{"id":1013,"date":"2012-10-27T11:11:45","date_gmt":"2012-10-27T17:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/paperbacktheology\/?p=1013"},"modified":"2012-10-27T13:17:32","modified_gmt":"2012-10-27T19:17:32","slug":"eugene-peterson-the-difference-between-reading-the-bible-and-studying-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/paperbacktheology\/2012\/10\/eugene-peterson-the-difference-between-reading-the-bible-and-studying-the-bible.html","title":{"rendered":"Eugene Peterson: The Difference Between Reading the Bible and Studying the Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Peterson is a genius. In this short clip he leans on the difference between reading the bible to glean information that we can use to control ourselves and others, and entering into the bible in order to be called into question and changes. These are two very different approaches to the scripture, and lead to two very different kinds of obedience. It has taken me a decade to try and learn how to do the latter one, and I still feel like a beginner.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I have noticed that reading the bible in the second way \u2013 entering into the story, letting it narrate my life as well as my beliefs \u2013 makes me a threat to all of those people who read the bible in the first sense (for information and control). It is one of the most difficult things about taking the bible seriously \u2013 you become a threat to those whose power is dependent upon religious control.<\/p>\n