The Bible, Its Author, and the People Within will not only challenge you to take a good hard look at the things you've learned throughout your Christian walk, but will also teach you how to read the Bible. It will then introduce you to the God of creation as well as many of the traditions, customs, and practices of the people dwelling within the ancient world. The subject matter covered within these pages includes Israel's religious festivals; the betrothal and wedding ceremony; the bearing, rearing, and education of children; the various occupations of the day; the mourning, preparation, and burial of the dead, as well as the hereafter.
Now you may be thinking: Is this book something I should take the time to read? Well, that depends. If you're someone who's willing to have your presuppositions and dearly held traditions challenged by God's Word, you should read it. If you're someone who's willing to deviate from the beaten path and follow the text of Scripture wherever it leads, you should read it. If you're someone who's willing to consider a perspective other than your own, then yes, you should read it. If not, then quite frankly, you shouldn't. Whether you're a thirty-year-veteran of the faith or a believer of only a few hours, this book can greatly benefit you if you're willing to first read it and then further investigate its claims.
Generally speaking, the way you interact with life depends on your perception of the world around you. And as they say, perception is reality. But the problem with that is that a westerner's reality is not the reality of the easterner. As a student of God's Word, the only way you can benefit from what you read is to consider the culture, the rituals, the customs, the traditions, and the practices of those living within the biblical world. Unfortunately, more often than not, this is the exception to the rule. As westerners, our tendency is to impose our worldview on to the text of Scripture. This book will afford you the opportunity to get into the minds of the biblical writers.
While this book deals with some of the most common religious and social practices of the Israelites, Building a Framework, the second book, focuses on the establishment of a divine council, the history of creation, the sin of the Watchers, the birth of the giants, Noah's flood, the disinheriting of the inhabitants of the earth, the calling of Abram, the planting of Israel's heavens and earth along with their history, the ministry of Christ, the reclaiming of the nations, and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70. The third book in this series, Digging Deeper, utilizes a handful of principles needed to accurately interpret the Scriptures.
This series of books is very easy to read. These books are written in such a way that you should have no difficulty understanding the message conveyed. Although there are several theological terms sprinkled throughout these works, they are thoroughly explained for a better understanding of the Bible's meaning. Additionally, the majority of the biblical passages utilized within these books are written out for your convenience. The reason for this is simple. First of all, it minimizes the need for having to stop and look up each citation. But more importantly, it presents a biblical case for the assertions and conclusions drawn within each book. I have, to the best of my ability, searched God's Word for the truth. If you find what I have found, then build on it and share it with others. Assume nothing. You have the responsibility to study the Scriptures for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
Hamilton, Jeffrey J.: - The purpose of most biographies is for the author to enumerate their many qualifications and accomplishments in order to entice the reader to purchase their book. They may say something like, "I've been to seminary at such and such a college and have a Ph.D. in Theology." Personally, I've never been to seminary. I have a master's degree, but it's in Christian Counseling and Temperament Therapy. They may also say, "I've pastored a church of twenty-five thousand for the past 30 years." I've never pastored a church of more than seventy-five people. As a matter of fact, it was only for five years and the people kept leaving. They may even say, "I know Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic like the back of my hand." I don't! I have a Strong's Concordance, a handful of Greek lexicons, and several versions of the Bible. I don't have what many Christian authors claim to have, but what I do have is a desire for truth.Over the past thirty-five years, I've discovered that many within the church are woefully ignorant concerning the Word of God. But at a time when propaganda seems to be more and more prevalent, knowing the truth of Scripture is vital. Other than being able to quote a handful of verses and recite some of the more familiar biblical "stories," the majority of believers have no idea as to the thrust or intent of the Bible. As a result, much of what comes from the pulpit today is preached simply because it's comfortable. In other words, since most churchgoers are unfamiliar with the text of Scripture, no one gets their feathers ruffled. This book, as well as the two to follow, will challenge the reader to take a good, hard look at why they believe what they believe. Please, don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting that I have all the answers or that I've unearthed something that no one else has discovered. Far from it. I've spent the majority of my Christian life reading not only those with whom I agree, but those with whom I disagree as well. In many cases, it has strengthened and affirmed what I already believed. At other times, however, it has caused me to rethink what I previously believed. As a result, I experienced a paradigm shift. So, if you want to continue to believe what you've always believed, this book isn't for you. But if you're tired of hearing one thing from the pulpit and reading the exact opposite in the Scriptures with no reasonable explanation as to the interpretation, then maybe you should read the first book in this series.
