Biblical Inspiration and Authority

Books, papers, and articles to help us understand where the Bible came from and how it guides our lives and to reflect on how Brethren regard the Bible and agree or disagree on its authority and inspiration.

Type of resources: On-line | Bibliography

On-line resources

Annual Conference query on "The Person and Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ"

A query brought to the 2003 Annual Conference by the Eaton Church of the Brethren in the Southern Ohio District. Click the above link to access the full text of the query, part of the Church of the Brethren website. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

1979 Annual Conference Paper on "Biblical Inspiration and Authority"

Click the above link to access the full text of the paper, part of the Church of the Brethren website.

Bibliographic resources

Borg, Marcus J. The God We Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion to a More Authentic Contemporary Faith. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1997.

Bestselling author Marcus J. Borg leads us from the distant, authoritative God of our childhood to an equally powerful, dynamic adult understanding of God. Tracing his own spiritual journey, he reveals how to embrace a fresh, authentic view of God that is fully compatible with good science, critical thinking, and religious pluralism--a view that promotes a much healthier and more vital life of faith today. [Suggested by Gene Hipskind]

Borg, Marcus J. Reading the Bible Again for the First Time. San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 2001.

This book helps one understand how to read the Bible with the heart and mind of faith and at the same time not abandon ones commitment to truth and history. Borg has written a scholarly book clearly and simply, so that it is accessible and useful to the less scholarly. Throughout Borg shares his own spiritual journey. [Suggested by Wanda Button]

Brock, Rita Nakashima. Journeys by Heart: A Christology of Erotic Power. New York: Crossroad, 2000.

This feminist theologian writes about the incarnation of divine love and the redemptive power of Christ found in the gospel according to Mark. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Green, Joel B., ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1995.

This books provides an exciting approach to biblical interpretation for students and pastors for an expansive understanding of the New Testament. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Helminiak, Daniel A. What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality: Recent Findings by Top Scholars Offer a Radical New View. San Francisco: Alamo Square Press, 1995, third printing.

This respected theologian, Roman Catholic priest, pastoral counselor and psychologist provides new research and commentary on homosexuality and the biblical texts. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Kader, Samuel. Openly Gay Openly Christian: How the Bible Really Is Gay Friendly. San Francisco: Leyland Publications, 1999.

This ground-breaking text describes what lessons can be learned from Scripture, history and experience about homosexuality and gay relationships. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Miner, Jeff, and John Tyler Connoley. The Children are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-Sex Relationships. Indianapolis: Jesus Metropolitan Community Church, 2002.

This text looks at scriptural texts, provides new interpretation and affirmations for same-sex relationships. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Moltman, Jurgen. Jesus Christ for Today's World. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.

The insightful text provides numerous perspectives to the ministry of earthly Jesus and the risen Christ. Looking at crucial issues, he provides a fresh approach that restores and renews our faith. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Nelson-Pallmeyer, Jack. Is Religion Killing Us? Violence in the Bible and the Quran. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Trinity Press International, 2003.

In this courageous and provocative book, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer states that the sacred texts of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam—the Bible and the Quran—are riddled with violent images of God and with passages that can be reasonably interpreted to justify violence against enemies in service to God's will. He explores deeply the historical and social contexts of these sacred texts and examines closely the many passages in the Bible and the Quran that provide the foundation for violence in the name of God. He argues that nonviolence is powerful and necessary and that a viable future for human beings depends on challenging the ways in which sacred texts reinforce visions of power that are largely abusive. [Suggested by Gene Hipskind]

Scroggs, Robin. The New Testament and Homosexuality. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983.

This text is one of the first books to question what the Bible does and does not say about homosexuality and biblical interpretation. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Stuart, Elizabeth. Religion Is a Queer Thing: A Guide to the Christian Faith for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered People. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 1997.

This book outlines queer theology. It provides readings and perspectives for individuals and groups to explore the Bible's affirmative messages to faith and queer theology. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Tate, W. Randolph. Biblical Interpretation: An Integrated Approach. Peabody MA, Hendrickson Publishers, 1991.

This text explains the various methods/criticism within the field of Hermeneutics, does so respectfully, is highly readable, and tries to integrate these methods into a way of doing interpretation. (It is interesting that the Author teaches at Evangel College in Springfield MO, which is an Assembly of God (Pentecostal) school, the book was published by a conservative publishing house, and it has been used at a Liberal Catholic seminary.) [Suggested by John Philip Carter]

Thistlethwaite, Susan, and Mary Potter Engel, eds. Lift Every Voice: Constructing Christian Theologies from the Underside. New York: Orbis Books, 1998; 2nd printing, 2000.

This text is a classroom favorite for looking at a liberationist perspective and systematic theology. A variety of authors look at theology from the perspective of race, gender and sexual orientation. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]

Volf, Miroslav. Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness and Reconciliation. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996.

This powerful text by a Croatian theologian describes his first hand experience of conflict and the exclusion of others and elaborates on Jesus' gospel and ways to embrace the stranger in our midst. [Suggested by Matt Smucker]