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
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
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
...there is truth in the remark. "without Tyndale[Bible translator], no Shakespeare"...
Prof. David Daniell, University College London
from The Bible in English
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
...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
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
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
圖片說明： David
圖片版權： V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers
“the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people…”(1 Samuel 13:14) “上帝已經尋到一個合他心意的人，並打算立此人作為百姓的君主……”（中文和合本）
一個after your heart (符合你心意)的人就是和你有著一樣的想法與意願的人。
掃羅在成為君主時年僅30歲。當時上帝派先知撒母爾把他按立為王。掃羅在位期間沒有完全遵照上帝的意旨行事，有時會按照自己的意願而行。撒母爾嚴厲地斥責了掃羅，並預言他的王位很快將被取代，因為上帝已經找到了一為合祂心意(after his heart)的人，並且即將任命此人為以色列的新君主。這人就是後來名誦千古的大衛王。
He is a friend after my own heart. 他是我的知音。
NIV official site
Chinese Bible (???)
英語中許多習語都源於聖經,比如"two edged sword(雙刃劍)","an eye for an eye(以眼還眼)",學習這些成語故事不但有趣,而且還能擴大你的詞彙量,點擊這裡學習更多的成語故事吧
