Bible study guides?

[GreenPartyVoter]

I have and am enjoying the Access Bible, but I am finding that it isn't going in-depth enough in terms of really explaining the background of the Bible. I guess I want more than just footnotes.

I am thinking of picking up Borg's "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time" as I have enjoyed two other books of his and have learned a lot from them, both where the Biblical culture of the day and non-literal interpretations are concerned. What other books ought I to be looking fo in this vein? (I have some listed on my site already; are some better than others?)

http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/liberalchristians.htm#bibles

Thanks,

~Jen

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Bishop Spong's Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism is

another one.

The Episcopal Church has a four-year course for lay people on the Bible and theology, conducted in an affinity group format, called Education for Ministry (EFM). Everyone I know who's taken it says it was a fantastic experience, both for the content and for the bonds formed with other members. My church is planning to start a new group in the fall, and I hope to join it.

[RevCheesehead]

2. Have you seen "The Message" by Eugene Peterson?

He has written a paraphrase of the entire Bible, in contemporary form. His theology is spot-on. I highly recommend it, because it gives a fresh reading of the text to tired eyes. :)

[hvn_nbr_2]

3. For background, a couple suggestions

Isaac Asimov has a two-volume set (one Old Testament and one New Testament) that gives historical and theological background for each book.

Various books by Elaine Pagels and Karen Armstrong give good background info.

Someone else mentioned Bishop Spong's "Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism," which is good. Several others of his sound interesting, but "Rescuing" is the only one I've read.

None of those are devotional guides. They're mostly background info.