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
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“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.” “你們喫羊羔當腰間束帶、腳上穿鞋、手中拿杖、趕緊地喫、這是耶和華的逾越節。” (出埃及记12:11)
“Gird your loins”意思是勒紧腰带以下的衣襟，整装待发。
这动作常见于罗马时代的以色列军队。这习语第一次出现在旧约出埃及记中。上帝为了惩罚埃及人对以色列人的奴役，在逾越节时杀死了所有埃及人的长子以及头生的牲畜。所以上帝指示以色列人要把外衣绑在腰带下面，赶紧吃饱后随时候命。同一习语在新约以弗所书第6章第14句中也有提到。使徒保罗要求信徒绑好他们的腰带随时准备好对抗撒旦的计谋。
The athletes are girding their loins for the race next month. 运动员为下月的赛事整装待发。
NIV official site
Chinese Bible (???)
英语中许多习语都源于圣经，比如"Two edged sword 双刃剑","an eye for an eye 以眼还眼"，学习这些成语故事不但有趣，而且还能扩大你的词汇量。点击这里学习更多的成语故事吧。
