Brendan Powell Smith - The Brick Bible: The New Testament: A New Spin on the Story of Jesus

Many people have the desire to read the Bible, but find it difficult for a number of reasons. Many feel intimidated because they dont think they will be able to understand it. Smith has created a Bible for adults that has simple, relatable pictures. This bold attempt to introduce the stories of the New Testament to readers who may not be as likely to attend church services or pick up and the read the Bible is long overdue. For those who have read the Bible, often the interpretation of its stories comes not from ones own experiences, but rather from the understanding of others that has been passed down from generation to generation. With this unconventional method of using toys to illustrate the New Testament, Smith courageously challenges us to read and re-read scriptural text through a new lens.

This book challenges the conventional interpretations of Biblical text and pushes the reader to think beyond what he or she may have been taught in the pastwhether at home, at school, at church, or elsewhere. Seeing the Bible in a new light provides the opportunity for the reader to consider a different interpretation and to even question his or her preconceived notions and beliefs. This version of the New Testament is structured around the story of Jesushis birth, teachings, and deathand also includes the story of Paul. It ends, of course, with Revelation. Additionally, Jesuss teachings are set in a modern-day context to bring his words greater meaning. This book is for people who feel that the Bible is not relevant today.

It is for those who feel the Bible is outdated and the stories only relate to people of long ago. With the use of a familiar toy, Smith demonstrates that the Bible is not a sterile book and it does not shy away from painful human issues, such as violence and death. In turn, the reader will begin to see how the Biblical stories of old also relate directly to the present. The Bible then comes alive once readers begin to understand the stories and find them relevant to their own lives, and Smiths rendition of the New Testament allows for just this to happen. You may wonder, can Gods word be understood in todays world through the use of pictures? Picture books are usually reserved for children, with the assumption that children can better understand a picture and then connect it to words. Art has been used for centuries, however, to demonstrate various interpretations of scriptural text.

With the use of a familiar toy and modern language, this Bible recognizes the importance of illustrations for all ages and certainly proves that a picture really is worth a thousand words. You are invited to read the stories of the New Testament for the first time or to re-read sections with a more open mind. Whether you are a Biblical scholar or a first-time reader, you will be intrigued by how Smith has used the simplicity of a toy to tell of the mighty acts of God in the world. Some stories within will confirm what the reader already believes. Many of the stories may seem to contradict what the reader has experienced as his or her truth. Either way, Smith has created a new conversation around these timeless stories of the New Testament.

Above all, The Brick Bible: The New Testament encourages you to read the Bible. Wanda M. Lundy
Professor of Ministry Studies
New York Theological Seminary PART I.
THE GOSPELS