Biblical Fracking
Midrash for the Modern Christian
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2019
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Publisher's Description
Christian theology has lacked a tradition resembling Jewish midrash ("inquiring" or "expounding") to explore beyond the literal texts of Scripture. Francis H. Wade fills that gap with Biblical Fracking: Midrash for the Modern Christian. As he writes in the introduction, "Biblical fracking, in the spirit of its historical roots and its geological namesake, means reaching into the cracks and crevasses of the biblical narrative to extract the richness that lurks there." All forms of fracking have potential for benefit as well as abuse. Wade leads us on the narrow path to where we can hear God's word in fresh ways. For example, he asks readers to consider how Sarah felt when Abraham left to sacrifice their only son, Isaac. What was it like to have the quixotic Peter as a husband, or to have a brother like Jesus? Was Judas Iscariot simply the venal betrayer, as commonly caricatured, or was he a devoted disciple who tried to force Jesus' hand? In these and other expositions, Wade reveals Scripture's celebrated and obscure figures with empathy, designed to enrich our understanding of the Bible's saints and sinners, people much like ourselves.
Endorsements (5)
“Frank Wade has spent a lifetime with the foundational stories of Scripture, which makes him an agile guide to the cracks that open up at these deep layers of the Bible. Whether fracking strikes you as a good thing or a bad thing, here is a book that will open your mind.”
“Frank Wade provides fresh insight into biblical stories we have long read without giving them second thought. His interpretations are both original and sound. . . . Reflecting on Biblical Fracking will deepen our understanding and strengthen our faith.”
“This book is an invitation for an adventure in experiencing the Scriptures through a different lens—fresh, imaginative, and new.”
“For the readers of Biblical Fracking, the familiar people, words, and situations of the Bible take on new depth and meaning as the author probes familiar situations with respect, insight, and humor. Get acquainted with the Bible as newly alive.”
“Frank Wade has written a little gem of a book that does wonderful things. With imaginative questions, a sparkling writing style, and much good humor, he offers an array of revelatory encounters with biblical characters both great and small—from Abraham to Zipporah.”
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