A History of the Bible: The Story of the World's Most Influential Book (1 lecture)

If two or more of these sound like you, this course may be a good fit.

• Differences between biblical accounts have left you confused.
• You want to learn the actual history of how the biblical canon formed, beyond conspiracy theories such as The Da Vinci Code.
• You wonder why Judaism and Christianity differ so much despite sharing the Hebrew Scriptures.
• You want a scholarly response to the question, “Which Bible translation is the most accurate?”
• Debates about biblical inerrancy or literalism have become a source of conflict in your faith.

About the course

In this lecture at St Paul's Cathedral, Oxford emeritus professor and biblical scholar John Barton draws on his book A History of the Bible. He begins by presenting the Bible as a library of Israelite literature from different periods and cultural contexts, rather than a single book by one author.

Barton treats tensions within the Bible as part of its character rather than something to conceal. Dismissing conspiracy theories about canonization and explaining the compromises inherent in translation, he explores with scholarly care and warmth how human language conveys divine truth.

Difficulty: ★★☆

Provocativeness: ★★☆

Editor's note: Barton combines a critical eye with deep affection for the Bible. His point that familiar Christian beliefs do not let us predict everything in Scripture invites us to ask whether we are reading the text or fitting it into our existing assumptions.

Instructor

Professor John Barton

Emeritus Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford

Member of the editorial board of Oxford University Press

Former president of the Society for Old Testament Study

Books include A History of the Bible and Ethics and the Old Testament

A leading scholar of biblical criticism, studying the formation, canonization and interpretation of the Bible

This lecture was delivered at St Paul's Cathedral, London, in 2023.