For drawing attention to the relevant scriptures and for guidance in recognizing what are and aren’t valid interpretations of them, Collins’ pertinent brief is beyond praiseworthy.”—Ray Olson, Booklist (starred review)“Collins pours a lifetime of scholarship into this study of what the Bible says about controversial ethical topics. It’s highly readable, and it’s honest. . . . Collins addresses difficult topics head on. His aim is to summarize what the biblical text actually says, in its own cultural context, with all of its complexity and contradiction.”—Jane McBride, Christian Century“In a society where an appeal to ‘biblical values’ can be experienced as an ace in the hole designed to close down discussion, this fine book is a most valuable resource. . . . Students should find the book accessible. . . . I strongly recommend this volume.”—Patricia M. McDonald, S.H.C.J., Journal of Moral Theology“A thoughtful, balanced, and engaging book, a must-read for anyone who wishes to understand what biblical values really are.”—Leslie J. Hoppe, Bible Today“For any who are receptive to Scripture’s dialectical invitations, this book stakes out a path that is well worth traveling.”—Paul Korchin, Catholic Biblical Quarterly“Examining what the Bible actually says on a number of key themes, John Collins covers a vast array of topics, including the right to life, gender, the role of women, the environment, slavery and liberation, violence and zeal, and social justice. With clarity and authority, he invites us to dramatically reimagine the basis for biblical ethics in the world today.”—Mark K. George, Society of Biblical Literature“A valuable new book.”—Bill Tammeus, Faith Matters (blog)“[A] cogent, lucid, and persuasive text on the use of the Bible as an ethical guide. . . . The book’s most important contribution is the reminder that readers have the responsibility to decide what authority they are going to grant to biblical passages supporting deeply objectionable practices.”—Patrick T. McCormick, Horizons“A wise, insightful, and often surprising discussion of the relevance (and sometimes irrelevance) of the Bible for significant ethical debates of our day.”—Bart D. Ehrman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill“In this engaging study of the conflicting and discordant values found in the Bible, one of the world’s foremost scholars of the Hebrew Bible confronts us with hard truths. Brimming with promise for ecumenical and inter‑religious conversations, his book offers a constructive program for wrestling with this tradition.”—Candida Moss, author of Divine Bodies“This remarkable volume takes on the considerable task of determining what the Bible actually says about various issues of contemporary concern apart from the facile and tendentious rhetoric that surrounds them. The author examines these topics in an evenhanded way, then turns to the text itself, its context, and other relevant authorities. This is an excellent, balanced, and important book.”—Randall Balmer, Dartmouth College“Too many people think they know what biblical values are without actually having read the Bible. In this wise and insightful book, John Collins shows us what it really says on contested moral issues.”—John Barton, University of Oxford“With accessible prose and provocative conclusions, What Are Biblical Values? offers a concise account of how to read (and not read) biblical texts in relation to a host of contested issues. It challenges readers to transcend the division between historical studies and normative ethics.”—Eric Gregory, Princeton University
08/01/2019
The title of this new book by Collins (Yale Divinity Sch.; The Apocalyptic Imagination; A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible; The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Biography) is also the central question addressed in it. While some Jewish or Christian believers might find this question easy to answer, others might wonder if the Bible actually has specific values, given that it was written over a span of 1,000 years, in different contexts and cultures, and with different theological perspectives. Collins acknowledges that the Bible is complex and presents ideas on topics that seem inconsistent and even contradictory, but he still believes that, when interpreted properly and through communities of interpretation, central biblical values can be found. His approach is to discover what the Bible says about contemporary issues related to significant subjects, such as marriage and family, gender, slavery, social justice, the environment, and the right to life. He then evaluates the material, and makes some tentative conclusions, specifically concerning the issues but also more broadly. While Collins writes for a broad audience, general readers might find certain concepts and ideas challenging. VERDICT Recommended both for academic and public library spirituality and religion collections.—John Jaeger, Johnson Univ., Knoxville, TN
