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Excerpted from his book, How the Bible became the Bible, by Donald L. O'Dell, BA, MDiv., Infinity Publishing, West Conshohocken, PA. Winner, non-fiction category, 2006 Florida Writers Association 2006 Royal Palm Literary Award.
How did the Bible become the Bible? How did the historical context and purposes of the emerging authors who produced most of the text we know as the Scriptures evolve into the Bible?
O'Dell makes the case that our human nature has always had a strong desire for simplistic biblical beliefs and practices. We know this is really a desire to feel in control of the knowledge of good and evil and therefore to be absolutely certain about what it is God wants. It’s a desire to believe that you’re right, which quells doubts and, as such, is fear-based. This inclination had its beginnings in the Old Testament, led to abuses in Israel’s Temple-State system, and influenced what was included and excluded from the New Testament. These are the same fear-based “religious” forces that dominate the beliefs of today’s fundamental and evangelical churches, leading them to misuse the Bible.
We’ve all noticed that when someone in the room begins to quote or “spout” biblical messages, everyone else gets quiet. Sometimes the outburst embarrasses us. Sometimes it scares us a little. Other times we’re afraid to say something, lest we reveal our ignorance. Mostly we don’t say anything because it’s been ingrained in us that religion is a private thing, not something to be discussed in public. We remember the sage advice to avoid discussing politics and religion.
Whatever the reason, for the last twenty years, while those of us who don’t normally go around spouting Bible quotes have been quiet, Protestant fundamentalist denominations have seen enormous increases in attendance. So has the very literal Opus Dei organization of the Roman Catholic Church. These groups have spawned an assortment of conservative religious groups that have become more and more active in our communities and nation. The longer those who don’t quite agree with them stay quiet, the louder their voices seem.
The Religious Right, the Christian Coalition, or any other evangelical group is attempting to place limits and strict legalistic parameters on the definition of being a true believer. This is the same mistake the priestly class made during the times of the prophets in the Old Testament. This is also the same mistake the emerging Church made in the centuries immediately following the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth.
The sources of our Biblical texts were people —people of their times. In the book, How the Bible became the Bible, O'Dell uses incidents from his own personal experience and a down-to-earth approach to history to make these people “come alive.”
You will understand the broad landscape from which the Old Testament sprang. You will understand the ever-present tension that existed between the priests (who tried to objectify the intent of the Torah (the Law) into a manageable set of concrete do’s and don’t’s) and the nomadic, almost mysterious prophets. You will come to realize that Jesus didn’t come into history to “save” people. He came with a message that could transform people from a fear-based, controlling existence to one of full human hood. O’Dell believes it still can, and it has little to do with whether or not we believe the Bible literally.
You will understand the message of the book – a call for honest spirituality rather than guilt-laced religiosity based on Israel’s tribal concepts of purification and sacrifice. In short, that’s what the book is really all about – telling the story of how the religious and the spiritual have been at odds throughout the history of the Bible as well as in the selection of materials to include/exclude in the Bible.
In this book you will understand how Paul, Mark, Q, Matthew, John, and Luke each struggled to put into words the reality of their individual transformations. Each used the imagery, concepts, and language that was comfortable to them. You will see how the earliest Church Fathers (circa 100 C.E.) began to do the same things with Paul’s writings as the Old Testament priests had done with the Law. This process continued for the next 300 years until the books of the Bible were agreed to.
Some writings were included that perhaps shouldn’t have been. Some were excluded that should have been included.
Mr. O’Dell holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Understanding the Bible beliefs