[CFrance]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Some years ago I found in my local library a fascinating book entitled "Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism" authored by an Episcopal Bishop, John Shelby Spong. John Shelby Spong - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the book he delves into how and by whom the bible was assembled from various writings of almost exclusively Jewish authors over several centuries. He explains how these authors utilized midrash to develop stories illustrating the points they wished to make. Midrash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I found the book quite enlightening about the history of the bible although I do not agree with some of Spong's far out social ideas which he expounds at times.

BTW, I find "The New Oxford Annotated Bible" to be a great resource. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha New Revised Standard Version | Cokesbury

Even a lot of Episcopalian higher ups would like to distance themselves from Spong, but he makes some excellent points.

I like the NSRV Harper Collins study bible. I'm a Presbyterian, and the NSRV is what we use.