Reading the Bible for all the Wrong Reasons:

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Reading the Bible for All the Wrong Reasons Reading the Bible for All the Wrong Reasons Russell Pregeant Fortress Press Minneapolis READING THE BIBLE FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS Copyright © 2011 Fortress Press. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Visit http:// www.augsburgfortress.org/copyrights/ or write to Permissions, Augsburg Fortress , Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440. Unless noted scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Cover design: David Carlson, Studio Gearbox Cover image: © iStockphoto.com / eyewave Book design: PerfecType, Nashville, TN Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Pregeant, Russell. Reading the Bible for all the wrong reasons / Russell Pregeant. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-8006-9844-7 (alk. paper) 1. Bible—Hermeneutics. I. Title. BS476.P74 2011 220.601—dc22 2011015061 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences — Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z329.48-1984. Manufactured in the U.S.A. 15 14 13 12 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 To the Congregation of Contoocook United Methodist Church and to their Pastor, 2003–2011, Rev. Sammie Maxwell I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in speech and knowledge of every kind . . . so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift. —Romans 1:4-5 ...