From Publishers Weekly

Kling, associate professor in religious studies at the University of Miami, studies the symbiotic relationship between scripture and society. In particular, he considers eight selections from the Bible—sometimes a single verse, other times a selection of verses, and then again entire chapters or books—and shows how each changed the direction of the Christian church. In doing so, he illustrates the vibrancy of the text, the controversies that have been inspired by famous biblical passages and the church's integration of scripture into its life. Starting with St. Anthony and the roots of the monastic movement and continuing up to contemporary thoughts on the ordination of women, Kling explores how a single person, or a group of people, can attach new meaning and added importance to scripture, providing the impetus for radical change in the church and in the wider society. He sees the abolitionist and peace movements as expressions of a biblical approach that extends time-bound stories (the exodus, for example) into always applicable lessons. This book is nimbly written for the general reader. Although it treats complex issues and draws upon scholarly sources, the text itself is eminently accessible, with further thoughts consigned to nearly 50 pages of endnotes.
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Review

"[David W. Kling] has many good stories to tell, and he tells them very well. His informative and often entertaining survey illustrates a fascinating approach to biblical studies and to history in general."--America

"Always fascinating and entertaining, Kling's account of the Bible in history is sure to increase your appreciation and understanding of the Bible's impact in the world."--Singing News

"David Kling has attempted a foolhardy thing--he has tried to illuminate the ubiquitous presence of the Bible in Western history by treating only eight specific texts as they have been understood across the centuries. Remarkably, the book succeeds and succeeds very well. By attending carefully to multiple, often contradictory interpretations of Holy Scripture, Kling explains a very great deal about those who have put the Bible to use. He may explain even more about the enduring attraction of Scripture itself." --Mark A. Noll, author of Americas God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln

"David Kling has written a fascinating and accessible account of the way in which biblical texts left their mark in the history and culture of the past. The book focuses on crucial moments in Christian history from the origin of monasticism to the ordination of women and on key figures from Bernard of Clairvaux to Martin Luther. The result is a readable and informative introduction to the history of biblical interpretation, which both beginning students and advanced scholars can read with profit."--David C. Steinmetz, Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of the History of Christianity, The Divinity School, Duke University

"David Kling's book takes the Bible seriously as the church's book at the same time as it shows how the church has interpreted the Bible differently over time. Kling's book will help Christians and others understand how the church's understanding of the Bible has both shaped and been shaped by history."--Timothy Weber, President, Memphis Theological Seminary

"Kling writes so fluently, elegantly, and with such clarity of purpose that readers who are unfamiliar with church history will still find most of the detailed arguments accessible. Similarly, readers who are unfamiliar with scholarly approaches to the Bible will find this an entrancing survey of how key texts have been understood differently across time by faithful Christians. Yet the book is based on such a huge amount of scholarship, marshalled so carefully by the author, that theologians, church historians, and specialists in biblical studies will also frequently find valuable insights here." --John Sullivan, Liverpool Hope University