Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today Paperback - 2016

Denominations from evangelical to mainline continue to experience deep divisions over universal social issues. The underlying debate isn't about a particular social issue, but instead it is about the core of Christian faith: how we understand the nature of scripture and how we should approach biblical interpretation. The world's bestselling, most-read, and most-loved book is also one of the most confusing. In Making Sense of the Bible, Adam Hamilton, one of the country's leading pastors and Christian authors, provides a guide for understanding the Bible that addresses the hot-button issues that plague the church and cultural debate, and answers many of the questions frequently asked by Christians and non-Christians alike.

Did God really command Moses to put gay people to death? Did Jesus really teach that everyone who is not a Christian will be assigned to hell? Why would Paul command women to "keep silent in the church?" Were Adam and Eve real people? Is the book of Revelation really about the end times? Who decided which books made it into the scriptures and why? Is the Bible ever wrong? In approachable and inviting language, Hamilton addresses these often misunderstood biblical themes leading readers through a thoughtful Bible study to a deeper appreciation of the Bible so that we might hear God speak through it and find its words to be life-changing and life-giving.

For anyone wrestling with their faith, this book offers a clear path for making sense of the Bible's most challenging passages.

• The Nature of Scripture: Explore where the Bible came from, who decided which books were included, and whether its words are inerrant or inspired in this approachable guide.
• Science and the Bible: Tackle the tough questions about Creation, evolution, and the Flood. Were Adam and Eve real people, and how do we reconcile the Bible with modern science?
• Old Testament Violence: Confront the passages where God seems to command genocide and prescribe harsh punishments, seeking to understand them within their historical and theological context.
• Women in the Church: Ask the hard questions about why Paul commanded women to "keep silent in the church" and what that means for Christians today.
• Interpreting Challenging Verses: Examine what the Bible says about divisive topics like homosexuality and whether Jesus really taught that all non-Christians are assigned to hell.