Books that interpret the Bible are a cornerstone of the religion and spirituality market. And while the text itself has endured for nearly two millennia, publishers agree that its cultural and spiritual relevance is always open to exploration. This spring, four new titles aim to bring clarity to what the Bible says and provide crucial context for modern readers from a range of perspectives.
“Now more than ever, religion and politics are intertwined, and constantly in the news,” says Joel Fotinos, VP and editorial director at St. Martins Essentials. “We publish books that bring about a deeper awareness of what the Bible says, and what it means, so that readers can move beyond what they're being told and learn for themselves.”
St. Martin’s Essentials is bringing two books that center on the Bible’s true teachings. Publishing on April 29, The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues, by Biblical scholar and Data Over Dogma podcaster Dan McClellan, explores the Bible’s history, significance, and meaning on topics including abortion, hell, homosexuality, monotheism, rape, and more. By examining how power structures have influenced past and present understandings of the Bible, McClellan “demonstrate[s] how we create meaning with the Bible, rather than just withdraw meaning from the Bible,” he writes.
“Our aim is to help bring about literacy and inspiration for all aspects of life to readers,” Fotinos adds. “The Bible is being used as the yardstick for laws that concern LGBTQ+ and marginalized people in all 50 states. It’s important for individuals to know what the Bible says and means.”
TikTokker and Queens, N.Y.–based progressive pastor Brandan Robertson penned what he calls a guide to using the Bible “as a tool of empowerment and inspiration...for love instead of fear” in Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table (St. Martin’s Essentials, May). The book, which details Robertson’s search for a more inclusive faith, features studies of the Bible’s culture, context, and original language as well as what it says about queer sexuality and gender. PW called it “an accessible call for change” in its review.
“The Bible is and will continue to be the most influential book in the world for generations to come,” Robertson writes.“If we concede to anti-queer interpretations of the text, we all but ensure the suffering of countless queer people in every corner of the globe.”
Abingdon is adding to the conversation about biblical accuracy and literacy with Cross-Examined: Reading the Bible in Times of Division by Josh Scott (out now). The book “directly addresses some of the most contentious social issues today—including racism, LGBT+ inclusion, and Christian nationalism—with moral clarity and the reasoned arguments to back it up,” says Maria Mayo, senior editor at the Methodist press.
Scott, who serves as lead pastor at the progressive GracePointe church in Nashville, Tenn., draws on his upbringing in the Southern Baptist Church to make a case for why “the exclusive, exclusionary, and narrow interpretations I had been handed [do] not do the text, tradition, God, or people justice,” he writes.
Biblical literacy is the bread and butter of Abingdon, according to Mayo. She notes that Abingdon authors such as Amy-Jill Levine, Adam Hamilton, and Rabbi Evan Moffic “are always working to contextualize the biblical text.” She adds, “Examining the Bible with solid historical understanding, a critical eye, and a generous spirit is essential for anyone trying to live out their faith in a complex world.”
Broadleaf is offering yet another way to journey through the Bible in Read the Bible Like a Mystic: Contemplative Wisdom and the Word (June) by prolific author Carl McColman, a spiritual director and retreat leader. His aim, he writes, is to liberate people from “all the ways that institutional religious Christianity has distorted, misunderstood, or weaponized those teachings in the service of power and authority.” Instead, Coleman intends to help readers to “reconnect with the uncreated light that shines at the head of those ancient words of wisdom and love.”
