Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible

by Michael F. Bird

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2021

Overview

Answers to the most common questions and misconceptions about the Bible

7 Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible is a short and readable introduction to the Bible—its origins, interpretation, truthfulness, and authority.

Bible scholar, prolific author, and Anglican minister Michael Bird helps Christians understand seven important "things" about this unique book:

1. how the Bible was put together;
2. what “inspiration” means;
3. how the Bible is true;
4. why the Bible needs to be rooted in history;
5. why literal interpretation is not always the best interpretation;
6. how the Bible gives us knowledge, faith, love, and hope; and
7. how Jesus Christ is the center of the Bible.

7 Things presents clear and understandable evangelical account of the Bible’s inspiration, canonization, significance, and relevance in a way that is irenic and compelling. It is a must read for any serious Bible reader who desires an informed and mature view of the Bible that will enrich their faith.

Key Features

• Provides a short and readable introduction to the Bible
• Answers common questions
• Explores the Bible’s inspiration, canonization, significance, and relevance

Contents

Top Highlights

“My view is that inspiration is principally God’s guiding and leading human minds at the conceptual level, that is, general notions, broad ideas, the building blocks for words and sentences. Inspiration is how God, through the Holy Spirit, stimulates human minds at the level that the brain formulates ideas into words and sentences so that authors, through their experiences, learning, emotions, and words, write a message consistent with the divine intention.” (Page 50)

“Yet, if we regard inspiration as pertaining to God implanting ideas into the minds of human authors, rather than giving them actual words, then translations which express the same ideas and convey the same knowledge can be regarded as genuine expressions of God’s word.” (Page 51)

“It is important to stress that God’s revelation in Scripture is accommodated to the worldview and expectations of its original audience in matters of the way the physical world works, the understanding of history, notions of literary genres, and standards of truth telling.” (Page 61)

“Scripture is not merely the record of divine revelation (though it is that). Scripture is not merely something to illuminate our minds with insights about God and his purposes (though it does that too!). Scripture itself is a revelation since God inspired his word into human subjects who were carried along by the Holy Spirit’s influence to write a divinely given message.” (Page 45)

“Rather, inspiration in this view is the direction of personal thinking. In its extent, inspiration directs thoughts, not the syllables of individual words. Inspiration involves a kind of supernatural connection between God’s ideas and their verbal expression in the minds of the individual authors.” (Pages 50–51)

Product Details

• Title: Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible
• Author: Michael F. Bird
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 215
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Religion › Biblical reference--Handbooks; Religion › Biblical criticism & interpretation--New Testament; Religion › Christian Church--History
• ISBNs: 9780310134572, 9780310538868, 9780310130338, 9780310538851, 0310134579, 0310538866, 0310130336, 0310538858
• Resource ID: LLS:THNGSWSHCKNWBBL
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:21:51Z

About Michael F. Bird

Michael F. Bird is lecturer in theology at Ridley Melbourne College of Mission and Ministry. He is the author of several books, including Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission, The Saving Righteousness of God, and with James Crossley, How Did Christianity Begin?