Undeceptions with John Dickson 175. Literary Bible
Jessica Hooten Wilson, scholar of religion and literature who traces the Bible’s mark on Western letters. Bill Creasy, retired English professor who taught the Bible as literature at UCLA. They explore reading the Bible as a unified literary work. Short takes on Genesis, the Gospels, Romans and Revelation. Discussion of the Bible’s influence on Western narrative, poetry and the King James prose legacy.
01:08:46
Crowdfunded Bible That Reads Like Literature
- Adam Lewis Green crowdfunded a redesigned Bible with no verse numbers, generous margins, and quality paper to make it a pleasure to read.
- The Kickstarter exceeded its $37,000 goal, raising over $1.4 million and selling 15,000 sets.
John's Gospel As Theological Memoir
- John's Gospel functions like a reflective memoir, turning personal memories into theological reflection on Jesus as the Word.
- Creasy compares John to Proust: intimate recollection yields deep theological interpretation over decades.
Revelation As First Century Commentary
- Dr. Bill Creasy situates Revelation in the late first century, linking its imagery to events like the Jewish War and Mount Vesuvius eruption.
- He argues Revelation read like contemporary reportage to its original audience, not a distant future forecast.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Why a 'literary' Bible matters
02:57 • 2min
Bill Creasy's literary principles
05:00 • 1min
Literary vs. historical approaches
06:10 • 4min
The Bible's central conflict: sin
10:33 • 3min
Reading Genesis: genres and gaps
13:38 • 4min
The Gospels: multiple perspectives
17:17 • 5min
Romans: Paul's theological argument
22:30 • 5min
Revelation in its first-century context
27:36 • 3min
Bible's literary influence on Western letters
31:03 • 5min
Scripture's pervasive cultural influence
36:16 • 1min
Hebrew narratives vs. classical epics
37:22 • 2min
Biblical redemption in literature
39:51 • 2min
Psalms and personal address in poetry
41:26 • 9min
The King James Version's literary legacy
50:55 • 4min
Milton, Satan, and biblical literacy
54:50 • 2min
Jesus read Scripture as one story
56:40 • 5min
Why people should read the Bible
01:02:06 • 2min
Tips for first-time readers
01:04:20 • 3min
Outro
01:07:00 • 2min
#38383
The exaltation of Inanna
Enheduanna
'The Exaltation of Inanna' is a Sumerian hymn attributed to Enheduanna, who is often cited as the earliest named author in history; the work addresses the goddess Inanna with vivid, powerful imagery.
In the podcast, John Dickson contrasts its tone and portrayal of deity with the more personal, covenantal relationship found in the Psalms.
The hymn exemplifies Mesopotamian religious literature, where gods are portrayed as mighty and often terrifying, differing from the biblical depiction of a transcendent yet personal God. Its historical significance lies in its age and authorship, illuminating ancient Near Eastern contexts relevant to biblical studies.
The episode uses it to highlight how biblical genres and expectations differ from neighboring cultures' writings.
#301
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The pilgrim's progress
Geoffrey Murray
The Pilgrim's Progress is a Christian allegory that follows the journey of Christian, a man burdened by his sin, as he travels from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City.
Along the way, he encounters various characters and obstacles that symbolize spiritual realities.
The book is presented as a dream sequence and is divided into two parts, the second part following Christian's wife, Christiana, and her children on a similar journey.
The narrative is rich in biblical references and explores themes of redemption, faith, and perseverance.
#797
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In Search of Lost Time
Swann's Way
Stephane Heuet
Marcel Proust
This graphic adaptation of Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time' presents the first volume, 'Swann's Way', in a compressed and visually engaging format.
The adaptation, likened to a 'piano reduction of an orchestral score', retains the fundamental architecture and themes of Proust’s work, including time, art, and the elusiveness of memory.
Stéphane Heuet's detailed illustrations bring to life the narrator Marcel's childhood memories in Combray, capturing the humor, wit, and memorable characters of Proust's original text.
This adaptation is designed to make Proust's work more accessible while maintaining its essence and beauty.
#4164
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How Not to Read the Bible
Dan Kimball
In *How (Not) to Read the Bible*, Dan Kimball tackles big questions about the Bible, such as its stance on women, science, violence, and slavery.
He provides explanations for puzzling passages, helping readers to understand them in their historical and cultural context.
The book is designed for both Christians and skeptics, offering a step-by-step approach to interpreting challenging biblical texts.
#5478
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A World Without Work
Daniel Susskind
#13
• Mentioned in 462 episodes
The Bible
Various Authors
The Bible is a comprehensive collection of texts that form the central religious text of Christianity and Judaism.
It is divided into the Old Testament, which includes books such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and others that narrate the creation of the world, the history of the Israelites, and the prophetic messages.
The New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with the early Christian church and its spread.
