What do you think?
Rate this book
An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible
A comprehensive and orthodox guide to biblical origins and interpretation
How did we get the Bible? How do we interpret it? And what does it mean for our lives today? Michael B. Shepherd introduces undergraduates and seminarians to these crucial questions in this reliable and thorough new textbook.
Shepherd covers textual criticism, formation of the canon, and history of translation, all while remaining committed to Scripture’s ultimate purpose—inviting us to salvation through Jesus Christ. Showing how the Bible directs its own interpretation, Shepherd encourages learners to listen to the Word of God, rather than twisting it to fit their own ends. His section-by-section treatment of the Bible encourages students to view the Bible as cohesive, while remaining sensitive to its diverse genres.
Thorough and accessible, this textbook goes beyond typical historical introductions to spiritually form students learning to understand Scripture. An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible is the serious, evangelical introduction your students need and will reference for years to come.
How did we get the Bible? How do we interpret it? And what does it mean for our lives today? Michael B. Shepherd introduces undergraduates and seminarians to these crucial questions in this reliable and thorough new textbook.
Shepherd covers textual criticism, formation of the canon, and history of translation, all while remaining committed to Scripture’s ultimate purpose—inviting us to salvation through Jesus Christ. Showing how the Bible directs its own interpretation, Shepherd encourages learners to listen to the Word of God, rather than twisting it to fit their own ends. His section-by-section treatment of the Bible encourages students to view the Bible as cohesive, while remaining sensitive to its diverse genres.
Thorough and accessible, this textbook goes beyond typical historical introductions to spiritually form students learning to understand Scripture. An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible is the serious, evangelical introduction your students need and will reference for years to come.
- GenresScripture
256 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2024
9 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Michael B. Shepherd
12 books9 followersMichael B. Shepherd is the John and Allie Fogleman Assistant Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana as well as professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at the Caskey School of Divinity.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 22, 2025
I was under the impression that because the title is “An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible” that it would be more basic and elementary—I was wrong. Dr. Shepherd had said in class about a year ago that this forthcoming book was basically his Bible and the Gospel class in book form. If this was what he was teaching to first-semester freshmen, I’m jealous of them.
Dr. Shepherd shows the importance of understanding the final form of the text and the compositional strategies of the biblical authors/composers to understand the meaning of the text. This is done through discerning the macro and micro-levels of the texts themselves, not the history of the events behind the text. Dr. Shepherd doesn’t just tell the reader about the structure and meaning, but shows the reader from the biblical texts themselves. Dr. Shepherd explains the canonical seams of the trifold structure of the TaNaK, the poems of the Pentateuch, the faith theme, the role of the law in the Pentateuch, the composition of the Prophets, the programmatic texts that guide and inform the reading of the major and minor prophets, the internal coherence of the Megilloth centered on wisdom, how the NT draws from the OT (not to “reinterpret” and “reimagine” biblical texts but to show the author-intended meaning in its original context and in light of the compositional strategies) to show that the Christ is Jesus of Nazareth rather than the other way around, and finally, how the textual world of the Bible is the real world.
This book is essentially an overview of all of the Bible-specific classes given in the BA/MDiv at Cedarville. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the many biblical references included to back up his interpretations and conclusions. It’s easy to see and follow along with Dr. Shepherd’s arguments with an open Bible.
In the second to last paragraph, Dr. Shepherd says:
“The life of the Christian and the life of the church are inextricably linked to a healthy understanding of the making and meaning of the Bible. The biblical authors invite both the individual believer (Pss 1; 19; 119) and the community of faith (Neh 8-9) to enter the textual world of the Bible. A Christian without Scripture is like a tree without water, and a church without Scripture fails to build up the body of Christ to be a witness to the gospel both near and far (Eph 4:11-16; 1 Tim 4:11-16). The intricacies of the Bible and the Bible's rich history of interpretation are more than enough to keep believers occupied for a lifetime, and there is no better way to live a life of faith than to be busy with the details of God's word…”
I can think of no better way to end this incredible book.
Dr. Shepherd shows the importance of understanding the final form of the text and the compositional strategies of the biblical authors/composers to understand the meaning of the text. This is done through discerning the macro and micro-levels of the texts themselves, not the history of the events behind the text. Dr. Shepherd doesn’t just tell the reader about the structure and meaning, but shows the reader from the biblical texts themselves. Dr. Shepherd explains the canonical seams of the trifold structure of the TaNaK, the poems of the Pentateuch, the faith theme, the role of the law in the Pentateuch, the composition of the Prophets, the programmatic texts that guide and inform the reading of the major and minor prophets, the internal coherence of the Megilloth centered on wisdom, how the NT draws from the OT (not to “reinterpret” and “reimagine” biblical texts but to show the author-intended meaning in its original context and in light of the compositional strategies) to show that the Christ is Jesus of Nazareth rather than the other way around, and finally, how the textual world of the Bible is the real world.
