Living By The Book: The Art And Science Of Reading The Bible (2007) - Plot & Excerpts
Living By The Book is popular in the general evangelical Protestant population. Howard G. Hendricks claims to have "a simple proven process" of training a layperson to study the Bible. How does such a process take 48 Chapters in a book that is now in its 6th Edition?While the Book does contain some educational lessons about reading in general it fails miserably in incorporating a solid understanding of God (Theology) and sinks into the realm of Neo-Orthodoxy by placing the reader in danger of equating the value of personal experience and perception with Scripture. As one who believes in the doctrine of "Sola Scriptura" the human centered perspective of the Book was deeply disturbing. To further explain, here is Section VII of Ch 1 of the Westminister Confession of Faith:"VII. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them."Therefore, if your reading level is high enough to read 48 Chapters of Hendrick's Book then your intellect far surpasses the "unlearned" whom are still able by the Providence of God to learn enough from Scripture for Salvation.Why the Book should be avoided by Believers:1) Translation Confusion: I like his preference for the NASB but he fails to adequately explain why choosing a good translation is important. Rather, it seems like any English version will do as long as it is a "Good Study Bible". (Chapter 3). This places the new reader at risk of choosing a version that is most agreeable compared to what is most profitable,2) Over-emphasis of the English language. (Much of the body of the book). English has less verb tenses than Greek and is much more detailed than Hebrew. Therefore an over-emphasis on English leads the reader to focus more on one's own understanding of words rather than seek resources like a Lexicon to work towards understanding the writer. Some would say that I am being trite. I say that what God placed in Scripture is more important than using our own bias to define words and phrases. 3) Imaginative Reading (Chapter 13) is dangerously self-centered. It starts with finding a pleasing Translation then rewriting a section of Scripture in your own paraphrase. He even suggests reading Scripture in another language to "discover all kinds of new things in the text". How about using tools to read it in the original language? The final part of unlucky Ch 13 is about varying your setting. It is great to read the Bible next to the ocean or high on a Mountain. My concern is that Scripture enhance the experience of being in a different place. NOT the reverse.4) There is actually an Interpretation Section (Ch 27-36) which is mostly helpful. It could almost be a basic guide to interpreting Scripture all in itself. My core Theology is closer to Calvinism and so I am choosing not to engage on debate with what appears Dispensational in content. 5) Application (Ch 39-48) are both overly wordy and focuses more on why and how to act like an Institutional Christian and cultural methodology than focusing on the Sovereignty and Providence of God. Sadly it ends with a solicitation to commit via signature to following the steps in the book (Living by the Book) "with God's Help". I would have liked to have expounded on the application section The Critical Step of Application (Ch 39) sums up my protest against the book, "From cover to cover teaches that from the moment you know God's truth, the ball is in your court". He fails in the same fashion repeatedly to give Glory to God for the lives He redeems. Therefore, do not spend your valuable money on "Living by the Book". Its descent into Neorthodoxy and Self-Centerned perspective negates the more helpful content in its text.
Contribution: The Hendricks’ book is one of the most comprehensive books on Bible study I have read and surveyed. By addressing each step in the inductive method process, there is no doubt as to what each step entails and requires for orthodox interpretation. In addition, the examples and exercises in the chapters give the reader a chance to both see and do the step explained. In addition to the inductive method, the Hendricks’ even address the nature of reading and how the Bible can be understood simply by learning how to use our read better. This book blessed me as a student at the University of Texas and can bless anyone who is in ministry by giving some sound advice on how to exposit the Scriptures in a methodical and simplified way.
What do You think about Living By The Book: The Art And Science Of Reading The Bible (2007)?
Hendricks writes both for the theologian and the novice Bible reader. He's clear, simple, and profoundly helpful in understanding how to appropriately read the Bible in the context of its original audience and meaning. This book was required reading for my seminary courses and, thus, I assumed it would be lofty in its presentation. However, Hendricks has a knack for making what would otherwise be complex ideas quite simple and accessible to every reader, regardless of age, background, or education. I highly recommend this book both for the avid studier of the Bible and for the curious lay reader of the Bible.
—Trevor
I enjoyed this "textbook" on how to get the most out of reading and studying the Bible. The author, Howard Hendricks takes a very practical and methodical approach to Bible study and this matches up well to my personality. Although the bulk of the book is concerned with the observation and interpretation stages of study, the author makes it clear that the application stage is the most important and also the most difficult to implement. Again, this is another book I wish I was aware of earlier in my life and is a must read for anyone seeking to grow in their relationship with Christ.
—Jeremy
Fantastic book for learning how to study the Bible for yourself!"The Bible was not written to satisfy your curiosity; it was written to transform your life. The ultimate goal of Bible study, then, is not to do something to the Bible, but to allow the Bible to do something to you, so truth becomes tangent to life. You see, we frequently come to the Bible to study it, to teach it, to preach it, to outline it - everything except to be changed by it.""...God gives us His Word not to make us comfortable but to conform us to the character of Christ."
—Debi