The Bible contains a wide range of genres, including historical narratives, poetry, wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and epistles.
#462
• Mentioned in 69 episodes
East of Eden
Paul Osborn
In 'East of Eden', John Steinbeck tells the story of the Trask and Hamilton families, set against the backdrop of California's Salinas Valley.
The novel is a modern retelling of the biblical story of Cain and Abel, focusing on the tumultuous relationship between Cal and Aron Trask, and their struggles with their father, Adam.
The book delves into themes of love, rejection, and the choice between good and evil, symbolized by the Hebrew word 'timshel', meaning 'thou mayest'.
The narrative is rich with characters like Samuel Hamilton, a kind and wise patriarch, and Kate, the embodiment of evil, whose past and actions significantly impact the lives of the Trasks.
#36883
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Moses, man of the mountain
Zora Neale Hurston
In 'Moses, Man of the Mountain', Zora Neale Hurston reimagines the biblical story of Moses, incorporating elements of African folklore and voodoo.
The novel explores themes of leadership, power, and the psychological impact of enslavement as Moses leads the Hebrews out of Egypt.
Hurston's portrayal reflects a blend of cultural heritage and social critique relevant to the African-American experience.
#298
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The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri
The Divine Comedy is an Italian narrative poem begun around 1308 and completed around 1321.
It is divided into three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.
The poem discusses the state of the soul after death and presents an image of divine justice, describing Dante's travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.
It is an allegory representing the soul's journey towards God, drawing on medieval Catholic theology and philosophy, especially Thomistic philosophy.
The work is considered one of the greatest in Italian literature and Western literature, and it helped establish the Tuscan language as the standardized Italian language.
#50
• Mentioned in 262 episodes
The Odyssey
Homer
The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges.
Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage.
With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne.
The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.
#15777
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Anatomy of criticism
Northrop Frye
Northrop Frye's 'Anatomy of Criticism' is a seminal work of literary theory that revolutionized the way critics approach literature.
Frye's archetypal criticism emphasizes the recurring patterns and symbols found across different literary works.
He proposes a comprehensive system for understanding literature, organizing it into various modes and genres.
His work emphasizes the interconnectedness of literary texts and the importance of understanding their historical and cultural contexts.
Frye's insights continue to influence literary studies and provide a framework for interpreting the deeper meanings and structures within literature.
#422
• Mentioned in 74 episodes
The Aeneid
Virgil
The Aeneid, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, is a monumental work of classical literature.
It follows the journey of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, as he navigates from the ruins of Troy to Italy, where he is destined to found the city of Lavinium, a precursor to Rome.
The poem is divided into 12 books, with the first six detailing Aeneas' wanderings and the second six describing the war in Italy against the Latins.
The epic incorporates various legends and mythological elements, glorifying traditional Roman virtues and legitimizing the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
It explores themes such as duty, fate, and the relationship between the individual and society, and has had a profound influence on Western literature.
#578
• Mentioned in 59 episodes
Uncle Tom's cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Published in 1852, 'Uncle Tom’s Cabin' is a seminal work by Harriet Beecher Stowe that depicts the harsh realities of slavery in the United States.
The novel follows the story of Uncle Tom, a dignified and religious enslaved man, and Eliza, a fugitive slave, among other characters.
It highlights the cruelty and injustices of the slave system and the emotional toll on enslaved individuals and their families.
The book was a massive success, selling over 300,000 copies in its first year and becoming the second-best-selling book of the 19th century after the Bible.
It played a significant role in fueling the abolitionist cause and is credited with influencing public opinion on slavery.
#102
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Paradise Lost
John Milton
Published in 1667, 'Paradise Lost' is an epic poem in blank verse that follows the biblical story of the Fall of Man. The poem begins in medias res, detailing the descent of Satan and his followers into Hell after their rebellion against God. It explores two main narrative arcs: one focusing on Satan's actions and the other on Adam and Eve's story in the Garden of Eden.
The poem delves into themes such as free will, obedience, revenge, and pride, and it portrays the complex characters of Satan, Adam, and Eve. Milton's work is known for its rich language, classical structure, and profound theological and philosophical insights.
#113
• Mentioned in 173 episodes
The Iliad
Homer
The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events.
The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris.
The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war.
The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.
The Oxford English Dictionary describes the Bible as a “library,” not a single work.
But this library has been the most sold book in the world for millennia!
So should we call this ultimate best-seller “literature”?
There are many ways to read the Bible. But reading it as literature may help us see something easily missed: the Bible isn’t just a collection of texts any more than a symphony is just a collection of notes.
The literary approach asks a simple question: how might the Bible’s story work on us?
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CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.
Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.
Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.
Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant.
Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.
Peter Kozushko is our North American representative.
Editing by Richard Hamwi.
Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.
Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.
Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.