Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God through Scripture

By Jonathan T. Pennington

... Show All

Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God through Scripture

By Jonathan T. Pennington

... Show All

3 Effective Ways to Study Scripture for an Essential Understanding of Who God Is

The Bible invites us to know God and have eternal life. That makes reading, understanding, and applying Scripture the most important journey we will ever take, but it can be difficult without a guide to provide direction.

In Come and See, Jonathan Pennington helps readers understand what it means to know God from the Bible and details 3 effective approaches to interpreting Scripture. Using the engaging analogy of a road trip, he introduces 3 friends who each have distinct, clear ways of navigating the Bible: informational (understanding genres in Scripture and avoiding exegetical mistakes); theological (reading canonically, traditionally, and creedally); and transformational (focusing on the goal of reading Scripture, our posture as readers, and the role of the Holy Spirit). Pennington gives detailed advice for employing all 3 reading modes, equipping readers to gain wisdom and know God better. 

Read Chapter 1


Author:

Jonathan T. Pennington

Jonathan Pennington (PhD, University of St Andrews) serves as professor of New Testament interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and pastor of spiritual formation at Sojourn East church in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the author of several books including Reading the Gospels Wisely, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, and Jesus the Great Philosopher.

Product Details

Title: Come and See
Subtitle: The Journey of Knowing God through Scripture
Published: March 14, 2023
ISBN-10: 1-4335-7128-5
ISBN-13: 978-1-4335-7128-2
Category: Biblical Studies
Christian Living
Church Ministry
Retail Price: $16.99
Binding: Paperback
Trim: 5.5 in x 8.5 in
Page Count: 168

Table of Contents

Introduction: Starting Out: Road Trip!

The First Stage of the Journey: Informational Reading with Ingrid
Reading through Three Avenues
Side Trip 1: Maps and Seeing
Understanding Different Literary Genres
Side Trip 2: Reading in St. Petersburg (and Other Places)
Avoiding Common Exegetical Mistakes

The Second Stage of the Journey: Theological Reading with Tom
The Context of the CanonCanonical Reading
Side Trip 3: Our Right and Left Brains
The Context of the Church’s TraditionTraditioned Reading
Side Trip 4: Two T. Rexes and the Gestalt Shift
The Context of Creedal OrthodoxyCreedal Reading

The Third Stage of the Journey: Transformational Reading with Taylor
The Goal of Reading Scripture
Side Trip 5: Metaphors We Read By
The Posture of Reading Scripture
Side Trip 6: Knowing through Rituals
The Holy Spirit in Reading Scripture
 
Epilogue: The Final Destination
Notes
General Index
Scripture Index

Endorsements

“I remember sitting in Pennington’s class when he presented three avenues of reading the Scriptures. I had been taught to only read in one way, but I realized this was a more beautiful practice. People throughout church history have naturally read with this approach. Let Pennington guide you to a better reading where knowing God will come to life not only in your mind but in your whole being.”
Patrick Schreiner, Associate Professor, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, The Visual Word; The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross; and The Mission of the Triune God

“In Come and See, Jonathan Pennington serves as a faithful guide on the road trip of Bible reading. The church is in need of integrative approaches to reading the Bible, approaches that emphasize information, doctrine, and transformation. That is what this book is all about. If you want to be a better student of the Bible, do not wait to grab a copy of Come and See.”
J. T. English, Lead Pastor, Storyline Church; author, Deep Discipleship; Cofounder, Training the Church and Knowing Faith Podcast