Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible

Michael F. Bird

Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook, 240 pages.

Published by Zondervan, June 2021.

BUY IT HERE.

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A lot of Christians “know their Bibles” but don’t necessarily know ABOUT their Bibles. They can recite the books in order, quote passages, and even argue what they believe the Bible says. They can retell famous stories and will declare it to be “the inspired inerrant Word of God.” But what does that actually mean?

Few can describe when or how we got these Scriptures. Or talk about the culture into which they were written and given. Why were certain books cut out? What is the purpose of the Bible? And how do we know how to interpret it well?

This book offers a great introduction to exploring and discussing these good questions.

Here’s what’s covered:

1. How the Bible was put together
   It didn’t just fall out of the sky. Who decided what would be included? How? When? Why? And why is this important?
   
2. What “inspiration” means
   The Bible is divinely given and humanly composed. What does that mean?
   
3. How the Bible is true
   Scripture is normative, not negotiable.
   
4. Why the Bible needs to be rooted in history
   The Bible is for our time, but not about our time.
   
5. Why literal interpretation is not always the best interpretation
   We should take the Bible seriously, but not always literally. How do genre and context impact meaning? What are the best ways to read and interpret Scripture for clear understanding and application?
   
6. How the Bible gives us knowledge, faith, love, and hope
   What is the purpose of Scripture? And of us reading it at all?
   
7. How Jesus Christ is the center of the Bible
   Jesus anchors not just the New Testament, but all of Scripture. How? Why is this important?

Michael Bird is a theologian, New Testament scholar, and academic dean (Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia). He’s also the author of at least 12 books (including two co-written with N. T. Wright) and regularly serves as a guest on various podcasts.

Why I Recommend it:

If we really believe the Bible is the Word of God, it only make sense that we would want to know as much about it as possible. And we should think it vital that what we know about the Bible is true and accurate. If we’re working with incomplete or untrue information, we are at risk of completely misunderstanding and misusing the Word of God.

Bird has done us a great service in compiling important information in an extremely approachable way. You don’t have to be a biblical scholar to understand what he’s saying — though you may have an interest in becoming one after reading this! It’s a fascinating introduction.

BONUS: Each chapter ends with a list of resources for further reading and study. I love that.

Caveats & Criticisms:

Not a criticism, but a warning: This is not a light book. It might feel like it in some spots because Bird is such a down-to-earth writer, but it goes deep. It may feel like a bit much at times. It will challenge you. It may make you question a lot of things you’ve previously thought and held dear. I recommend finding a reading buddy or a small group to go through this together. I read it with my husband and it was very helpful to be able to engage and wrestle with the content together.