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： Family
圖片版權： V.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Psalms 127:1) “〔 所羅門上行之詩。〕 若不是耶和華建造房屋、建造的人就枉然勞力，若不是 耶和華看守城池、看守的人就枉然儆醒 。”（诗篇127:1）
labour in vain就是徒勞無功的意思。
經文里的“房屋”和“城池”都是暗喻。釋經者大致相信這兩個隱喻指的是”家”，而一個家要安定富裕，必須源自對上帝的信靠。 這句出自詩篇的話對基督教徒來說很是熟悉。它教會了人們應該將上帝放在首位而不是一味地依靠自己的方法。因為沒有上帝的庇佑，一切都是徒然。
We fought a good fight and did not labour in vain. 我們以全力以赴應戰，沒有枉費心力。
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
