Meme on books that influenced my reading of the Bible

I don’t typically…or, ever…do these memes. But when I saw this one come around, I thought it was pretty cool, pretty challenging, and helpful to see what others give in their response.

There is one of those memes going around in which people volunteer a list of books that influenced their readings of the Bible.  The rules say that works are not limited to Biblical studies literature, but can include religious works or works of literature. I guess there should be at least five, but I’m no master theologian.

This is tough to nail down, but here’s what I’ve come up with.

Salvation at Stake

Brad Gregory, Salvation at Stake: Christian Martyrdom in Early Modern Europe (1999). This is an absolutely stunning and enthralling text. Not only in the top 3 necessary reads for any student of Christian martyrdom, but this is easily a must read for anyone learning about the Reformation. The reason this book is on this list is because this text gave me an introduction to the Anabaptists that literally changed my life. I was driven to take a look at the Scriptures from their perspective and within their context (persecution and martyrdom from all sides).

Choosing Against War

John Roth, Choosing Against War: A Christian View (2002). After already beginning down the road to more fully embracing the Anabaptist legacy, I borrowed this book from Borders. (No, I did not steal it. I worked there for about a year and a half, and employees could check out books for a couple of weeks.) Seeing the peace perspective in such a developed way caused me to experience the Scriptures in a very different way. I began to look at the New Testament, indeed the Good News within the New Testament, in a radical way.

Apostolic Fathers

Michael Holmes, Ed., The Apostolic Fathers (1998). While I now have the 2007 hardcover edition (thanks to an amazing brother in Christ across the pond), when I went through these texts and got to know more of their history, when I saw how these early century authors were using the letters of the Apostles and other New Testament writers, when I saw the practical importance of the New Testament texts, I saw the New Testament as real historic documents. I began to take the individual letters and gospels of the New Testament on their own terms, the same way I was reading and examining the letters and works of the Apostolic Fathers. I was reading through Mark and looking for what Mark had to say, and not look at Mark’s text through the eyes of Matthew or Luke or Paul. My Greek was developing really well at this time, so I was really getting into the individual styles and emphases of the authors. And taking this historic perspective on the New Testament has made me appreciate and embrace the text so much more.

Mark as Story

Rhoades, Dewey, and Michie, Mark as Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel (1999). Fairly self explanatory, don’t you think. This sort of pushed me onward in my historic view of the New Testament. Mark came to life, as did the other Gospel texts. Instead of seeing Mark and the other Gospels as a set, each text was a special work by their respective author, created with the intent to tell a story about Jesus from their special, privelaged, inspired perspective.

I would love to see your list of books, and especially the story behind it.