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Violence & the Bible for Normal People: A Guide to Biblical Texts of Terror
This brilliantly accessible and engaging book canvasses one of the heaviest themes in the Bible, examining portrayals of violence in its many forms. Unlike so many accessible Bible studies, Violence & the Bible for Normal People resists the temptation to provide "neat and tidy" theological solutions to some of the most challenging texts in the Bible, instead naming them for what they are and examining their ongoing legacies.
Weaving her love of true crime and murder mysteries with her extensive expertise, biblical scholar Caroline Blyth has written a book that is both profoundly honest and engaging—that honors the weighty legacies of these texts, but resists being weighed down by them.
If you have ever struggled with biblical portrayals of violence—human and divine—this book is for you. If you have ever seethed in church as violence was described as adultery, this book is for you. If you are seeking a trustworthy guide through the Bible’s texts of terror, this book is for you.
Join Caroline Blyth as she illuminates some of the darkest biblical narratives and gently examines the questions they raise, both for their ancient authors and their readers today.
Weaving her love of true crime and murder mysteries with her extensive expertise, biblical scholar Caroline Blyth has written a book that is both profoundly honest and engaging—that honors the weighty legacies of these texts, but resists being weighed down by them.
If you have ever struggled with biblical portrayals of violence—human and divine—this book is for you. If you have ever seethed in church as violence was described as adultery, this book is for you. If you are seeking a trustworthy guide through the Bible’s texts of terror, this book is for you.
Join Caroline Blyth as she illuminates some of the darkest biblical narratives and gently examines the questions they raise, both for their ancient authors and their readers today.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 11, 2025
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21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 16, 2025
The "For Normal People" commentaries don't follow a shared structure or present easy ways to look up a particular passage or verse for exegetical study. They do present solid, Biblical themes and exploration of those themes in a way that lay people and professional Christians alike can consider.
This volume isn't targeted at exploring a single book. Instead, it takes on the broad theme of violence as it is presented in the whole of canonical scripture. The author does so well, covering a lot of material in a simple, easy to read way.
This is a book I'll keep at hand to use as reference for sermon prep and just so I can go back and reexamine sections as I continue to process all there is in here. It wasn't a long read, but it is one that will continue to inhabit my brain for a long time.
This volume isn't targeted at exploring a single book. Instead, it takes on the broad theme of violence as it is presented in the whole of canonical scripture. The author does so well, covering a lot of material in a simple, easy to read way.
This is a book I'll keep at hand to use as reference for sermon prep and just so I can go back and reexamine sections as I continue to process all there is in here. It wasn't a long read, but it is one that will continue to inhabit my brain for a long time.
October 13, 2025
Good reference text and a lot more accessible than what the name suggests but they have to take the footnotes and put them into the main text on the kindle because I am not jumping between 40 billion hyperlinks to make up for bad formatting
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews