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26th out of 53 books
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39 voters
Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading
Eugene Peterson is convinced that the "way" we read the Bible is as important as "that" we read the Bible. Do we read it for information about God and salvation, for principles and "truths" that we can use to live better? Or do we read it in order to listen to God and respond in prayer and obedience? "Eat This Book" challenges us to read the Scriptures on their own terms,...more
Hardcover, 186 pages
Published
January 1st 2006
by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
(first published 2000)
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In Eat This Book, Peterson continues the work he began in his masterful Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places to construct a "spiritual theology." And in this book, he takes up "spiritual reading." Peterson guides into an intentional encounter with the Bible by focusing not just on the fact that we read the Bible, but in focusing on how.
Peterson's focus can be summed up by the guiding metaphor that gives the book its title: eat this book. The metaphor comes from the book of Revelation, where an an...more
Peterson's focus can be summed up by the guiding metaphor that gives the book its title: eat this book. The metaphor comes from the book of Revelation, where an an...more
Quick, useful, and, in places, awfully deep. The discussion of the Oxyrhynchus and Ugarit discoveries, and their profound influence on Biblical translation, will really stick with me.
The basic idea is that for a long time, Bible scholars and translators assumed that the Bible was somehow rigidly otherworldly in its style and content. The Oxyrhynchus discovery in Egypt (late nineteenth century) of everyday writing from ancient Greece (bills, notes, shopping lists, etc.) revealed that the New Tes...more
The basic idea is that for a long time, Bible scholars and translators assumed that the Bible was somehow rigidly otherworldly in its style and content. The Oxyrhynchus discovery in Egypt (late nineteenth century) of everyday writing from ancient Greece (bills, notes, shopping lists, etc.) revealed that the New Tes...more
What if you read the Bible and actually understood it? Or, what if you read the Bible and consumed it to the point that you actually digested and incorporated the gist of what you read?
Peterson's book teaches the simple method of reading the Bible as a means of communing with God. Spiritual Reading has nothing to do with talking to dead people. It is a way to bring a dead faith to life.
Eat This Book challenges us to read the Scriptures on their own terms, as God’s revelation, and to live them as...more
Peterson's book teaches the simple method of reading the Bible as a means of communing with God. Spiritual Reading has nothing to do with talking to dead people. It is a way to bring a dead faith to life.
Eat This Book challenges us to read the Scriptures on their own terms, as God’s revelation, and to live them as...more
I was not the only person in the study group with whom I read this who felt angry, hurt, annoyed, baffled, and/or put off--all intermittently and variably, some more than others--as we read and discussed the first seven chapters of this book. Very often I felt like Peterson was telling me I could never get it right, and very often his assertions seemed facile and ignorant of the kind of spiritual/emotional abuse I and many other people have been subjected to. Are we simply out of luck if Bible v...more
Honestly, I was disappointed after reading this book. There were definitely some great points made by Peterson, and parts of the book had a very solid flow, easy to follow and understand. Peterson does write in a very conversational way (hence the title is very appropriate) but as a result at times it comes across as very flighty and off-focus - or off message. In my opinion this placed a haze around the overall central message of what I felt Peterson was trying to capitalize on.
The main messag...more
The main messag...more
I read this right after reading "The Year of Living Biblically." It was a fascinating contrast of approaches to the Bible. Both aim to "live the Bible" but A.J. Jacobs attempts to interpret and follow the Bible literally while Eugene Peterson stresses that the Bible is "chock full of metaphor" and "the metaphor treated literally is simply absurd".
I found the first sections of "Eat This Book" difficult to get through. I'm not sure if it was the writing or just my being tired but I had to push my...more
I found the first sections of "Eat This Book" difficult to get through. I'm not sure if it was the writing or just my being tired but I had to push my...more
The introduction to this book was almost an exercise in exactly what the book is about. Reading the introduction was a spiritual practice, almost. The way it is written gets into you, into your flesh in blood, as Peterson says we should always read. As one moves through the book, however, it becomes slightly more burdened with informative discussion about the Bible, which is necessary, but less enjoyable. If you have to get information about the Bible from someone, though, Peterson's one of the...more
Even if you read the bible daily, are you truly "living" it? Peterson shares with us how to read the bible-- by LECTIO DIVINA (sacred reading) which is divided into 4 ways:
(1) LECTIO -- read, listen to what God is saying.
(2) MEDITATO -- listen to what God is personally saying to you.
(3) ORATIO -- reply to God personally through prayer.
(4) CONTEMPLATIO -- live the bible everyday
and at the end of the book, which I really found so interesting, Peterson talks about translations and the history of...more
(1) LECTIO -- read, listen to what God is saying.
