Four Reasons to Read the Bible While Studying History and Literature

Posted byscriptoriumhalltutorPosted inUncategorized
  1. Academically, even pre-Christian pagan works point toward truths revealed in the Bible, and works written after Christ have largely been shaped by Christianity (see J. Warner Wallace, Person of Interest). The Bible explains the source of all the great ideas that have been debated throughout history and in all our literature, from courage, beauty, goodness, suffering, truth, pride, evil, love, justice, and the purpose of life, to – most importantly – how we can be reconciled to God. Our culture insists that truth is non-existent or at best fragmented; but reading through the Bible in the setting of studying history and literature helps students to see that even the truths found in these subjects are centered on the Lord as the Source of all truth.  
  2. Second, students can see that the same skills they are developing by carefully reading primary sources and literature for class also apply to studying the Bible. 
  3. Third, particularly when studying the history of ideas – most notably modern thought – it is crucial to remember that God is sovereign even over bad ideas, and nothing can shake or change His Word. As just one example, Moderns students are currently reading through portions of Isaiah while studying the 19th century; one student comment on chapter 43 was that Darwinism can offer nothing like God’s encouragement to “Fear not, for I am with you”.
  4. Most importantly, in a great books program, the greatest Author is God, and the greatest of all great books is the Bible.