How To Understand Your Bible: A Philosopher's Interpretation of Obscure and Puzzling Passages

by Manly P. Hall

In spite of human prejudice to the contrary, there is but one religion and one truth, and all the great faiths of the world are parts or fragments of the Ancient Wisdom. The Scriptures of the world are the written records devised both to preserve and at the same time to conceal the mystery of Eternal Law. It naturally follows that there is certain interdependence between religious writings. To understand any one sacred book completely it is necessary to also understand all other sacred books. The Christian Bible is the greatest book in English literature. But like most other great books, it must be approached with understanding, gentleness, and a sincere desire to find truth. The Bible as we know it today is a fragment of that truth. How to Understand Your Bible goes a long way to explaining myth and history, spiritual and religious, fact and fiction, and is a must for truth seekers everywhere. "The whole motion of the Universe is toward Truth. Truth is growing up in everything, manifesting through all forms and natures. Truth, therefore, may be called the hidden good, the secret God who dwells in the temples that are built for it according to the law." ~ Manly P. Hall

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy, Occult

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2004

About the author

Canadian born, Manly Palmer Hall is the author of over 150 published works, the best known of which are Initiates of the Flame, The Story of Healing, The Divine Art,Aliens Magick and Sorcery The Secret Teachings of All Ages, and An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy.
He was also the author of a masonic curiosity, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923, more than thirty years before he joined a lodge. The preface of later editions states "At the time I wrote this slender volume, I had just passed my twenty-first birthday, and my only contact with Freemasonry was through a few books commonly available to the public." Later, in 1944, he wrote The Secret Destiny of America which popularized the myth of a masonic purpose for the founding of the USA. In 1950 he weighed in again on the meaning of Freemasonry with his booklet: Masonic Orders of Fraternity.
***
Initiated: June 28, 1954
Passed: September 20, 1954
Raised November 22, 1954
Jewel Lodge No. 374
Source: Grand Lodge of California records ; William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, vol. ii. Trenton, MO. : Missouri Lodge of Research / Educational Bureau, Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 1958. p. 165.

Reviews

[Andreas · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a few things in this book that make me question the scholarship though that does not take away from the great thoughts it contained. At one point he said that iron nails weren't invented at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, which is of course wrong. But like with all books you have to pick the essential ideas, the essential authors mentioned and continue your journey. I liked the part of the Old Testament better than the one of the New Testament with his account on the Book of Job being the best for me. I agree with the author that many of the books of the Old Testament are almost incomprehensible for readers of the present day. This won't be the last book I will read from Manly P. Hall, as he was a well studied erudite in my opinion, and there is always something that can be learned from him.

[patrick q okane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

A bird's eye view of the Old and New Testaments are rendered to us here thanks to Manly P. Hall.

[Michael Barros · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a great example of “a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.” You can’t just go, “here’s some issues with this historical fact,” and “this is obviously nonsense and nobody has any evidence for it,” then slide in, “so, it’s mystical and the best mystical interpretations are from Kabbalah and Hinduism.”

It’s a sneaky sleight of hand, especially considering the historical resources available at the time he wrote this. Yes, scholarship hadn’t advanced to where it is today, but don’t come at me all hard about stuff that’s just flat wrong. “NAILS HADNT BEEN INVENTED YET YOU DUMB BIG MORONS LOL JESUS AND NAILS ARE YOU JOSHING ME?!” Nails had been invented for 3.5 millennia by that point, at the least.

“YOU BIG CHEDDARHEADED MORONS YOU SERIOUSLY HAVE NO EVIDENCE AT ALL FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS OUTSIDE THE GOSPELS.” Yes we do. The Josephus entry is considered by most scholars to have been modified, but partially authentic. Tacitus counts too. There’s some Talmudic speculation, but nobody seriously thinks R. Jehoshua Ben Piratha is the Jesus of the New Testament.

This book is a fun hodgepodge of nostalgic references though. I found myself saying, “you know, I need to go read up on the Chaldeans, I forgot about them,” or, “that sound stupid, is that really representative of Tertullian’s broad view? Oh it’s not, great!”

Tl;dr:

Everyone who read this book is now dumber for having read it. I award you one star, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[Calvin Testamark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight

The esoteric scholarship is impressive and concise. It brings together most of the ancient scholarship from their respective schools, and show how in essence we are truly all one.

[Ed Meek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me to changed my life for the better, and it also helped to grow my faith, drastically broadened my worldview. In a way helped to teach me how to see through the “fashion” of things, and discover the true spirit hidden beneath!

[shelton williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book is truly eye opening. I just finished it and now I’m reading the other suggested reads from this book. Outstanding

[Nick Westbrooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind........blown