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The Bible Unwrapped: Making Sense of Scripture Today
Foreword by Greg Boyd
2019 Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year: Theology/Biblical Studies Category
Many people have questions about Scripture they are too afraid to ask.
Are all the stories of the Bible true? What about all the books that got left out? What do we make of all that violence? What do we do when biblical authors seem to disagree? And what if we encounter situations the Bible doesn’t address?
Drawing from the best of contemporary biblical scholarship and the ancient well of Christian tradition, scholar and preacher Meghan Larissa Good helps readers consider why the Bible matters. Known for presenting complex theological ideas in accessible, engaging ways, Good delves into issues like biblical authority, literary genre, and Christ-centered hermeneutics, and calls readers beyond either knee-jerk biblicism, on the one hand, or skeptical disregard on the other. Instead, The Bible Unwrapped invites readers to faithful reading, communal discernment, and deep and transformative wonder about Scripture.
Join an honest conversation about the Bible that is spiritually alive and intellectually credible. Read the ancient story of God in the world. You may even learn to love it.
2019 Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year: Theology/Biblical Studies Category
Many people have questions about Scripture they are too afraid to ask.
Are all the stories of the Bible true? What about all the books that got left out? What do we make of all that violence? What do we do when biblical authors seem to disagree? And what if we encounter situations the Bible doesn’t address?
Drawing from the best of contemporary biblical scholarship and the ancient well of Christian tradition, scholar and preacher Meghan Larissa Good helps readers consider why the Bible matters. Known for presenting complex theological ideas in accessible, engaging ways, Good delves into issues like biblical authority, literary genre, and Christ-centered hermeneutics, and calls readers beyond either knee-jerk biblicism, on the one hand, or skeptical disregard on the other. Instead, The Bible Unwrapped invites readers to faithful reading, communal discernment, and deep and transformative wonder about Scripture.
Join an honest conversation about the Bible that is spiritually alive and intellectually credible. Read the ancient story of God in the world. You may even learn to love it.
312 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2018
57 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 12, 2025
Meines Erachtens das beste Einführungsbuch zur Bibel für Laien. Good schreibt ästhetisch ansprechend, theologisch tief und dennoch leicht verständlich. Moderne Kämpfe zur Irrtumslosigkeit ignoriert sie, weshalb aus ganz verschiedenen Richtungen Personen etwas mit dem Buch anfangen können. Im ersten Teil geht sie auf Basics wie Übersetzungsschwierigkeiten ein, im zweiten Teil dominieren Gattungsanalysen (Narrative, poetische, apokalyptische, … Texte) und im dritten Teil stehen praktische Aspekte im Fokus (Lesen in Gemeinschaft, Rolle des Geistes Gottes, Umgang mit Andersdenkenden, …). Love ittttt
March 8, 2021
Reviewed for THC Reviews
The Bible Unwrapped was chosen as our most recent read for my church book club and we even had the honor of having the author join us for our meeting to impart her insights. Even though I wasn’t familiar with it before the announcement of it being our latest choice, the cover blurb made me eager to check it out. The enthusiastic foreword was written by Gregory A. Boyd, someone whose work I’ve previously enjoyed, and the book sounded a lot like two other similar books that I’d also enjoyed, Rob Bell’s What Is the Bible? and Rachel Held Evans’s Inspired. While it does bear some resemblance to both of those tomes, it takes a different approach and has a different flavor that’s all its own. Meghan Larissa Good definitely has a knack for breaking down more difficult biblical passages into a more understandable format and she has a witty writing style that drew me in, making this a very worthwhile read.
The book is broken down into three parts, with the first part taking readers back to the basics. It’s an introduction, or primer of sorts, to the Bible that begins by exploring exactly what the Bible is, where it came from – including the canonization process – and what kind of book it is. She also discusses reasons for reading it and the proper posture to take while reading it. There are chapters that explore the differences between the Old and New Testaments and how to select a translation that is right for you. This section is perhaps geared a little more toward those who are new to the Bible or who are maybe reintroducing themselves to it after a long absence. However, I think that there is still wisdom included here that might even be valuable to old hands at reading this holy book, so I wouldn’t recommend skipping over it, thinking that you already know it all.