(2) MEDITATO -- listen to what God is personally saying to you.
(3) ORATIO -- reply to God personally through prayer.
(4) CONTEMPLATIO -- live the bible everyday
and at the end of the book, which I really found so interesting, Peterson talks about translations and the history of...more
Eugene Peterson is always profound, and this book does not disappoint. Reading it carefully, not speeding through its pages to cross it off a library list, will yield a new perspective on the Scriptures, one that will simultaneously complicate and simplify. Our own responses to the Scriptures will be simplified (ask not, what can I know here, but what can I obey?") and yet complicated as well. Just as it should be. We have too long Sunday-School-ized this book, reducing it's fresh, disturbing tr...more
I have a hard time following Eugene Peterson's writing sometimes. I often have to read and re-read his sentences to understand what he's trying to say. I've discussed this with others and they don't seem to have the same problem, so I think it's just something about the way my brain works.
Anyway, I was a little disappointed by this book. I was hoping for practical wisdom about how to actually approach reading the Bible with the same mindset as eating food, but I felt like Peterson focused a lot...more
Anyway, I was a little disappointed by this book. I was hoping for practical wisdom about how to actually approach reading the Bible with the same mindset as eating food, but I felt like Peterson focused a lot...more
I always learn something from reading Peterson. I love his thoughts on reading to live differently "all true knowledge of God is born out of obedience." I love his thoughts on Exegesis and the archeological discoveries that led us to more fully understand koine greek as the language of the people. This naturally is a huge event for Peterson, as it is one of his primary goals in the Message.
Not as profound for me as Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, but well said, well thought out, and much t...more
Not as profound for me as Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, but well said, well thought out, and much t...more
This book really increased my understanding of The Message and put to rest the echoes of dissension that were in the back of my mind from people who would rather be right than listen to what might be right. Eugene Peterson is a man who has given his life to the work of The Lord and with this work he can rest his case for the translation of The Message!
I plan to finish reading The Message this year after reading the Bible in a few other translations, and I'm also reading 6 other books by this aut...more
I plan to finish reading The Message this year after reading the Bible in a few other translations, and I'm also reading 6 other books by this aut...more
In the first half of this book Peterson discusses the practice of Lectio Divina as a model for engaging actively with the biblical text. I had heard of this approach but had not read much about it prior to reading this book. I appreciate Peterson's description, but would have liked more examples or detail to help me practically apply it. Peterson's description created a strong interest in me to "eat the text" but nevertheless left me still somewhat uncertain as to how to really do that. This may...more
Very cool book about how to read scripture like it means something: like it is real spiritual food. The title comes from the strong angel's (can we just agree that "strong angel" is an awesome and crazy phrase) directions to John during the Revelation, and Peterson puts some umph on it. It's iteresting, in that his insistance on the essentially linguistic nature of the universe and on Jesus' explicit parallel with linguistics makes reading the bible almost the same as taking the eucharist. Anywa...more
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I have been savoring Eugene Peterson’s passionate and thoughtful book “Eat this Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading.” In the chapter on prayer and praying in and through the word and the world of scripture, he says of the reality of living in the world:
“It is not easy. It was not easy for Jesus those nights on the mountain, that night in Gethsemane, those hours on the cross. Nobody ever said it would be easy. God didn’t say it would be easy. But it’s the way things are–this is t...more
“It is not easy. It was not easy for Jesus those nights on the mountain, that night in Gethsemane, those hours on the cross. Nobody ever said it would be easy. God didn’t say it would be easy. But it’s the way things are–this is t...more
Eat This Book: The conversation in Spiritual Reading (Lectio Divina)
Eugene Peterson has once again reminded his audience why they love reading him: because he holds a mirror up and asks the question: Why are you so impressed with yourself? Instead, he shows them how incapable they are at doing anything good on their own. Instead, he reminds his audience how big, gracious loving and merciful God is and to be joyful about the work that the Father, Son and Spirit are doing among the community of be...more
Eugene Peterson has once again reminded his audience why they love reading him: because he holds a mirror up and asks the question: Why are you so impressed with yourself? Instead, he shows them how incapable they are at doing anything good on their own. Instead, he reminds his audience how big, gracious loving and merciful God is and to be joyful about the work that the Father, Son and Spirit are doing among the community of be...more
Eugene Peterson, author of The Message (Bible translation), goes to great lengths to describe the way a believing person can and should approach and use the Bible. Peterson tells about the way his pet dog occasionally finds a deer carcass in the wilds of the Northwest U.S. where his family vacations and returns to the cabin proudly managing a large and savory bone. His dogs initially places it on display and later carries it to a more solitary place for gnawing, caressing and enjoying. Evenutall...more
Kind of a cheeky title for a rather scholarly book. While Peterson is usually not hard to read, he has taken a rather intellectual/professorial approach here. This small (186 pgs) book nevertheless has a strong message that Christians need to work harder to actually read the Bible with understanding. He admonishes Christians for quoting verses without understanding how they were meant to be used in larger contexts saying they do a lot of damage that way. He advocates using concordances and conte...more
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. Okay, at times I had to slog through the first bit, but the second and third sections spoke to me. Directly to me. I actually purchased this book as a gift for a friend, but after being hooked by the preface, I had to read it. It was so worth it, answered questions, made me hungry for more. Really, I'm almost sad I'm giving it away, but it's the sort of book that's meant to be shared, that sets your mind on fire, that gives your cow a big pasture.
