What Is the Bible and How Do We Understand It?

by Dennis R. Edwards

Overview

Reading the Bible is one thing. Understanding how the Bible came to be and how it can guide our faith and life? That's quite another. 
      
Dennis R. Edwards offers a succinct and profound investigation of Scripture. By holding up Jesus as the interpretive key and inviting us to read the Bible with the marginalized, Edwards challenges us to a Christ-centered approach to hermeneutics. What does it mean to read the Bible with Jesus at the center? How does Scripture illuminate the work of God in the world? Edwards shines light on contemporary debates about the Bible and calls us to faithful, loving interpretations and applications of the Word of God.

The Jesus Way: Small Books of Radical Faith delve into big questions about God’s work in the world. These concise, practical books are deeply rooted in Anabaptist theology. Crafted by a diverse community of internationally renowned scholars, pastors, and practitioners, The Jesus Way series helps readers deepen their faith in Christ and enliven their witness.

• Accessible Jesus-centered theology from an Anabaptist perspective
• Designed for use by individual readers, small groups, and Christian education classes
• Glossary of terms, illustrations, and discussion and reflection questions in each volume

 
Books in series:
 
What Is the Bible and How Do We Understand It? Dennis R. Edwards [Fall 2019]
Why Did Jesus Die and What Difference Does It Make? Michele Hershberger [Fall 2019]
Why Do We Suffer and Where Is God When We Do? Valerie G. Rempel [Spring 2020]
What Is the Trinity and Why Does It Matter? Steve Dancause [Spring 2020]
Who Are Our Enemies and How Do We Love Them? Hyung Jin Kim Sun [Summer 2020]
What Is God’s Mission in the World and How Do We Join It? Juan F. Martínez [Summer 2020]
What Is the Church and Why Does It Exist? David Fitch [Fall 2020]
What Does Justice Look Like and Why Does God Care about It? Judith and Colin McCartney [Fall 2020]
What Is God’s Kingdom and What Does Citizenship Look Like? César García [Spring 2021]
Who Was Jesus and What Does It Mean to Follow Him? Nancy Elizabeth Bedford [Spring 2021]
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781513806143
Publisher:	MennoMedia
Publication date:	10/15/2019
Series:	The Jesus Way: Small Books of Radical Faith
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Dennis R. Edwards is associate professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and the author of 1 Peter in The Story of God commentary series. A sought-after speaker at conferences and universities and a frequent contributor at Missio Alliance, Edwards has served as a church planter in Brooklyn and Washington, DC, and has worked in urban ministry for nearly three decades. Edwards holds degrees from Cornell University, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Catholic University of America, and is ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church. He and his wife, Susan Steele Edwards, are the parents of four adult children and two grandchildren.
Dennis R. Edwards is associate professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and the author of 1 Peter in The Story of God commentary series. A sought-after speaker at conferences and universities and a frequent contributor at Missio Alliance, Edwards has served as a church planter in Brooklyn and Washington, DC, and has worked in urban ministry for nearly three decades. Edwards holds degrees from Cornell University, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Catholic University of America, and is ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church. He and his wife, Susan Steele Edwards, are the parents of four adult children and two grandchildren.

Table of Contents

Introduction to The Jesus Way Series from Herald Press 7

Introduction 9

1 What Is the Purpose of the Bible? 15

2 How Was the Bible Born? 29

3 What Is the Center of the Bible? 41

4 What Is the Spirit of the Bible? 49

5 Who Gets to Interpret the Bible? 59

6 What Impact Does the Bible Make? 69

Glossary 79

Discussion and Reflection Questions 83

Shared Convictions 87

Notes 89

The Author 93

Editorial Reviews

Christians are not as much People of the Book as we are People of the Person. I’m so grateful to Dennis Edwards for writing a book that helps us meet the person of Jesus in the pages of the Bible.”
 

Bruxy Cavey

This book is a gift to the church from an indispensable biblical scholar with decades of pastoral experience. Rooted in the living Anabaptist tradition and African American faith, Dennis Edwards provides an extremely accessible and informative introduction to the Bible. While breaking down what the Bible is, this book encourages readers to interpret Scripture through the lens of Christ, with the Holy Spirit’s help, in community with others, studiously, with the goal of faithful obedience in the way of Jesus. Your church should be reading this in small groups together!”
 

Drew G. I. Hart

Dennis Edwards guides curious readers who want to engage the Bible from an Anabaptist perspective. This introductory book provides a helpful map on how to best read the Word—through the lens of the Incarnate Word, Jesus. For congregations looking to rekindle the practice of communal reading of the Bible, this can be a great source to begin.

Sue Park-Hur