Part two delves a little deeper into learning how to read and interpret the Bible. Here the author discusses things such as literary context and historical context, as well as how and why these things matter when trying to interpret various passages that maybe don’t entirely make sense in our present-day context. She also explains the differences between all the literary genres that are found in the Bible and how you can’t, for example, use the same tools and insights to interpret poetry as you would to interpret the law or the prophets. I think what I liked most about this section is how she ties everything into the character of Jesus and how we must read backwards in light of what we know about Jesus. Oftentimes when you do that, things that perhaps didn’t make sense before will, and she also points out how fortunate we are to have this knowledge of Jesus to help us along the way, when those who came before him did not.
The final section goes deeper still into how we can apply the Bible to transform our lives. She also explores the role of the Holy Spirit and how to go about discerning the right path, using both the Spirit’s leading and the guidance of scripture. She discusses the role that being part of a community (aka the church) plays in our spiritual lives and in discernment. I like the way she talks about how sometimes holding too tightly to our convictions can turn them into an idol. She also explores how to go about disagreeing well with those whose views may be different than our own and how, sometimes, we must simply learn to live with uncertainties when a clear answer doesn’t seem to present itself in spite of our best efforts to figure things out.
Overall, I think that The Bible Unwrapped is a good book that could help a lot of people. Those who are new to the Bible will learn all about what it is, how to interpret it, and how to apply it to their lives, while those who’ve long been familiar with this holy book can learn how to read the Bible in a different light than the one they may have been taught. I liked Meghan Larissa Good’s writing style. There were many things that she explained in a way that was insightful to me. After every few chapters, she pauses for “Storytime” where she takes a specific biblical passage and deconstructs it in an easy to understand way that especially impressed me. These were among my favorite parts. Particularly in these passages, but throughout the book as a whole, she employs humor to draw her readers in and make the material more accessible and to help them better comprehend what she’s teaching. I enjoyed the first two sections of the book the most, but I did struggle a bit with parts of the third section, not so much with what she was teaching, but just not feeling like I was getting as much out of it. I think it might be because the deeper she goes, the more serious her writing becomes in nature and I often found my mind wandering. However, I’m fully willing to admit that perhaps it was more my own failing than that of the book or its author. I think that even after reading this volume, I was simply still feeling rather daunted by the idea of trying to interpret the Bible and wishing it was all more straight-forward. But that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a good book. In fact, I would recommend it to those who might be looking for more insight into the Bible and what this ancient book has to tell us today.
The Bible Unwrapped was chosen as our most recent read for my church book club and we even had the honor of having the author join us for our meeting to impart her insights. Even though I wasn’t familiar with it before the announcement of it being our latest choice, the cover blurb made me eager to check it out. The enthusiastic foreword was written by Gregory A. Boyd, someone whose work I’ve previously enjoyed, and the book sounded a lot like two other similar books that I’d also enjoyed, Rob Bell’s What Is the Bible? and Rachel Held Evans’s Inspired. While it does bear some resemblance to both of those tomes, it takes a different approach and has a different flavor that’s all its own. Meghan Larissa Good definitely has a knack for breaking down more difficult biblical passages into a more understandable format and she has a witty writing style that drew me in, making this a very worthwhile read.
The book is broken down into three parts, with the first part taking readers back to the basics. It’s an introduction, or primer of sorts, to the Bible that begins by exploring exactly what the Bible is, where it came from – including the canonization process – and what kind of book it is. She also discusses reasons for reading it and the proper posture to take while reading it. There are chapters that explore the differences between the Old and New Testaments and how to select a translation that is right for you. This section is perhaps geared a little more toward those who are new to the Bible or who are maybe reintroducing themselves to it after a long absence. However, I think that there is still wisdom included here that might even be valuable to old hands at reading this holy book, so I wouldn’t recommend skipping over it, thinking that you already know it all.
