Scripture: Nourished by the Word (Catholic Basics)

Rating:
Summary: Reading Scripture with your mind and heart
Review: Margaret Nutting-Ralph teaches you how to read Scripture in context. She respectfully compares Contextualists to Fundamentalists and then with both sensitivity and humor preceeds to explain the Bible in the context of what it is (a library of books not a single book). The three contexts explored are the literary form (which varies from book to book), the beliefs of the time, and the process of revelation.

She explains the history of Scripture from oral tradition through capturing it in writing later in history and she notes the parallel development (written and oral). She does an incredible, succint overview of Jewish history from Abraham through Jesus that alone is worth the price of the book. She also discusses the reliability of oral tradition and briefly explores how the cannon was determined.

With the basics set forth she examines and teaches you to examine Scripture in the context of the author, the context of the other books, and in the context of Covenent love. She shows how God works through events and how our knowledge of God has developed since Abraham. You'll learn what a prophet really is and lots more. If you're a Catholic and talking snakes and whales vomiting prophets have left you wondering about the credibility of Scripture, this book is for you. If your faith leads you to believe talking snakes and whales vomiting prophets are literally true but you think there might be more, this book can expand your faith too. It's a great introduction to reading Scripture.

I gave the book 4 Stars. The book was likely intended as a primer but I would have enjoyed more detail and more development and I'm sure the author had to edit a lot out that I would have loved to read. Nonetheless, it is a very enjoyable and enlightening read.