Asking Better Questions of the Bible: A Guide for the Wounded, Wary, and Longing for More

"Asking Better Questions of the Bible" begins with a simple assumption: “the inspired meaning of the text lies in the original conversation between author and audience.” For Solomon, every deeper, more meaningful query about and brought to the Scriptural text emerges from this seminal position. This premise is likely familiar to Bible college students, seminarians, and knowledgeable Evangelicals, and is a sharp reframing of Scripture to those raised on the creed, “The Bible said it. I believe it. That settles it.” The entire premise of the book is directed at helping those who have been burned by gatekeepers of the Bible who rebuff questions and encourage blind belief.Solomon’s book recommends the reader adopt a goal, as audacious as it is, of seeking and (possibly) uncovering authorial intent in Scripture. This "To Kill a Mockingbird" approach of stepping into the shoes of the Biblical characters is a complex and murky road, but undoubtedly exciting to those who have never stepped on it, or who maybe did not know that path even existed. Correctly critical of the traditional Western approach to this work, Solomon notes the differences between the postmodern, rational, systematic lenses of Westerners and the discovery-based, metaphorical, and corporate thinking of Easterners. His aim, however, is not to switch lenses completely but, as the title of Chapter Two suggests, “play with both hands.” This is his most helpful contribution to the discussion of thick Biblical study: if the Western reader wants to comprehend the Bible in their context, they must begin with the authors in the East."Asking Better Questions of the Bible" brings the same sensibilities of the BEMA podcast to bear in written form, providing a path forward for people locked in harmful Western Christian lenses. Solomon is careful to avoid leading anyone to harmful thinking. The book’s cap in Chapter Ten warns against the dangers of dogmatism when readers believe they have “the meaning” of Scripture. Although he argues strongly for stepping into the shoes of the Ancient Near Easterner, Solomon urges the reader to consider every tool they’ve used and to use them wisely in tandem. A deep pastoral sensibility pervades the text as Solomon seeks to nurture the reader’s spirit while they wrestle with the book’s implications. Those implications are far-reaching and occasionally a little difficult. The overviews of Scripture are both dense and brief, dipping at times into one complex idea and then rushing to the next. Therein, the book might be best read in a slow dive in conversation with select episodes of the BEMA podcast.Those with a robust theological and academic framework such as well-learned pastors and teachers might find this book useful as a tool to reframe their own thinking and a kind gift to offer deconstructing believers. Skeptics and those outside the Christian faith may find the book useful, but are more likely to dismiss it out of hand as Solomon presumes the reader holds a high view of Scripture. However, it will present a deep breath of fresh air for those churched, de-churched, deconstructing, and planning their exit - and insomuch, it accomplishes its aims with excellence.

I just finished reading Marty Solomon’s book- and I feel like Jewel the Unicorn in CS Lewis’ The Last Battle has invited me to come “Come further up! Come Further in!” with him. Marty has done just that with this wonderful toolkit of encouragement to ask better questions of the Bible.In 2020, the pandemic hit and it seemed that Christians around me were losing their minds with all of the fear-mongering about the upcoming election, masks, conspiracy theories about everything. Everywhere I turned a huge chunk of the white evangelical church was spreading a gospel that wasn’t good news at all; it was baptized in conspiracy and distrust.I’d gone through four hard years since my husband had died, all the while learning the hard way that the Lord was good and could be trusted even when things looked bleak and even blatantly terrifying. Why then was the evangelical community engaged in and spreading so much fear of government, fear of culture, fear, fear, fear? And, ugh…also engaging in the scorn and mockery of those on “the other side”… It was all so disconcerting, dismaying, and destructive. I remembered the joy and thrill Pat and I felt when we first met Jesus in 1984… and wondered where it had gone. Reformed theology had crushed the life out of it, but I knew Him and I knew Who I believed in…and I became very certain the path I had been walking with this dogma that inspired so much paranoia, anger and fear was very, very wrong. The fruit of the Spirit was not evident; sadly -tragically-I saw how much that mindset had infected me. I didn’t like it. I began to deconstruct.Then my son-in-law introduced me to Bema Discipleship podcast. It was like drinking pure, clear spring water after ages of having nothing but stinky tap water that reeked of sulphur. Drinking deeply, I learned how exciting knowing Jesus was again. When Brent and Marty explained the geography and terminology of the Text, I felt that living water rushing in to the wadi of my faith.So here, in this beautiful book, is an invitation to lose the scales from our eyes, depart from certainty, embrace curiosity… and to go ahead… drink deeply and wrestle with God.I’m excited. Jewel said, “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now.” The thing is, there was always MORE further up and further in. And that, that is exactly how this adventure in the Kingdom feels once we realize that inside that stable there is so much beauty to discover further up and further in and are equipped with more historically grounded hermeneutics.

I have enjoyed the BEMA Podcast for some time, so when I learned Marty Solomon had written a book it was a must-have, and it didn't disappoint. I grew up with so much "this is the way it is" teaching, learning these tools to know how to understand and filter the nonsense from the meaningful has been eye-opening and mind-bending. Learning the context of who and when the Bible was written, the authors and the audience, has changed my entire approach and brought me a refreshing new perspective. As a data scientist, I have frequently had many executives ask the wrong questions about data. In reading this, I learned that same thing happens with the Bible. You will never learn the right answers if you ask the wrong questions.

Even after reading The Bible (The Text), I did not see the richness of this core of my faith. I found more faith in The Text and the God who gave it from reading it in the cultural context. It left me with one core from the Text. Love God and Love people.

Well spoken, down to the earth tools to let the text truly speak! Love the book and the work of Marty and Brent with BEMA!

Have loved Marty Solomon’s work on the BEMA Podcast for a while, and was thrilled when I learned he was releasing this. He recaps a lot of information from the podcast in a very readable way, and brings inspiration to go deeper into the Text, but does not bring the condemnation that can sometimes accompany the realization that we know so little. Great work Marty!