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12 New Testament Passages That Changed the World
"The diverse scriptures in the New Testament come together to offer us a fuller picture of the person of Christ, while also showing us how belief in him should influence the way we practice our faith.
In 12 New Testament Passages That Changed the World, Joseph Bentz explores some of the most life-changing New Testament scriptures and demonstrates their ability to touch all types of people, even those who don’t believe in Jesus.
These twelve passages and others have reached all corners of the world influencing art, literature, music, film, law, culture, the church, and individual lives. The Spirit’s lifegiving breath continues to infuse these scriptures with holy power even today."
In 12 New Testament Passages That Changed the World, Joseph Bentz explores some of the most life-changing New Testament scriptures and demonstrates their ability to touch all types of people, even those who don’t believe in Jesus.
These twelve passages and others have reached all corners of the world influencing art, literature, music, film, law, culture, the church, and individual lives. The Spirit’s lifegiving breath continues to infuse these scriptures with holy power even today."
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2019
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Bentz
12 books38 followersJoseph Bentz's books span a variety of genres, including a fantasy novel, three contemporary novels, four non-fiction books on Christian living, and one book/DVD package. Bentz is a frequent speaker at writers conferences, churches, and other venues. He is a professor of English at Azusa Pacific University. He earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in American literature from Purdue University and a B.A. in English from Olivet Nazarene University. He lives with his wife and two children in Southern California. More information on his writing and speaking is available at his website, www.josephbentz.com. His blog, Life of the Mind and Soul, also appears at that site.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 15, 2020
A very well-written book that speaks to the layperson as well as those very familiar with their Bible.
October 12, 2019
As I read the introduction to Joseph Bentz's new book, I was struck with the fact that for the first 1400 to 1500 years of the church, few Christians actually had Bibles in their own language or, for that matter, could read. Yet the Christian faith spread throughout the reaches of the old Roman Empire and beyond.
With this idea suggested by the introduction, I began to marvel at the wealth of the scriptures that Bentz provides a guide to. Moving through 12 of the most famous New Testament passages, passages known to people of all cultures, known to atheists as well as Christian believers, he documents just how far and wide these passages have influenced culture. From "fictional" characters like the prodigal son and the good Samaritan (interesting that Jesus' fictions have lasted two thousand years), to The Lord's Prayer and passages about judgment, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, Bentz makes a strong case for the world shaping and life changing qualities of these scriptures. He recounts the cultural influences of the passages, including in his reckoning countless movies, songs, books, and organizations that speak to these influences. Each chapter begins with a famous painting depicting the scene in question.
As he explains the relevance and import of each passage, a clear message of love, grace, and salvation emerges. A final chapter balances a concern he has expressed throughout the book, between noting the many martyrs, like Wycliff, Tyndale, and countless missionaries, who worked to get Bibles into the hands of people, and our own growing apathy about reading it. We are "drowning" in Bibles, he notes. We have apps for it; we have countless translations. But is this helping?
Comparing the contemporary situation to one of his literature classes, Bentz writes, "(t)he only force that can keep students away from this wealth of literature...is their own decision not to engage with it. A literary feast is laid before them, but some may simply choose to ignore it.
"The same is true," he writes, "of the Bible."
I once remember T.S. Eliot making a similar comment as he spoke of the literary influence of the King James Bible--its beauty of expression and its influence on countless writers. But Eliot also voiced the concern that to speak of its literary influences might come at a time when its real spiritual influence was in decline. A similar note seems to be sounded here. For Bentz, our current apathy and lack of interest are of concern.
Certainly, the author is interested in more than the literary values in the Bible, and he makes a wonderful case for the spiritual gains to be made from deep and sustained reading of it.
With this idea suggested by the introduction, I began to marvel at the wealth of the scriptures that Bentz provides a guide to. Moving through 12 of the most famous New Testament passages, passages known to people of all cultures, known to atheists as well as Christian believers, he documents just how far and wide these passages have influenced culture. From "fictional" characters like the prodigal son and the good Samaritan (interesting that Jesus' fictions have lasted two thousand years), to The Lord's Prayer and passages about judgment, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, Bentz makes a strong case for the world shaping and life changing qualities of these scriptures. He recounts the cultural influences of the passages, including in his reckoning countless movies, songs, books, and organizations that speak to these influences. Each chapter begins with a famous painting depicting the scene in question.
As he explains the relevance and import of each passage, a clear message of love, grace, and salvation emerges. A final chapter balances a concern he has expressed throughout the book, between noting the many martyrs, like Wycliff, Tyndale, and countless missionaries, who worked to get Bibles into the hands of people, and our own growing apathy about reading it. We are "drowning" in Bibles, he notes. We have apps for it; we have countless translations. But is this helping?
Comparing the contemporary situation to one of his literature classes, Bentz writes, "(t)he only force that can keep students away from this wealth of literature...is their own decision not to engage with it. A literary feast is laid before them, but some may simply choose to ignore it.
"The same is true," he writes, "of the Bible."
I once remember T.S. Eliot making a similar comment as he spoke of the literary influence of the King James Bible--its beauty of expression and its influence on countless writers. But Eliot also voiced the concern that to speak of its literary influences might come at a time when its real spiritual influence was in decline. A similar note seems to be sounded here. For Bentz, our current apathy and lack of interest are of concern.
Certainly, the author is interested in more than the literary values in the Bible, and he makes a wonderful case for the spiritual gains to be made from deep and sustained reading of it.
October 3, 2019
Dr. Bentz begins his book with the question, “Does the Bible Still Matter?” and then proceeds to examine twelve familiar and memorable New Testament passages for their message, culture, and context (e.g., “The Prodigal Son,” “The Good Samaritan,” “The Lord’s Prayer,” and “Jesus’s Most Important Days”). He presents his research from multiple vantage points using accessible language and parallel examples to classic and popular culture (books, movies, art, sports, contemporary and historical figures, current events, and the implications of modern society). Each chapter concludes with a Digging Deeper section and its insightful questions (and includes a website link for a free downloadable study guide) that nudges readers from complacency to making meaningful connections for themselves, and bibliographic notes. The overall effect of reading this book is a breath of fresh air for the soul as readers affirm that the Bible is still relevant and does, indeed, still matter. (I received a free copy of this book and chose to leave a review.)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews