The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...
Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University from 2006 Bible Literary project
slider
It's not that it's impossible to read some writers without a Biblical background, but that you would miss a whole dimension to their work.
Prof. Steven Goldsmith, University of California at Berkeley from 2006 Bible Literary Project
slider
I can only say that if a student doesn't know any Bible literature, he or she will simply not understand whole elements of Shakespeare, Sidney, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth
Prof. Robert Kiely, Harvard University from 2006 Bible Literary Project
slider
...there is truth in the remark. "without Tyndale[Bible translator], no Shakespeare"...
Prof. David Daniell, University College London from The Bible in English
slider
You can't really study Western literature intelligently or coherently without starting with the Bible.
Prof. Gerald L. Bruns, University of Notre Dame from 2006 Bible Literary Project
slider
...a familiar understanding of Christian doctrine in historical perspective thus contributes to a fuller appreciation of Shakespeare's art, but Shakespeare's art
Prof. Roland M. Frye from Shakespeare and the Christian Doctrine
slider
In English tradition and also for an American tradition begun by Puritan writers, a knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is even more crucial than classical references.
Prof. Ulrich Knoefplmacher, Princeton University from 2006 Bible Literary Project
slider
There is no book more important for our culture than the Bible, and it is fundametal to the study of English literature and language.
Prof. David Jasper and Prof. Stephen Prickett from the Bible and literature
Picture description: Elijah Picture copyright: Daniele da Volterra / public domain
bible verse
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” (1Kings 19:12)
origin and application
Elijah is a prophet who has been very zealous for the Lord. As dedicated as he is, he still suffers from emotional setbacks. While he was persecuted by Jezebel, the queen of Israel, he retreated into a cave and spent the night there. God sought him out, and asked him to go out and stand on the mountain to see the Lord pass by. So he stood, and a great wind tore apart the mountains and rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind was the earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the quake was the fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. Then came a still small voice from the Lord that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” From the story above, we see that whenever we seek God’s guidance, God may not appear in thunders or something big as we thought. Rather, God may guide us through a still, small voice that whispers in our quiet time.
A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!
Common names such as Joseph and Rachel have their origins in the Bible. Want to know their stories before picking the right name for yourself? Click here to find out.