This book was amazing. With plenty of ideas about how to implement Lectio Divina (spiritual reading) in the reading of the Bible, and even some history on the translations of the Bible, this book kept me interested and inspired all the way through. For the first time, I really have a better understanding, too, of how Peterson's translation of the Bible, The Message, came about. This book, along with Life With God, by Richard J. Foster, have completely changed my world when it comes to reading th...more
Eugene Peterson grabs you by the collar, looks you in the eye and dares you to think outside the box! I love his fresh and integrating style of writing. Eat This Book takes you into a journey of "partaking" and savoring the word of God through an approach called "Lectio Divina" a process that incorporates, meditation, contemplation, and oration. For anyone who thinks reading the Bible is boring can start right here with Eugene Peterson.
This is a very good book. The first section deals with how we should be reading scripture. The second section deals with how scripture should be translated culturally (not just the words, but also in how we speak of scripture to others). He uses his work on the Message Bible as an illustration of how he really thinks about this. I highly recommend this book. This one was the most readable of the three books in this series that I have read so far.
I'm really glad I threw out everything else I was reading and focused on this- between this book and one of Andy Stanley's recent talks, my view of reading and teaching scripture had dramatically changed in really good ways. It's definitely one that requires concentration, but it's worth it. And it's beautifully written; as in, I reread sentences and paragraphs multiple times just because they were pretty : )
I read this book three times, not because I liked it so much. Rather, for the most part, it was so hard to understand! Unlike "The Message," it was written for "scholars, historians, philosophers, and theologians." (pg 146) It has however challenged my thinking; I'm not sure when or if I will recover. I'm quite sure I will not be reading Eugene Peterson again.
I read this book three times because our small group was discussing it. I'm one of the leaders. A good dictionary and The Study Guide with...more
I read this book three times because our small group was discussing it. I'm one of the leaders. A good dictionary and The Study Guide with...more
This book was simply fantastic. Peterson's argument that we are to read the scriptures not for information but for transformation is moving; we read for formation, not tidbits of information so we can know more to convert people and argue well with them. We are part of God's story, and what we read, listen to, think about, and turn into prayer should eventually be integrated into our normal everyday lives.
His background in biblical languages gives him much to say in the field of biblical transla...more
His background in biblical languages gives him much to say in the field of biblical transla...more
This book was really great. I love the poetic feel to Peterson's writing, as well as the genius found within the message he is trying to speak to us. This book gave me a fresh insight on reading and actually living my Bible and taught me not to read as a spectator anymore. I also learned a lot about translations of the Bible. It was a good book that I recommend to anyone.
I am hesitant when it comes to Lectio Divina. I think LD encourages taking scripture out of context. Peterson urges us that we must read scripture for formation, not information. I get the most formation when I read for information. I also think it is a dangerous mystic practice that puts people in a evil spiritual realm of meditation. Not a fan of this book.
Such a great look at the importance of Scripture, how we should be reading it, and some other things that we should try to understand about it. I really appreciated Peterson's perspective on this stuff and found myself seriously challenged and encouraged every chapter. This book has helped me as I read Scripture experience the God who wrote it.
This is a great book to read if you're into Eugene Peterson's work. While considered by many (including myself) to be rather liberal in his theology, the academia in this book is nothing to scoff at. Peterson writes candidly and with a zeal for Scripture that any theologian can appreciate.
As I have written before. I cannot read anything by Peterson with experiencing delight, hope and joy. He explains why reading the Bible seriously and taking it into ourselves for examination and contemplation is and can be a joy.
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Eugene H. Peterson is a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. For many years he was James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He has written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language a contemporary translation of t...more
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