Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy

I was surprised to find John Shelby Spong's latest book Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy (#577) prominently displayed under Staff Picks at the main branch of our local library.  I knew the name from my Episcopal background, but I've never read any of his works before.  With time off from EfM this summer, it seemed like the perfect time to remedy that omission.


The premise of Spong's book is that the Bible as a whole, and in this work, the gospel of Matthew in particular, were not written as literal works of history, but rather as metaphors and allegories to teach greater truths.  The original Jewish audience for whom the gospels were written would have understood the underlying stories and allusions to Old Testament scripture.  In fact, Spong posits that Matthew was designed to be read in the synagogues as part of the liturgical year cycle, just as many traditional denominations of Christianity have set orders of readings from both Old and New Testament works throughout the year.  When the new Christian movement broke away from their synagogue-based roots beginning with the Roman persecutions following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, Spong contends that the now mostly Gentile congregations knew nothing about Jewish scriptures, and so lost the key to interpreting the gospels properly themselves.  They began to read them as literal history.


I found what Spong has to say most interesting.  His arguments are laid out logically and make sense to me.  Of course, I realize after three years of EfM that my mind and theological thinking have stretched considerably.  For many, many others judging from the letters to the editor in my local paper, their first reaction would be to take this book out to the library parking lot and burn it!  (Without reading it first, of course!)  If they could actually bring themselves to read it, the challenge to what they have always been taught to believe could cause their heads to explode.  If they can get past that, it might just open up a whole new way of thinking for them.  You'll just have to read Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy for yourself.