Connected - by Gary Edward Schnittjer (Paperback)

About the Book

Connected equips students to interpret the Bible faithfully by tracing the links between its genres, its ancient context, the gospel, and our own lives.

Book Synopsis

An introduction to biblical hermeneutics, Connected: How Scripture Guides the Study of Scripture offers students an accessible, hands-on, practical guide to interpreting the Bible that focuses on its natural interconnectedness. Readers will learn the connections between the different biblical genres, connections to the ancient world in which Scripture was given, connections to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and connections to our lives and spiritual formation.

As longtime professor and award-winning author Gary Schnittjer demonstrates, these connections give the Bible its internal unity and likewise provide us as readers with points of connection to interpret its meaning and application.

Review Quotes

"In the opening paragraphs Gary Schnittjer poses a straightforward question--What does the Bible teach us about studying the Bible?--to which this book is the answer from start to finish. It's about connections. Schnittjer provides a marvelous tour of the intricate web of connections that exist throughout the Bible, showing what these connections teach about Jesus, the Gospel, and about how to study the Bible for ourselves. This book is comprehensive and rigorous, and yet it is beautifully accessible. For newcomers and seasoned readers of the Bible alike, Connected is extremely practical in its aim to not only show us the connections but to teach us how to see them for ourselves. I recommend this book for anyone seeking to learn how the Bible itself helps us to understand the Bible. The transformative connections you discover will enliven your reading of God's word."

--Jeannine Marie Hanger, associate professor of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

"God revealed himself in the Bible so that we could know him personally. But in order for us to connect with God through Scripture we need to know how to read, study, and apply it to our everyday lives. Gary Schnittjer provides a valuable guide to the task, by following the lead of how Scripture interprets Scripture. Connected will help new believers as well as those who have been reading the Bible for years. Study questions and activities make Connected an excellent resource for personal study, the classroom, or the local church."

--Matthew S. Harmon, professor of New Testament studies, Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary

"This is what we've come to expect from Gary Schnittjer. For decades he has been making connections within Scripture. In this accessible book, Schnittjer helps readers make larger connections within the whole of Scripture and Scripture's connection with us. If you've ever wondered how the Bible fits together or how to get started reading Scripture, this book is a good guide. It is born out of a lifetime of learning, but Schnittjer wears his learning lightly. Connected will find a welcome home in the hands of students and those wanting to see more clearly Scripture's unity and purpose."

--Ethan C. Jones, visiting fellow, Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

"Schnittjer's excellent introduction to biblical interpretation teaches readers to build on the premise that God is his own best interpreter and that Scripture itself teaches us how to study Scripture in order to meet God in its pages. This book presses us not only to grasp God's word, but to lay hold of the God of the word, through Spirit-wrought humble faith in Christ. Schnittjer shows us how to keep the Messiah's story central, flowing organically from the Torah and Israel stories, seeing Christ through the whole Bible without losing the voices and contexts of the biblical authors along the way. The study activities leave readers excited to study the word for themselves. Most importantly, he drives readers to worship the Triune God, live in fellowship with him and the church, and to delight in reading the Bible every day."

--Ryan M. McGraw, Morton H. Smith Professor of Systematic Theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

"Gary Schnittjer welcomes students into the fascinating world of how to study the Bible. Dr. Schnittjer achieves this monumental task with clear writing, engaging prose, and study questions and activities to guide both individual and group learning. I love the accessible tone. It felt like we were having a conversation with each other! If you're interested in understanding the whole story of Scripture and how God communicates to people through his Word, pick up this book and, as Dr. Schnittjer states, 'get your hands dirty' in mining the riches of Scripture."

--Russell L. Meek, professor of Old Testament, William Tennent School of Theology

"Of the writing of many books on biblical hermeneutics there is no end, but among them, Connected stands alone. You have never read a book on hermeneutics quite like this one. Gary Edward Schnittjer offers a resource that trains students of Scripture to read more carefully in light of what the Bible teaches about studying the Bible. His insights are rich and accessible. His examples are practical and intuitive. Schnittjer speaks with a fresh voice on an old discipline."

--Bryan Murawski, associate professor of Old Testament, Cairn University

"Schnittjer has grasped the great secret of studying Scripture--it is all connected in Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, he shows that every thread of the biblical story finds its coherence and fulfillment in Jesus. He helps readers see how Jesus brings unity to the whole of the Bible and guides them in learning to interpret Scripture through Scripture itself, the only truly infallible interpreter of God's Word. Readers will come away not only with sharper interpretive skills but with a deeper awe for God's Word."

--Patrick Schreiner, associate professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Gary Schnittjer's Connected provides the beginning student with an accessible yet substantive introduction to the Bible and Bible study. As the title promises, the book skillfully teaches the reader to recognize the connections in the Bible and how these guide biblical interpretation. While offering a fresh approach to Bible study for the modern reader, Schnittjer calls for a return to how the Bible was meant to be read and interpreted. This book meets the challenge of teaching the Bible and Bible study to the next generation."

--Tony Shetter, program chair of undergraduate biblical studies, Lancaster Bible College

About the Author

Gary Schnittjer (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is distinguished professor of Old Testament at Cairn University's School of Divinity.