Part two delves a little deeper into learning how to read and interpret the Bible. Here the author discusses things such as literary context and historical context, as well as how and why these things matter when trying to interpret various passages that maybe don’t entirely make sense in our present-day context. She also explains the differences between all the literary genres that are found in the Bible and how you can’t, for example, use the same tools and insights to interpret poetry as you would to interpret the law or the prophets. I think what I liked most about this section is how she ties everything into the character of Jesus and how we must read backwards in light of what we know about Jesus. Oftentimes when you do that, things that perhaps didn’t make sense before will, and she also points out how fortunate we are to have this knowledge of Jesus to help us along the way, when those who came before him did not.
The final section goes deeper still into how we can apply the Bible to transform our lives. She also explores the role of the Holy Spirit and how to go about discerning the right path, using both the Spirit’s leading and the guidance of scripture. She discusses the role that being part of a community (aka the church) plays in our spiritual lives and in discernment. I like the way she talks about how sometimes holding too tightly to our convictions can turn them into an idol. She also explores how to go about disagreeing well with those whose views may be different than our own and how, sometimes, we must simply learn to live with uncertainties when a clear answer doesn’t seem to present itself in spite of our best efforts to figure things out.
Overall, I think that The Bible Unwrapped is a good book that could help a lot of people. Those who are new to the Bible will learn all about what it is, how to interpret it, and how to apply it to their lives, while those who’ve long been familiar with this holy book can learn how to read the Bible in a different light than the one they may have been taught. I liked Meghan Larissa Good’s writing style. There were many things that she explained in a way that was insightful to me. After every few chapters, she pauses for “Storytime” where she takes a specific biblical passage and deconstructs it in an easy to understand way that especially impressed me. These were among my favorite parts. Particularly in these passages, but throughout the book as a whole, she employs humor to draw her readers in and make the material more accessible and to help them better comprehend what she’s teaching. I enjoyed the first two sections of the book the most, but I did struggle a bit with parts of the third section, not so much with what she was teaching, but just not feeling like I was getting as much out of it. I think it might be because the deeper she goes, the more serious her writing becomes in nature and I often found my mind wandering. However, I’m fully willing to admit that perhaps it was more my own failing than that of the book or its author. I think that even after reading this volume, I was simply still feeling rather daunted by the idea of trying to interpret the Bible and wishing it was all more straight-forward. But that doesn’t mean that this isn’t a good book. In fact, I would recommend it to those who might be looking for more insight into the Bible and what this ancient book has to tell us today.
October 22, 2023
I love the way this woman writes
July 30, 2019
Great introduction to Bible Interpretation that is an enjoyable read. There's nothing new here, but the style and personality Megan puts into it makes this accessible to those who might just balk at picking up say "The Hermeneutical Spiral" by Osborne, or other great hermeneutics texts that are great on content, but as dry as Grand Forks, BC in August.
Megan's approach is refreshing and useful. If I were to teach an Intro to Bible Interpretation (and I'm considering that in the next few years at my church), this would be a textbook.
The only element that makes it less than 5 stars, is that the target audience is definitely American. Some of the anecdotes and illustrations will be dated in a few years. But it's great to have something current in the toolbox.
Megan's approach is refreshing and useful. If I were to teach an Intro to Bible Interpretation (and I'm considering that in the next few years at my church), this would be a textbook.
The only element that makes it less than 5 stars, is that the target audience is definitely American. Some of the anecdotes and illustrations will be dated in a few years. But it's great to have something current in the toolbox.
March 24, 2022
This is the best book I have ever read on the Bible. I have been part of the Christian faith since childhood and specifically part of the conservative end of the faith which means I have been, for better and for worse, doused in Christian theology. And yet this book did for me what very little of those previous decades of Bible knowledge and theology did.
