Reviews

A History of the Bible: The Book and Its Faiths by John Barton

lakmus's review against another edition

4.0

Tldr: If you thought the Bible was a piecemeal collection of texts from different authors and time periods, think again. It's way, way, more piecemeal. It also does not perfectly match any of the faiths that rely upon it, so if you are running a religion, don't be stupid and argue for a literal interpretation based on specific wording of things, because it.will.not.work.

Also there's just so many fascinating bits there and thorough scholarship all around (as far as I can tell, having no training in the humanities whatsoever).

tomleetang's review against another edition

4.0

Thorough to the point of pedantic at times, but overall an insight-filled primer on what we know about the history of the bible, how it was written and the way its message has been interpreted and adapted over time.

viamedialector's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

John Barton brilliantly brings the insights of critical biblical studies to a mass audience for both religious and non-religious readers. Barton walks through the writing/composition and canonization process of Hebrew Bible and New Testament texts before turning to look at their interpretation throughout the ages. Barton shows how the Bible does not clearly map unto religious belief and practice of Judaism and Christianity cleanly. Showing how both religions relate and engage with the Bible in more complex ways. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

cvvvnvvvl's review against another edition

2.0

idk

tinido's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

Ich habe eine sehr ordentliche evangelische Sozialisation und ziemlich gute religiöse Bildung, habe aber hier noch ein Menge gelernt. Aber genau dafür habe ich das auch gelesen: Wenn man ein bisschen in der Bibel herumliest, merkt man einfach, dass das niemals als einheitliches Buch gedacht war. Dazu kommen die zahllosen Geschichten und Aussagen, die sich oder den Dingen widersprechen, die man so als Inhalte des christlichen Glaubens so kennt. Wenn man solche oder ähnliche Fragen in Bezug auf die Bibel hat, dann ist das ein wirklich gutes Buch, um sich einen Überblick über den Stand der Forschung zu verschaffen und über die Fragen, die da gestellt werden. Besonders positiv hervorheben will ich, dass die Geschichte der jüdischen Bibel immer mit betrachtet wird, zumindest bis zur Aufklärung, konkret bis zu Spinozas Tractatus theologico-politicus. (Das sind ca. 2/3 des Buches). Danach, finde ich, lässt es deutlich nach, was auch damit zu tun hat, dass es dann eigentlich nicht mehr um Kanonisierungsprozesse und biblische Philologie geht (wo Barton super ist und gerade auch für Lai*en gut erklärt, was da abläuft), sondern darum, was mit der Bibel passiert, wenn Hochstilisierung zum Heiligen Text, Massenverbreitung und historisch-kritische De-Mythologisierung aufeinandertreffen. Da zieht sich Barton dann auf eine, wie ich finde, sehr unkritische liberale Tradition und Haltung zurück, wo er doch vorher so detailliert gezeigt und argumentiert hat, dass erst der intensive Gebrauch das Heilige Buch macht und dass es sich mit dem Gebrauch immer wieder ändert. Aber davon sollte man sich nicht abhalten lassen, das Buch zu lesen: Ich denke, man bekommt so eine kondensierten Überblick über 3.000 Jahre Geschichte der Bibel, der wissenschaftlich seriös und sehr gut lesbar ist, nirgends sonst. 

seathegoll's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.0

A good history. Moves fast but very informative. 

sam_magowan's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

fractaltexan's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Barton's work is a foundational work on the history of the Bible that is both easily accessible to the regular reader, and comprehensive in offering a well-rounded Jewish and Christian understanding of the Book as it came to be written.

This book gave me a better understanding of the intricacies of the Bible, how it came to be written, the different Sources such as J, Q, and D, and gave a history of the interpretation and themes of the Bible throughout the ages.

sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition

4.0

So very very interesting. I learnt much about the history of the bible as a document in itself, and its interpretation through time (by both Judaism and Christianity). There are valuable corrections of some of the common misunderstandings about the bible (misunderstandings on behalf of both those that subscribe to one of the two aforementioned faiths and those who do not).

Aside from the general knowledge, the books central argument (at least as I see it) - that both Jews and Christians are prone to willfully misinterpreting the Bible and its history in order to make it better fit our modern faith, when this is really not necessary for the continued maintenance of that faith and our respect for the Bible's place in it - was well-reasoned and persuasive.

sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition

4.0

So very very interesting. I learnt much about the history of the bible as a document in itself, and its interpretation through time (by both Judaism and Christianity). There are valuable corrections of some of the common misunderstandings about the bible (misunderstandings on behalf of both those that subscribe to one of the two aforementioned faiths and those who do not).

Aside from the general knowledge, the books central argument (at least as I see it) - that both Jews and Christians are prone to willfully misinterpreting the Bible and its history in order to make it better fit our modern faith, when this is really not necessary for the continued maintenance of that faith and our respect for the Bible's place in it - was well-reasoned and persuasive.