NANCY HEISEY. From Word to Book: Ten Questions about How We Got the Bible. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2024. Pp. 148. $24.00 (US)
I know Dr. Nancy Heisey from my student years at Eastern Mennonite University. She started every class with prayer (no matter whether the course was Biblical Greek or New Testament Studies) reminding us of God’s presence with us, and our commitment to be faithful followers of Jesus, especially in our studies. Dr. Heisey modeled for me how study can be rooted in love, and this commitment shines through in her book, From Word to Book.
From Word to Book covers the extending story of how the biblical narratives were told and retold and written and re-written over millennia. We recognize that the sacred texts we know as the Bible did not always exist as a book, so how did it become one?
From Word to Book looks at ten different questions regarding the Bible, from historical contexts, particularly looking at events and interpretation over the centuries. Each chapter focuses on one question, including “How Did Ancient Stories Become Hebrew Scrolls?”, “What Are Biblical Canons, and How Were They Formed?”, and “How Does the Bible Still Speak, and to Whom?” According to her introduction, these questions and responses arose from Heisey’s many years in a classroom with undergraduate and seminary students who were her conversation partners. Acknowledging the collaboration between many people illustrates the Anabaptist value—or rather, the necessity—of reading the Bible in a community as we wrestle with the text together. While she provides responses to these questions, Heisey does not claim to have all the answers. I appreciate how she explains the wide range of responses and nuances that people have to various questions about the Bible, while also staying succinct. This book is a great reference for those who want to skim the surface of the story of the history of the Bible while still getting some depth by exploring questions regarding history, biblical translation, and interpretation of the biblical text. She offers an extensive bibliography and further reading list for those who want to dive deeper.
For history nerds out there, From Word to Book covers a wide span of historical contexts and discoveries that have shaped the biblical text. For example, she gives a brief overview of some pertinent historical documents and archaeological discoveries that have informed our understanding of the Bible. Heisey also goes into detail about the historical context of the times of significance for both Jewish and Christian peoples, from the Israelites living in Babylonian exile, to medieval and reforming Christians. For those who are drawn in by dates and historical events, the first half of the book is a feast. For myself, as someone who is not drawn in by dates and historical events, I still appreciated the scholarship behind the history, and was able to glean some fascinating facts.
I was more intrigued by the chapters that focused on translation and interpretation, particularly the questions, “What Does It Mean to Read the Bible in Translation?” and “How Did the Bible in Spanish Develop?” As someone who has taken some biblical Greek and attempted to translate small portions of Scripture, I understand just a smidge of the complexities of turning one language into another. And yet, we are reminded that most of us rely on the work of translators. Heisey lays out part of the story that brings the ancient stories to our bedside tables. One unique aspect of this book is the chapter elucidating how the Bible in Spanish came about and how it even influenced some English translations.
Another unique element of the book is how Heisey includes brief excerpts from primary sources as illustrations of her point. These include writings from archaeologists, theologians, pastors, and others. They are effective in bringing various voices from different countries and centuries into the conversation. I thought the last chapter included the excerpts particularly well as they flowed with the rest of the text. One way this book could be stronger is in clearer transitions between the excerpts and the main text in some of the other chapters. I also think including images would strengthen the book, as well as a visual timeline. Some appendices do include dates in a chart and a list, but a different format could more clearly show what is happening as you compare timing of events.
One could call this book a textbook for classrooms and also a reference for pastors and lay people who are asking some of these questions themselves. I would say it is accessible for high school age and above, especially those who are already a little familiar with the topics of biblical history, interpretation, and theology. In From Word to Book, Dr. Heisey shares her wealth of knowledge with those who were not as fortunate as I was to be in her classes. This is truly a gift.