I do not have time to write a thorough review so let me just say this book is honest, friendly, approachable, easy-to-read, wide ranging, humorous, kind, extremely well thought out, brilliant, ambitious, and dedicated to the faith. I recommend this for all Christians to read. It will probably make a bit more sense for older Christians to read since it engages so many difficult parts of the Bible, and the faith, which a newbie may not yet be familiar with. And yet she, the author, teaches more than just an interpretation of this book. She teaches attitude, approach, and helps you examine the paradigms from which you approach this text. Her chapter in the end on the book of Job is heartbreakingly beautiful. I will likely read and re-read that chapter over and over again and commit some parts to memory. I will likely re-read this entire book again! I almost never re-read books.
This book repeatedly gave me epiphanies, insights I've never had. I am thankful to Miss Good for her work. She may be young but she has written something brilliant, life-giving, and good.
I do not have time to write a thorough review so let me just say this book is honest, friendly, approachable, easy-to-read, wide ranging, humorous, kind, extremely well thought out, brilliant, ambitious, and dedicated to the faith. I recommend this for all Christians to read. It will probably make a bit more sense for older Christians to read since it engages so many difficult parts of the Bible, and the faith, which a newbie may not yet be familiar with. And yet she, the author, teaches more than just an interpretation of this book. She teaches attitude, approach, and helps you examine the paradigms from which you approach this text. Her chapter in the end on the book of Job is heartbreakingly beautiful. I will likely read and re-read that chapter over and over again and commit some parts to memory. I will likely re-read this entire book again! I almost never re-read books.
This book repeatedly gave me epiphanies, insights I've never had. I am thankful to Miss Good for her work. She may be young but she has written something brilliant, life-giving, and good.
December 30, 2024
I've heard Meghan Larissa Good speak a couple times and was impressed at how competent she was at talking about the Bible and about belief. But I was still surprised at how much fun and interesting her writing is in this book.
Using bite-sized chapters she tackles difficult and challenging questions about the Bible, and informs and enlightens the reader with insights and wise observations, all of it sprinked with humor and kindness. She rightfully avoids using male pronouns for God and offers us a God's love that cares for all. She writes, " Salvation doesn't hinge on any of us getting everything right. The grace of Christ is big enough to cover us and those with whom we disagree" (page 282). I think the last book about the Bible I read that was as informative and exciting as this one was The Upside-Down Kingdom by Donald B. Kraybill, and it was published in 1978.
So if you are looking for some useful information about the Bible, this book might complete your search.
Using bite-sized chapters she tackles difficult and challenging questions about the Bible, and informs and enlightens the reader with insights and wise observations, all of it sprinked with humor and kindness. She rightfully avoids using male pronouns for God and offers us a God's love that cares for all. She writes, " Salvation doesn't hinge on any of us getting everything right. The grace of Christ is big enough to cover us and those with whom we disagree" (page 282). I think the last book about the Bible I read that was as informative and exciting as this one was The Upside-Down Kingdom by Donald B. Kraybill, and it was published in 1978.
So if you are looking for some useful information about the Bible, this book might complete your search.
August 18, 2020
This is the best book I’ve read on interpreting and reading the Bible—and I’ve read more than a few.
Meghan Larissa Good writes with a playful bit of attitude that lightens the reading but she is no lightweight when it comes to grappling with how to read and interpret the Bible. She offers lots of access points for those who haven’t tried to read the Bible before, but also lots of insight for those who have been at the game for some time. The book is written in short, punchy chapters that make it easily digestible without losing focus.
What is particularly inspiring is her honest reverence for Scripture, even while acknowledging its ambiguities and confusion.
The book is so profoundly insightful I recommend it to anyone who even might be interested in what the Bible has to say.
Meghan Larissa Good writes with a playful bit of attitude that lightens the reading but she is no lightweight when it comes to grappling with how to read and interpret the Bible. She offers lots of access points for those who haven’t tried to read the Bible before, but also lots of insight for those who have been at the game for some time. The book is written in short, punchy chapters that make it easily digestible without losing focus.
