Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading

I must confess that I'm only 1/3 through "Eat this Book" and can already recommend it fully. Yes, I have read ahead... After all, Dr. Peterson states that we can read anywhere or skip ahead, although I'm sure the intent is to capture the reader's attention and encourage a complete reading. It is very engaging. You can't put it down. It is somewhat beguiling. It starts out simple enough, but then the reader is then enmeshed in philosophy, theology and philology made SO clear that he craves for more. The art of technical writing is ability to take complex subjects and whittle them down so that the simplest mind can comprehend them. This Peterson does deftly, with wit and with style. That is precisely what Tyndale wished for the Bible, "If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause the boy that drives the plow to know more of the scriptures than you!" An easy to read translation (can I also recommend The Message?) and a readjusted understanding on how to read will make plow boys of us all, especially if we read and apply Eat This Book. It helps to reorient how we think about how we read. Hearkening to one of Peterson’s quotes we need to go back to "Square One". This book redresses the mistake that readers often have by trying to interpret the book for themselves rather than let the book speak for itself. He argues strongly for the form impacting the reader. The Scripture intends mould. Hence Peterson says, "It is the very nature of language to form rather than inform". Impact, change; isn't that what God did to the universe albeit nonexistent? Is that not what GOD expects from His word? “Is not my word like a sledgehammer?” His word was effectual on nothing to create everything. There is a chapter in which he does give the nod to and moreover encourages exegesis (grammatical study) in English, Greek or other Biblical language. But that is not at the expense of understanding the grand sweeping storyline, the Message. Reading should impact you. Its Message should change you. We have learned layers of theological and scholastic gloss which has often kept us from listening and being changed by that same word. What better tool that the source itself. However, if we don't understand what we read (Old English) or improper approaches to any book, then the book ceases to have the intention of the author realized. The intention or motive of the reader triumphs and the Scripture are effectively silenced. Peterson says, of some Bible-readers, “you will be using the Bible for YOUR purposes, and those purposes will not necessarily require anything of you relationally. “God is what the book is about. C. S.. Lewis, in the last book he wrote, talked about two kinds of reading, the reading in which we use a book for our own purposes and the reading in which we receive the author’s purposes. The first ensures only bad reading; the second opens the possibility to good reading.” This is reminiscent (to me) of Lewis’ the Abolition of Man in which he argues for the sublimity of the subject over against the readers reinterpreting the subject by his or others views about the capacity of the subject to change us. Many have written of the dangers snatching content from context. Peterson labors to distinguish content from form (Gehalt from Gestalt) and the proper use of both in favor of the importance of form. Peterson argues…” the way the Bible is written is every bit as important as what is written in it: narrative - this huge, capacious story that pulls us into its plot and shows us our place in its development from beginning to ending. It takes the whole Bible to read any part of the Bible. Every sentence is embedded in story and can no more be understood accurately or fully apart from the story than any one of our sentences spoken throughout the course of the day can be understood apart from our relationships and culture and the various ways in which we speak to our children and parents, …. And our God. Read Eat This Book and then Eat the Bible. It will be tastier than ever.

Eugene Peterson is one of my favorite theologians. Like Henri Nouwen, Peterson has an unusual gifting with words. He phrases his thoughts with extraordinary insight. His ability to conceptualize truth is uncommon. And this book is no exception to his literary genius. Chapter four on biblical exegesis alone is worth the price of the book. In fact, it is the best book I've ever read on the nature and importance of exegetical research and lectio divina. This book serves as a reminder of our central task as preachers. Unlike any other profession in the world, preachers have the privilege to shape people's lives with Scripture. This book teaches us how to be moved and how to move others, how to enter the text ourselves and import the text into others. The unique insights here will drive you to make the study of Scripture your paramount priority for preaching and for personal growth. Like Nouwen's writings, it is the type of book that every sentence must be read and contemplated. I believe there is no higher calling than the call to transform lives through the framing of consonants, vowels, nouns, and verbs of the Bible. I highly recommend this book for every Evangelical preacher.

Peterson's emphasis on the need for people to go beyond merely reading the word, but also allowing the word to read them is a compelling challenge. I found my appreciation of God's word and its rightful place in my life and the life of the church refreshed. Beyond merely a challenge, Peterson provides an excellent discussion of the origin, history, and practice of lectio-divina a discipline which has traditionally and historically enabled many throughout the ages to apply his challenge. The discussion of the history of common (Koine) Greek is also very enlightening. This book would be a very valuable resource or study for a small group, college age/adult group or a guide for a message series. It would also be valuable for giving to someone who has a desire to learn more about the background of the Bible no matter what their current beliefs may be. His discussion of the background of his Bible translation "The Message" was also quite interesting. Overall, I found the book very spiritually challenging, helpful and enjoyable. I highly recommend it.

This is a beautifully written, short but dense book. It is a call to read the Bible as a whole - as an end to end narrative all of which can bring us closeness to God and change our lives. I've read this kind of stuff before, but rather than being a technique or a formula this is a whole posture towards Scripture. Peterson rejects the Bible as a mere source of helpful quotes, doctrines or moral codes - we pick out what is useful for our purposes, but instead sees it as a gateway to the Kingdom - eclipsing politics, economics and science - that we can enter into alongside the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We actually participate in the text, with Living Jesus Christ. There's a benefit in participation - greater engagement. We rarely want to read about subjects we don't participate in and often do so only out of habit or duty. You can take or leave the Lectio Divina methodology Peterson runs through, but the basic information is still helpful. In any case Peterson does not provide step by step instructions but more a way of overall engagement. Take your time, explore, what do you think? - this is an eternal feast, not a Big Mac. It often seems to me that many people who know the Bible texts well seem to have been least changed by it, demonstrated by their attitudes and actions. This book explains why and how we can be transformed by the Bible.

I truly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who has thoughts, ideas or questions about reading the Bible

This is a profound book that might just twist your head back in place about your religion. Many go their whole lives without eating the most important food they ever came across. The most nutritious, life affirming food they were given they keep wrapped in it’s shiny packaging sitting nicely on a shelf in a place of honour. I have also heard it described as licking the honey jar. Instead of opening the jar and eating they honey they lick the outside of the jar and never taste the honey. In this book the author explains why and how to eat the scriptures and not just read and venerate them. If you’re not eating them you are missing out on the most important part. If you are not eating the scriptures you are a jar licker. This book might just give you a whole new perspective on your religion and your spiritual practice. The scriptures are not something to believe in, they are not something to judge other people by, they are something to transform you, if you are not being transformed by them you are using them incorrectly. This book shows you how to do something about that.

Eugene Peterson era um mestre das palavras. Palavras muitas vezes doces e algumas vezes duras. Mas que nos afiam e nos fazem perceber verdades que às vezes podem nos escapar por pura falta de experiência com a leitura da Palavra. Ele aborda a ideia de “comer este livro”, que é a Palavra, de forma que a Palavra verdadeiramente seja nosso alimento. É um livro muito poético e extremamente reflexivo. Recomendo!

GREAT I LOVE THIS, will come back again!