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On the Face of the Deep: The Sea in Scripture
The Old Testament tells a story primarily written to, by, and about people of the land―the promised land and its neighboring territories. Those at home on the sea were almost always portrayed as enemies by those authors. But with the New Testament comes a startling shift of The disciples take their message to the ends of the earth via the Mediterranean Sea.
In On the Face of the Deep, Linford Stutzman highlights the importance of sea stories in Scripture. A biblical scholar as well as an expert sailor, Stutzman rereads these passages with insights from history, marine archaeology, ancient texts, and the cultural and physical environment of the Mediterranean itself. His study reveals geographical and cultural details that enhance our appreciation of the drama and significance of the Bible's sea stories.
In On the Face of the Deep, Linford Stutzman highlights the importance of sea stories in Scripture. A biblical scholar as well as an expert sailor, Stutzman rereads these passages with insights from history, marine archaeology, ancient texts, and the cultural and physical environment of the Mediterranean itself. His study reveals geographical and cultural details that enhance our appreciation of the drama and significance of the Bible's sea stories.
184 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2026
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July 28, 2026
Sailor/Scholar trawls the depths for scriptural insights.
As an experienced sailor and biblical scholar, Linford Stutzman has a unique perspective on scripture and the sea. During a sabbatical from his professorship at Eastern Mennonite University, he decided to buy a sailboat and use it to visit every city on the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys. It was a daring proposal and a dangerous adventure which he and his wife/shipmate, Janet completed. It is believed they were the first to trace Paul’s travels by boat. His travelogue Sailing Acts emerged from that voyage. Now, after another 20 years plying the waters of the Mediterranean, he draws on his decades of experience to shed new insights on the ancient scripture we know and love. As he himself states, “Insight into the story of the Gospels, Acts, Paul’s Epistles, and the early Christian communities around the Mediterranean rim is enriched by an awareness of the culture of the sea…” Linford is a Pauline scholar and notes, “Paul is a sea-oriented, well-educated, observant Jewish follower of Jesus. There is hardly anyone else with that combination of credentials in the first-century Mediterranean world.” The same can be said of Linford. There is scarcely anyone else in the 21st-century with his extensive combination of biblical knowledge and experience sailing the Mediterranean. Drawing upon his scholarly religious education and wealth of nautical experience, he provides valuable insights into scripture broadly, and the first century church specifically. As a fellow sailor, I particularly enjoyed his personal reflections in the form of sea stories detailed in his “Reflections from the Sea” which annotate every chapter. If you are a student of scripture this book will enhance your understanding of Jesus and his Way.
As an experienced sailor and biblical scholar, Linford Stutzman has a unique perspective on scripture and the sea. During a sabbatical from his professorship at Eastern Mennonite University, he decided to buy a sailboat and use it to visit every city on the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys. It was a daring proposal and a dangerous adventure which he and his wife/shipmate, Janet completed. It is believed they were the first to trace Paul’s travels by boat. His travelogue Sailing Acts emerged from that voyage. Now, after another 20 years plying the waters of the Mediterranean, he draws on his decades of experience to shed new insights on the ancient scripture we know and love. As he himself states, “Insight into the story of the Gospels, Acts, Paul’s Epistles, and the early Christian communities around the Mediterranean rim is enriched by an awareness of the culture of the sea…” Linford is a Pauline scholar and notes, “Paul is a sea-oriented, well-educated, observant Jewish follower of Jesus. There is hardly anyone else with that combination of credentials in the first-century Mediterranean world.” The same can be said of Linford. There is scarcely anyone else in the 21st-century with his extensive combination of biblical knowledge and experience sailing the Mediterranean. Drawing upon his scholarly religious education and wealth of nautical experience, he provides valuable insights into scripture broadly, and the first century church specifically. As a fellow sailor, I particularly enjoyed his personal reflections in the form of sea stories detailed in his “Reflections from the Sea” which annotate every chapter. If you are a student of scripture this book will enhance your understanding of Jesus and his Way.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review