This book is essentially an overview of all of the Bible-specific classes given in the BA/MDiv at Cedarville. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the many biblical references included to back up his interpretations and conclusions. It’s easy to see and follow along with Dr. Shepherd’s arguments with an open Bible.
In the second to last paragraph, Dr. Shepherd says:
“The life of the Christian and the life of the church are inextricably linked to a healthy understanding of the making and meaning of the Bible. The biblical authors invite both the individual believer (Pss 1; 19; 119) and the community of faith (Neh 8-9) to enter the textual world of the Bible. A Christian without Scripture is like a tree without water, and a church without Scripture fails to build up the body of Christ to be a witness to the gospel both near and far (Eph 4:11-16; 1 Tim 4:11-16). The intricacies of the Bible and the Bible's rich history of interpretation are more than enough to keep believers occupied for a lifetime, and there is no better way to live a life of faith than to be busy with the details of God's word…”
I can think of no better way to end this incredible book.
October 12, 2024
170 consecutive pages of juicy biblical goodness.
April 5, 2024
I’ve been thankful for the privilege to learn from Dr. Shepherd via several classes in my Masters Program at Cedarville University. In many ways, this book is a highlight reel of the immense helpfulness produced by the depth of his faithful study and exegesis. Shepherd’s most helpful teachings (as I’ve heard them from classes) recorded in this work are highly profitable for my personal understanding of ancient texts, biblical manuscripts, text types, canon formation, the compositional study of the Hebrew Bible, and more. Although it is labeled “An Introduction….” it is clearly the product of years of in depth study of the Scriptures and would provide even further benefit after several re-reads.
After reading this work, I have felt further encouraged and inspired to continue studying deeper into the riches of Scripture, the revelation of God and His ways and work.
After reading this work, I have felt further encouraged and inspired to continue studying deeper into the riches of Scripture, the revelation of God and His ways and work.
December 10, 2024
“The life of the Christian and the life of the church are inextricably linked to a healthy understanding of the making and meaning of the Bible. The biblical authors invite both the individual believer and the community of faith to enter the textual world of the Bible.” (169)
This book is an excellent resource for understanding the structure and composition of the books of the Bible. It clearly explains the compositional strategies of the biblical authors and how knowing these strategies and tools helps the reader rightly interpret the Bible.
This book is an excellent resource for understanding the structure and composition of the books of the Bible. It clearly explains the compositional strategies of the biblical authors and how knowing these strategies and tools helps the reader rightly interpret the Bible.
April 8, 2025
Excellent. Should be on the shelf of and read by every believer, especially for chapter 3, detailing the composition of the Hebrew Bible. I will come back to this book again and again.
July 24, 2024
Excellent. Highly recommended. Full review forthcoming with the Canadian-American Theological Review.
September 19, 2024
This is a really helpful resource, but I think it tried to do too much in too few pages. I know it was intended for popular audiences, but it often felt like he was abruptly cutting himself short to keep the page number down. Even for popular audiences, I think an expansion to ~250 pages would serve to enhance clarity while keeping it manageable and allowing him more room to work.
This is a valuable resource. It's a distillation of many much more expensive books on all sorts of topics. This serves as an affordable gateway to all of them. I used this while taking my Bible class through the messianic message of the Pentateuch and will continue to consult it as we look at the Prophets and Writings, and when we focus on the interplay of the covenants and the canon.
This is a valuable resource. It's a distillation of many much more expensive books on all sorts of topics. This serves as an affordable gateway to all of them. I used this while taking my Bible class through the messianic message of the Pentateuch and will continue to consult it as we look at the Prophets and Writings, and when we focus on the interplay of the covenants and the canon.
Read
May 25, 2024Really nice advanced introduction to the making and meaning of the Bible. Shepherd is especially helpful in identifying the macrostructures of the biblical text and demonstrating the New Testament’s close reliance on the Hebrew Bible. I’ve had the privilege to be in class with Dr. Shepherd and hear much of the content of this book taught in person and still the final chapter on the textual world of the Bible was gripping. Our job is not primarily to contextualize Scripture to our lives but to contextualize our lives to the world as Scripture portrays it, that is, the real world. I am still wrestling with what this looks like practically but find Shepherd’s argument compelling.
June 17, 2024
It’s the best-selling book of all time. Go to virtually any bookstore and they’re bound to have a copy somewhere. Millions are printed every year in various bindings, in various translations, with various study guides embedded. But how did we actually get the Bible?
An Introduction to the Making and the Meaning of the Bible offers readers a comprehensive and thorough examination of that question, focusing in particular on how the making has affected the meaning. The book is written by Dr. Michael Shepherd, professor of biblical studies at Cedarville University, and is structured like a seminary course in a book. Don’t let the term “introduction” fool you. This is an academic book. It is introductory in the sense that it is a beginning overview of an academic study of the Bible’s translation, transmission, and textual criticism, not that it is for beginners. The back cover copy says clearly that the intended audience is for “undergraduates and seminarians” and that this is to be a “reliable and thorough new textbook.”
The first chapter of the book covers the making of the Bible. Shepherd covers the different types of literary genre that comprise Scripture and gives an overview of each. He talks about how each of these genres help us interpret the meaning of the text and provide literary clues for exegesis. This focus on the meaning is paramount throughout the book. Shepherd’s thesis is that Scripture is self-interpreting, that is to say, they were written with a meaning and message in mind and so the composition of the work bears that out.
The second chapter deals with text, transmission, and translation. Shepherd discusses early translations of the Hebrew Bible, in particular noting the influence of the Septuagint Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible to the New Testament writings. He details the different translational traditions and shows how all of these variant traditions have been combined into a critical text. He then does the same for the New Testament before moving on to a discussion of English translations of the Bible.
The text two chapters are the meat of An Introduction to the Making and the Meaning of the Bible, showing how the composition (the making) of Scripture affects its exegesis (the meaning). Shepherd shows that the way in which the Bible was written holds the key to its interpretation. There’s so much to dive into here that each chapter could be a volume in its own right, but this is an introduction and Shepherd offers just a cursory skip over the material, offering enough insight to point the reader in the right direction to more in-depth research.
I’ve read any number of books that interpret Scripture. I’ve read any number of books that give an overview of how we got the Bible. I don’t know that I’ve read anything that ever combined the two to show how making affects the meaning. Just by introducing that concept, An Introduction to the Making and the Meaning of the Bible is an important addition to the literature. The stories that are told, the way they are told, and how they are told all have meaning that then informs our interpretation and our practical application. The nuts and bolts of how the Bible came to be can often be thought of as a dry, academic exercise but Shepherd shows that the making matters—and when we understand how we got the Bible we put ourselves in a better position to be able to live out its precepts.
An Introduction to the Making and the Meaning of the Bible offers readers a comprehensive and thorough examination of that question, focusing in particular on how the making has affected the meaning. The book is written by Dr. Michael Shepherd, professor of biblical studies at Cedarville University, and is structured like a seminary course in a book. Don’t let the term “introduction” fool you. This is an academic book. It is introductory in the sense that it is a beginning overview of an academic study of the Bible’s translation, transmission, and textual criticism, not that it is for beginners. The back cover copy says clearly that the intended audience is for “undergraduates and seminarians” and that this is to be a “reliable and thorough new textbook.”
The first chapter of the book covers the making of the Bible. Shepherd covers the different types of literary genre that comprise Scripture and gives an overview of each. He talks about how each of these genres help us interpret the meaning of the text and provide literary clues for exegesis. This focus on the meaning is paramount throughout the book. Shepherd’s thesis is that Scripture is self-interpreting, that is to say, they were written with a meaning and message in mind and so the composition of the work bears that out.
The second chapter deals with text, transmission, and translation. Shepherd discusses early translations of the Hebrew Bible, in particular noting the influence of the Septuagint Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible to the New Testament writings. He details the different translational traditions and shows how all of these variant traditions have been combined into a critical text. He then does the same for the New Testament before moving on to a discussion of English translations of the Bible.
The text two chapters are the meat of An Introduction to the Making and the Meaning of the Bible, showing how the composition (the making) of Scripture affects its exegesis (the meaning). Shepherd shows that the way in which the Bible was written holds the key to its interpretation. There’s so much to dive into here that each chapter could be a volume in its own right, but this is an introduction and Shepherd offers just a cursory skip over the material, offering enough insight to point the reader in the right direction to more in-depth research.
I’ve read any number of books that interpret Scripture. I’ve read any number of books that give an overview of how we got the Bible. I don’t know that I’ve read anything that ever combined the two to show how making affects the meaning. Just by introducing that concept, An Introduction to the Making and the Meaning of the Bible is an important addition to the literature. The stories that are told, the way they are told, and how they are told all have meaning that then informs our interpretation and our practical application. The nuts and bolts of how the Bible came to be can often be thought of as a dry, academic exercise but Shepherd shows that the making matters—and when we understand how we got the Bible we put ourselves in a better position to be able to live out its precepts.
June 7, 2025
It’s worth going through this book with your Bible open next to you. The value of Shepherd’s work is its ability to use the features of the Bible itself (genre, literary forms and structures, textual transmission) to guide our reading, re-reading, and interpretation of the Bible. It incorporates all the best features of commentaries and biblical theologies and presents them in a short but dense work.
November 5, 2025
Exceptional book, Shepherd succinctly explores major literary features of each unit of Scripture (ToRaH, Former and Latter Prophets etc.) It is highly informative and is worth a second and more careful read through in the future.
October 15, 2024
Super great, especially the last chapter.
November 7, 2024
This is excellent!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews