The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues
Dan McClellan
In The Bible Says So, Dan McClellan challenges the dogmas of inspiration, inerrancy, and univocality, arguing that meaning is constructed by the reader rather than extracted from the page. Utilizing a rigorous historical-critical methodology, McClellan demonstrates how prioritizing empirical data over religious tradition reveals the diverse, often contradictory intentions of the Bible's original authors. This work is essential for students, pastors, and scholars seeking to decouple academic inquiry from personal faith. Highly recommended for those navigating the tension between ancient texts and modern ideological conflicts.
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In The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues, Dan McClellan offers a rigorous intervention into the chasm between professional biblical scholarship and the popular misinformation often circulated via social media. His central thesis posits that the Bible is a document of immense complexity that is frequently obscured by "dogma"—non-negotiable beliefs such as inspiration, inerrancy, and univocality. McClellan argues that these theological constructs are not based on empirical evidence but were developed to establish power and social identity. By prioritizing data over dogma, he demonstrates how the assumption that the Bible possesses a single, consistent voice (univocality) allows readers to force disparate passages into a cohesive "picture on the box," whereas a more accurate metaphor for the text is a LEGO toy chest: a collection of diverse, mismatched sets without a single set of instructions.
This work is essential for serious students of the Bible and scholars who wish to understand the cognitive mechanics of reading. McClellan meticulously explains that meaning is not extracted from a page but constructed in the reader's mind, often influenced by subconscious biases and modern political desires. He contrasts the devotional approach with the historical-critical method, which seeks to reconstruct the original intent of authors—such as viewing Jesus specifically as a first-century Jewish apocalyptic preacher—rather than applying contemporary expectations to ancient texts. What sets this work apart is its ethical urgency; McClellan highlights how the weaponization of misinterpreted scripture can lead to systemic coercion and harm. He recommends a data-driven approach that protects marginalized groups and removes personal incentive from interpretation. Scholars should approach this text as a call to professional discipline, utilizing it as a guide to dismantle presuppositions and embrace the challenging, surprising nature of the Bible on its own terms.