressiveChristianity.org

From the Publisher

Bishop Spong has built a much-needed bridge between the academy and the pews. Pulsing beneath his brilliant, thought-provoking, passionate book is this question: Can Christianity survive the education of its believers?—a question he answers with a resounding yes.

Sarah Sentilles

A masterful reading of these texts that have shaped the Western world. This book is filled with insights from a lifetime of deep engagement with Scripture. Highly recommended!

Gregory C. Jenks

If your addiction is the shallow, narrow, literal interpretation of the Bible doled out by most churches, then you need an intervention. Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religous World is like a treatment center in a box.

Rev. David Felten & Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy

A master teacher and story teller, Spong brings the best of current scholarship to free the books of the Bible from Sunday School naïveté and literalistic interpretations. The result is an introduction to the Bible that will engage readers who no longer sit in church pews.

Andrew D. Scrimgeour

In Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World, Spong offers a way for critical and curious readers to discover the exquisite and profound ways the Bible can, in fact, lead towards abundant life. After a decade of feeling banished by the Bible, I am now drawn back.

Katie Ford

Bishop Spong’s newest book is not only for the ‘non-religious’ but it will find its way into churches, study groups, seminaries and the seekers. This book should renew a sincere interest in the biblical story that for too long has been lost in our corporate ignorance.

Fred C. Plumer

Spong here achieves what may be his most reader friendly, helpful book . . . a wonderful, illuminating adjunct to anyone’s Bible study.

Booklist

Spong here achieves what may be his most reader friendly, helpful book . . . a wonderful, illuminating adjunct to anyone’s Bible study.

Booklist

"If your addiction is the shallow, narrow, literal interpretation of the Bible doled out by most churches, then you need an intervention. Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religous World is like a treatment center in a box."

Reverend - David Felten & Jeff Procter-Murphy

Episcopal bishop Spong, author of more than 20 books, may be retired, but he hasn’t stopped. His newest grows from a series of summer lectures that clue the people in the pews on the kinds of topics biblical scholars discuss among themselves: for example, biblical characters such as Judas and Joseph, Jesus’ earthly dad, appear to be literary creations. Everybody who hasn’t abruptly left the room on hearing it suggested that the Bible may not be literally true is in for a wonderful ride as Spong tours Christianity’s sacred text, leaving little unexamined and demythologized as he urges Christians to grow up and take the Bible seriously—just not literally. Spong’s arguments aren’t new, but he has the gift and motivation for making biblical scholarship accessible; he writes with charity and clarity. His fans will want this for Bible study groups; his detractors may simply decide that Spong, still unwelcome and still here, is being his heretical self once again. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Tiring attack on the "ancient, sacred, and mythological book we call the Bible." Though former Episcopal bishop Spong (Eternal Life: A New Vision, 2009, etc.) claims to have had a "longtime love affair" with the Bible, it is hard to see that in this book-by-book attack upon the Old and New Testaments. The author makes it clear that he sees the Bible as at best a collection of heavily edited myths and allegories, at worst an outright lie. Spong's stated purpose of introducing modern higher criticism of the Bible to ordinary readers seems laudable, but he fails to pull it off. He does not effectively introduce biblical criticism to those who might actually believe the Bible. Instead of building a bridge of understanding, he challenges readers to leap across a canyon from ignorance to enlightenment. Spong shows no interest in compromise; rather, he judges as deluded or silly those readers who believe that anything in the Bible is literal or based on historical fact. The author doesn't seem to comprehend or care that the world is far from "non-religious," and his book is geared toward those who are already at the cusp of disbelief. Though many of his ideas are already well-known arguments, Spong also includes theories of his own--e.g., the Apostle Paul was "a deeply repressed gay man"; basically nothing in the Gospel of John should be taken literally. The author is so lost in refuting scripture that he has forgotten what that scripture's tie to real people even is. Once intriguingly controversial, Spong is now tediously irrelevant.

Kirkus Reviews