What is particularly inspiring is her honest reverence for Scripture, even while acknowledging its ambiguities and confusion.
The book is so profoundly insightful I recommend it to anyone who even might be interested in what the Bible has to say.
April 25, 2021
For those of us who love the Bible but have often found ourselves in disagreement about how it should be read, this book has much to say. The author manages to embrace the entire Bible and invite the challenge it brings to life. These assembled stories of God’s relationship to humans and creation still speak to our continued maturing as Christians.
I found this book readable, insightful, wise. I wish I could read it and discuss it with those who disagree with me, with those who seek the same God, with all who seek understanding and growth.
Everyone who reads the Bible should read this book.
I found this book readable, insightful, wise. I wish I could read it and discuss it with those who disagree with me, with those who seek the same God, with all who seek understanding and growth.
Everyone who reads the Bible should read this book.
September 14, 2020
We attended a lecture by the author at Messiah College and found both the speaker and her subject to be engaging and intriguing.
The book is similar in that it is conversational, refreshing, humorous, and accessible.
With its contemporary references, it is clearly written for the present generation.
Her rewording of stories may give the reader pause.
“The world’s story began with God’s decisive action and will end with God’s decisive action.”
The book is similar in that it is conversational, refreshing, humorous, and accessible.
With its contemporary references, it is clearly written for the present generation.
Her rewording of stories may give the reader pause.
“The world’s story began with God’s decisive action and will end with God’s decisive action.”
November 3, 2019
This is one of the most accessible introductions to interpreting the bible (Aka. Hermeneutics) I’ve read in years.
If you’re looking for a starting point to understanding how to interpret Christian scripture this is a great starting point.
It has an unashamed Anabaptist Hermeneutical slant and that’s an important and valuable distinctive.
If you’re looking for a starting point to understanding how to interpret Christian scripture this is a great starting point.
It has an unashamed Anabaptist Hermeneutical slant and that’s an important and valuable distinctive.
March 23, 2019
Meghan writes in a clear concise style that helps illuminate the very complicated world of the Bible. As I finished her book I realized that this is one I would like to read again. Her love of God and the Bible are apparent, even as she continues to wrestle with them both.
September 9, 2019
Excellent book on the topic of interpreted the Bible. Good does a fantastic job of addressing the major challenges of interpretation and also highlighting the subtle topics that often go unnoticed. I especially liked the "storytime" segments that she interspersed throughout the book.
February 15, 2020
We studied this book in adult Sunday School class over the past few months. While there were moments of insight in the 36 short chapters, it was clearly written for Millennials and and not Boomers. I enjoyed her sense of humour more than her theology.
October 22, 2020
This one Ddddrrrrrraaaaaggggggeeeeeeddddd on forever. It had some good points, but my word it took forever to get there, Rachel Held Evans’ book “Inspired” covered the same ground, and was far more engaging and memorable. This one had moments of brilliance, but ultimately was too dry for me.
January 12, 2024
Excellent look at the Bible for all that it is. This is a very helpful book for seeing the Bible through both new and traditional lenses. It is respectful to traditional views of the Bible and expands those views to see the Bible as all of God's story that is meaningful for us today.
December 4, 2018
This book is wonderful but its important that you have a bible near by so that you can see what the bible actually says. This book makes some passages too modern.
July 13, 2020
Hands down best introduction to the Bible for anyone new or reconstructing their faith.
January 11, 2021
Excellent, inspiring, Anabaptist book on all things Scripture.
Read this as a primary text in prep for a sermon series on Scripture and quoted it judiciously.
Read this as a primary text in prep for a sermon series on Scripture and quoted it judiciously.
April 5, 2021
Wisdom. That is the word I associate with this lady. Wisdom - and a great ability to express that wisdom. Read this book. I look forward to meeting her in heaven.
December 11, 2021
Excellent!
June 1, 2022
Well written and informative!
November 10, 2022
Very helpful book about the origins of the Bible, its meaning and its literary techniques. I also liked the sections on interpretation
December 27, 2022
Great overview, background, and framing of the Bible's relevance. Ideas on how to approach it, with some thoughtful deep dives into specific passages.
September 20, 2018
To be really honest, I've been struggling with reading this book. It's written in a very conversational style, definitely for someone who's not familiar with the Bible and who isn't interested in deep theology. I suppose that's all fine and good because people do need to be introduced to the Bible and certainly a "newbie" wouldn't be ready for deep theology.
However, too much of the rewording of stories from the Bible is horrid in my opinion. It's too "contemporized" for my liking, put in modern day vernacular comparing to modern day situations. Certainly the Bible applies to us today, but I just don't like the style. Much of this book really doesn't show respect for God and His Word - "hey, I think I'll rewrite passages from God's Holy Word to sound like a modern day TV show".
There are very few gems in the book that excited me, but not enough for me to give it a great recommendation. Some people will enjoy it. I just hope it doesn't cause them to consider God as a buddy or pal rather than the Holy Creator of the universe who is due great honor and respect. Hopefully it will cause them to want to get to know God better and do a serious reading of His Word.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
However, too much of the rewording of stories from the Bible is horrid in my opinion. It's too "contemporized" for my liking, put in modern day vernacular comparing to modern day situations. Certainly the Bible applies to us today, but I just don't like the style. Much of this book really doesn't show respect for God and His Word - "hey, I think I'll rewrite passages from God's Holy Word to sound like a modern day TV show".
There are very few gems in the book that excited me, but not enough for me to give it a great recommendation. Some people will enjoy it. I just hope it doesn't cause them to consider God as a buddy or pal rather than the Holy Creator of the universe who is due great honor and respect. Hopefully it will cause them to want to get to know God better and do a serious reading of His Word.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 24, 2020
This is a very readable book. Good is insightful and adds humor into the pages. I had the privilege of attending Good's church in Arizona this winter, where she is on the pastoral team, and spoke that Sunday. She is also a speaker at ease with herself and easy to listen to.
To quote a reviewer of this book: "For all its popularity, the Bible is not a how-to book for life, but a window through which we can view God's story and encounter the living Christ." Derek Hogan
I appreciate Good's approach to how to read the Bible, to look at context and to whom and when it was written. I have underlined many statements in this book that I will have to refer back to when certain questions pop up again for me.
Christians all over the world read the Bible and understand it differently - however boldly we hold and practice our own convictions, nothing gives us the right to destroy someone for whom Christ died - Romans 14:15
In all circumstances, our treatment of each other is meant to reflect the priceless worth Christ has ascribed to each of us. No one wins when we dehumanize or destroy each other in disputes that spring from mutual desire for faithfulness.
Lots of good things to ponder in these pages.
To quote a reviewer of this book: "For all its popularity, the Bible is not a how-to book for life, but a window through which we can view God's story and encounter the living Christ." Derek Hogan
I appreciate Good's approach to how to read the Bible, to look at context and to whom and when it was written. I have underlined many statements in this book that I will have to refer back to when certain questions pop up again for me.
Christians all over the world read the Bible and understand it differently - however boldly we hold and practice our own convictions, nothing gives us the right to destroy someone for whom Christ died - Romans 14:15
In all circumstances, our treatment of each other is meant to reflect the priceless worth Christ has ascribed to each of us. No one wins when we dehumanize or destroy each other in disputes that spring from mutual desire for faithfulness.
Lots of good things to ponder in these pages.
June 15, 2018
The Bible Unwrapped is a really great book. It's a little heavier theologically then I was expecting, but I was in no way disappointed. I believe the author took common misconceptions and issues with the relevance of the Bible today and explained them quite well. It's a book well worth investing your time in.
I received a complimentary copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews