The Bible Beyond the Words reveals hidden mysteries within the biblical narrative by going beyond the writers words to the deeper meanings of which Christ himself is the author. These revelations include a heretofore unknown mystery in the great flood that changed the course of human life beyond the obvious and a very important but little-known mystery of Christs experience on the cross that points toward a very different heaven than most of us expect. It also removes the ambiguities that surround Gods Old Testament versus New Testament encounters with his people. And finally it definitively answers the question Why do bad things happen to good people?

Is the Bible hard for you to understand? Do the contradictions trouble you? If you answered yes to either or both of those questions, you are in good company. Virtually everyone has difficulty understanding the Bible. And many are troubled by the seeming contradictions. In The Bible beyond the Words, Fred Snider reveals the solutions to both of these problems by digging beyond the writers' words to the deeper meanings of which Christ himself is the author. There is a message in the fact that God carved the Ten Commandments in stone. They are forever unchangeable. The doctrine of Christ--which in principle includes the ancient, Old Testament narratives--is a different story. It was cast in living spirit and calculated to grow with time and humanity's growing body of knowledge. After nearly two millennia of Christianity, most of its adherents have yet to recognize the excellent wisdom of Jesus's course of action. They are still trying to set in stone what he intended to be expandable to accommodate our growth. Consequently, we are still in the infancy of our understanding of his Gospel, operating under a vast cloud of immature interpretations.

Beyond Words n (1.) Terms or names that point to the realm of mystery and depth that lies beyond our ordinary experience. (2.) The reality that is beyond even the power of beyond words to convey, and that can be known only by experiencing it for yourself. "A word a day to keep the demons at bay." This is how Frederick Buechner likes to describe this witty and incisive dictionary. A daily devotional from one of today's greatest spiritual writers, Beyond Words offers 366 entries from Buechner's three alphabet books, Wishful Thinking, Peculiar Treasures, and Whistling in the Dark, including a new Introduction and nineteen new entries. Providing definitions of both sacred and ordinary words, as well as biblical characters, Buechner unabashedly brings his fresh perspective to words, concepts, and characters we thought we understood. This is a great introduction to Buechner's work as well as a library staple for those already well versed in his writing. It is Buechner at his best. Whether readers find themselves tearful from a deeply moving insight or laughing out loud at an unexpected turn of phrase, they will always feel uplifted, illuminated, and enchanted by the wisdom of Frederick Buechner.

Book Summary: "Beyond the Words: Unraveling the Hidden Meanings of the Bible" "Beyond the Words: Unraveling the Hidden Meanings of the Bible" is a captivating exploration of the depths and mysteries of the Bible. Throughout its chapters, the book delves into various aspects of Christianity and Catholic beliefs, presenting fresh insights and perspectives. The journey begins by uncovering the hidden meanings found within the Bible's texts. It reveals the use of symbolism, allegory, and metaphor, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the profound truths embedded in scripture. As the book progresses, it explores the power of parables and metaphors, showcasing how these literary devices engage the imagination and invite personal reflection. Readers are encouraged to contemplate the spiritual lessons embedded within these stories and to apply them to their own lives. The book further unravels the enigmatic elements of the Bible, such as prophecies, foreshadowing, and coded messages. It reveals how these elements offer glimpses of the future, deepen our understanding of God's plan, and invite us to explore the hidden gems within the text. Delving into the significance of divine names and titles, the book explores how these designations reveal the nature and character of God. Readers are invited to embrace the power of these names and titles, recognizing their ability to deepen their relationship with the divine. Sacred places and objects also come under scrutiny, as the book examines their symbolic meanings and the encounters with the divine they facilitate. It emphasizes the importance of revering these spaces and engaging with these objects as a means of experiencing the divine presence. The book acknowledges the mysteries and unanswered questions within the Bible, embracing doubt and recognizing its role in the growth and transformation of faith. It encourages readers to embrace the journey, navigate the complexities, and find solace in the mysteries that deepen their relationship with God. Throughout the chapters, readers are reminded of the transformative power of the Bible. It is presented as a living and active entity, capable of inspiring, convicting, and guiding individuals on their spiritual journeys. The book underscores the importance of living out the message of the Bible through acts of compassion, justice, and service, demonstrating the impact of faith in action. "Beyond the Words: Unraveling the Hidden Meanings of the Bible" concludes by highlighting the eternal nature of the Bible, emphasizing its timeless relevance and its invitation to ongoing engagement and encounter with the living God. It encourages readers to approach the Bible with humility, openness, and a teachable spirit, recognizing its transformative potential. Ultimately, this book invites readers to embark on a deeper exploration of the Bible, uncovering its hidden meanings, embracing the mysteries, and allowing its timeless truths to shape their beliefs, actions, and lives. It serves as a guide to discovering the profound wisdom and transformative power within the sacred text, fostering a deeper connection with God and a more vibrant faith journey.

An illustrated collection of reflections based on Luke's gospel. For each reflection a passage of Scripture is accompanied by a poem. The author is a retired minister of the Uniting Church in Australia who has written widely on Australian themes.

A seasoned interpreter presents a "principled approach," showing how the Bible, though written long ago, can speak authoritatively on contemporary ethical, doctrinal, and practical issues.

Reading can become the grave of meaning or the place of its resurrection. It becomes a tomb when meanings follow one another uninterruptedly, but in an automatic, mechanical, predictable and tautological way. It becomes a tomb when reading becomes calculation, when the result excludes and erases surprise and mystery. Instead, it’s the place of resurrection when meanings are not automatic, but intermittent, unpredictable, fragile and fragmentary; when reading becomes like childbirth, an experience marked by fatigue and suffering, but in the expectation of something new and unique. Our reflection is an essay of ontological hermeneutics: it is critical of “textual positivism”–which makes the univocity and clarity of a text the main goal of its task–and also of “cultural positivism”–a cultural matrix that elevates univocity and clarity as the ultimate goal of contemporary systems. This essay indirectly sketches a cultural critique and not only a theological one. Means, medium and guarantor of this ontological indelible reserve are ambivalence and paradox. We will try to follow the trace of these throughout the hermeneutic arc–and not only at its beginning.

The contributions to this volume reflect upon changing paradigms within biblical scholarship, and in how biblical scholarship is taught. Taken together, they offer a multifaceted and informative indication of how open-mindedness in one's approach can yield fascinating results across the study of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. The range in topic of the contributions is exemplified in the difference between the first chapter, which works from the personal anecdote of the changing opinion of its author to make a wider point about models for Pentateuchal formation, and the third chapter, which comments on the current state of the study of ancient Israel in universities today. Other contributions include; an essay on the subject of space as a social construct in Isaiah 24-27; civil courage and whether the Bible allows room for protest; the question of monotheism in Persian Judah; the historical Ezra, and the telling of the story of Joseph (Genesis 50: 15-21) in children's Bibles in the Netherlands. The contributors include Hugh Williamson, Ehud Ben Zvi, Rainer Albertz, Karel von der Toorn, and Christoph Uehlinger.

*Shortlisted for the Michael Ramsay Prize 2019* In this groundbreaking book, Jill Harshaw explores the spiritual experiences of people with profound intellectual disabilities with regard to their capacity to enjoy life-giving spiritual experiences in their own right. The author expertly argues that our thinking of spiritual life needs to start not with our assumptions about people who are unable to speak for themselves, but with what we can know about God. Stimulating a much-needed discussion, this book explains why we need to respect individuals with profound intellectual disabilities as spiritual persons, and stop seeing them simply as care-receivers or uncomfortable reminders of human vulnerability. Calling for a more critical approach in practical theology, this book invites a deeper, genuinely inter-disciplinary dialogue between new and traditional theological fields, and asks why, after more than 30 years of intellectual disability theology, the impact on church life remains minimal so that debates around the right to basic inclusion continue to dominate. The questions raised in this book not only move the discussion forward, but will spark a change on how the Church approaches inclusiveness.

The concept of 'scripture' as written religious text is re-examined, considering orally distributed sacred writings.