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The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact  By  cover art

The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact

By: David Zachariah Flanagin
Narrated by: David Zachariah Flanagin
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Publisher's summary

Explore the 2,000-year impact of the most-read book ever written.

The Bible’s importance can hardly be overstated: Jesus and the earliest Christians shaped their self-identity from its pages, medieval monks spent countless hours meditating on the sacred words, and reformers have been inspired by its radical message to speak the truth of the Gospel. While its message has unified believers through the centuries, debates about biblical interpretation have also caused divisions among the faithful.

This 24-lecture audio course, taught by award-winning professor Zach Flanagin, guides you through over two millennia of biblical interpretation. You will explore the most important ways people have read the Bible in ancient history and in modern times.

After looking at how early Christians inherited scriptural approaches from Judaism, you will explore the tradition of allegorical interpretation in antiquity and the Middle Ages. Next, you will survey the important movements of scholasticism, the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Enlightenment, which led to profound debates about the nature of the authority of the Bible and the Church. Finally, you will consider the current state of biblical interpretation, where many different voices are being heard.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Now You Know Media Inc. (P)2013 Now You Know Media Inc.

What listeners say about The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact

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Required reading for all seekers of truth

In this series of lectures, David Flanigan gives us a wonderful, clear, and often charming assessment of historical biblical thought and exegesis. His insights are deep and clear and his kindness rings true throughout. A brilliant set of lectures for people of all denominations, faiths, and for all who seek Truth.

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Well delivered overview of 2000(more really) years of biblical interpretation

I have an MA in Hermeneutics (or Biblical Interpretation), consider myself an evangelical christian, and read the Bible almost daily.

This was an excellent refresher. Analogies and choice of key interpreters in history were spot on.

Listen to this to prep for a course on biblical interpretation or to refresh. A course in Philosophy would be a good prerequisite. But this is not for the young Christian.

I love how Flanagin compares each phase with an example or analogy from today and how he roots the logic of each in historical events.

Eg, I had no idea the 30 years war tilled the soil for the Enlightenment.

I didn't give it 5 stars because Flanigan didn't spend enough time clarifying his own assumptions, a prolegomena of sorts. To this, I was wondering why he was denigrating early christian attempts at interpretation of Biblical authors. His tone had a kind of annoyance at their treatment of the Old Testament. Whereas, at the end he is almost uncritical of approaches such as Feminist interpretation.

In any case, I binged it.

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3 people found this helpful