A History of the Bible

The Story of the World's Most Influential Book

By: John Barton

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest.

In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy Scripture", a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be listened to in its historical context - from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries.

It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world - and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording - which is impossible to determine - and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture.

©2019 John Barton (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Winner of the Pol Roger Duff Cooper Award for 2019

Chosen as a Best Book of 2019 by The Guardian

“In addition to laying out the historical contexts in which the Old and the New Testaments were created, this stimulating study considers how they have been read, taught, and lived by believers.... [Barton] proposes a nuanced approach that seeks to give the Bible its due without asking too much of it.” (The New Yorker)

“A History of the Bible is a lucidly written distillation of a vast array of scholarship.” (Wall Street Journal)

"A supple and intelligent recap of the Holy Scriptures, their origins and contexts, [and] their meaning in a broad historical sense." (Lit Hub)

Very in depth

This is the best book I’ve found covering the Bible. That said it is very in depth this is not just an overview. The Author did a great job and so did the reader good voice.

Wow

Listen and be amazed. A must for any student of the bible. Just the history lessons alone are worth the time!

Accessible scholarship at its best

This book was both scholarly and accessible to those who are not the in field. Thorough, clear and well read.

Like Drinking from a Firehose

John Barton’s knowledge of the Bible, Biblical scholarship and translation is staggering. Will have to listen to this one many times.

Conscientious and thorough

The book is so conscientious and thorough that it can be a little dry at times, but the information and insights are very well presented and expressed, and the author shows utmost respect for believers while helping to teach what the Bible really is.

An interesting History

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.

At times, the narration is dry (but this is not a bad note on Mr. Lister), but the text at times is heavy, and seems to drag. Overall, that's my only real issue.

An Objective & Rigorous Analysis Of The Bible

The author's analysis of the many different books known as "The Bible" is as objective as humanly possible, especially in light of the author's status as an Anglican priest. The multidimensional approach to Biblical analysis is particularly informative and thought provoking. This analysis includes historical, linguistic, theological, and anthropological perspectives. This book is a "must read" for those with an open mind regarding "The Bible."

Dense but Great

This book was definitely a long one. There really is an effort that was made to line into the minutia of this topic. So much so, that if you do not study the Bible, some of this stuff may start to sound like gibberish.



That being said, I enjoyed every moment of this book. There was incredibly illuminating information on both Christianity and Judaism. I feel like I have a much more competent and well-rounded understanding of the Bible as a historical document.

excellent book

great book for those wanting a critical but theological review of the bible and faith

Honest

If you are a fundamentalist evangelical who believes in the literal interpretation of the Bible you may be in for some uncomfortable listening… On the other hand if you are a Christian who wants to understand more about the scripture from which all faith is derived, who isn’t scared to look the horse in the mouth, and wants to challenge your faith and see where you stand, then this is the book for you.

As a former Atheist who pities my former comrades, I was confronted with many things I didn’t want to hear, however it doesn’t shake my faith in the Lord. I know that regardless of where the scripture came from, living a Christian life is the best life there is for me. Read it, and you decide.