The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture: How the Bible Became a Secular Book

by Scott Hahn, Benjamin Wiker

What is wrong with Scripture scholarship today? Why is it that the last place one should go to study the Bible is a biblical studies program at virtually any university? Why are so many faithful priests and pastors, and the people in their pews, unaware of the centuries-long effort to turn the sacred Word of God into just another secular text?

In The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture: How the Bible Became a Secular Book, authors Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker trace the various malformations of Scripture scholarship that have led to a devastating loss of trust in the inspired Word of God.

From the Reformation to the Enlightenment and beyond, Hahn and Wiker sketch the revolutions and radical figures that led to the emergence of the historical-critical method and the pervasive ill effects that are still being felt today.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Catholic, Theology

296 pages, Hardcover

Published May 12, 2021

About the author

Scott Hahn is a renowned Catholic theologian, apologist, speaker, and bestselling author whose work has had a profound impact on contemporary biblical theology and Catholic thought. A former Presbyterian minister, Hahn converted to Catholicism in 1986 after an intense personal and theological journey, which he details in his popular book Rome Sweet Home, co-written with his wife, Kimberly Hahn. Their story of conversion has inspired countless readers around the world and remains a landmark in modern Catholic apologetics.
Hahn holds the Father Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990. He is also the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biblical literacy among the laity and biblical fluency among clergy. Through the Center, Hahn leads a wide range of initiatives, including publications, pilgrimages, Bible studies, and the scholarly journal Letter and Spirit.
Educated at Grove City College (B.A.), Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Marquette University (Ph.D. in Systematic Theology), Hahn brings a deep academic foundation to his work. His dissertation, Kinship by Covenant, was later published by Yale University Press and received praise for its theological insight and scholarly rigor.
Throughout his career, Hahn has emphasized the covenant as the key to understanding salvation history, showing how the biblical narrative reveals a divine plan that unites all of humanity into God's family. His works explore themes such as the Eucharist, the role of Mary, the sacraments, and the authority of the Church, often drawing on the writings of the early Church Fathers to bridge the ancient faith with modern understanding.
He is the author or editor of over forty books, including The Lamb’s Supper, Hail, Holy Queen, First Comes Love, Letter and Spirit, Swear to God, Reasons to Believe, The Creed, The Fourth Cup, and Holy Is His Name. Many of his books have become staples in Catholic households, study groups, and seminaries.
In addition to his writing, Hahn is a highly sought-after speaker, having delivered thousands of lectures across the United States and abroad. He appears regularly on EWTN and has collaborated with Lighthouse Catholic Media to bring his teachings to an even broader audience.
Scott Hahn lives in Ohio with his wife Kimberly. They have six children and numerous grandchildren. Together, the Hahns continue to lead efforts in evangelization and Catholic education, embodying a lifelong commitment to deepening faith and understanding through Scripture and tradition.

Reviews

[booklady]

Learned about this in Casey Chalk's EXCELLENT article for the Catholic Thing, How We Lost the Bible.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemporary studies of the Bible are mostly done through the lens of historical criticism, where the Bible is treated as any other text and stories featuring miracles and a transcendent God are seen as little more than fairy tales. How did the Bible come to be perceived this way? The authors believe the secular attitude toward Biblical interpretation can be traced back to the 14th century when Marsilius of Padua and William of Ockham began questioning the right of the clergy of the Catholic Church to properly interpret the Bible. Influenced by a variety of ancient materialist philosophers (i.e. Lucretius, Democritus, Epicurus), Marsilius and later Machievelli argued state rulers should be the primary interpreters of biblical meaning and that they should use this power of interpretation to control the populace. From Marsilius' time to the present, various scholars have continued to see the Bible more as a social control mechanism than something sacred given by God. The later scientific revolution merely accelerated the materialist outlook of most academics and led to the critical method of studying the Bible that is seen in the academy today.

[Daniel Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and fascinating book but a summary of their larger more academic work. So every now and again (understandably) they gloss over important points, or summarise too quickly. Still well worth the read and the compelling point is made: the modern historical-critical method is not a product of the scientific age, but rather a philosophical position that is based on agnostic or atheistic political purposes.

[Michael Seselja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellently readable book from Scott Hahn. Gives an insight into the historical background of modern critical methods of looking at scripture, traces them back to well before the Reformation and convinces you not to listen to anything most modern Biblical scholars tell you.

[Mary Kate Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good and fascinating book written by two of my favorite Professors I was blessed to study under at Franciscan University: Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. Benjamin Wiker.