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That's one of the messages of a new BBC Two series, "The Bible's buried secrets". It's presented by a new TV presence, Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou, who's a lecturer at Exeter University, and has been talked about in the media today.
Obviously, millions will watch this when it's aired, and we'll blog a Bible-centred response to its precise claims as and when they're made. But just to pick up on what's been in the news today:
The God of the Bible, Yahweh, had a wife, Asherah, who was part of a "divine pair" with him.
How strange that the Bible doesn’t mention this! If Yahweh and Asherah were a couple, they clearly really didn't get on, since Yahweh told his people to cut down their Asherah poles which they gathered around to praise this alternative "god" (see for instance Judges 6 v 25), and He was "provoked to anger" when His people worshipped Asherah (1 Kings 14 v 15).
God's people were called to worship, love and serve only Him (Exodus 20 v 3). Why? Because He is the true God, the real God, the only God who can deliver on His promises (Psalm 115 v 1-11).
"Eve has been very unfairly maligned as the troublesome wife who brought about the Fall."
If this is historical, it's not unfair: it's fact. And of course Adam certainly doesn't get away with it either: God holds him to account for his failure to man up and warn his wife off listening to the serpent. The Bible doesn't present one as any more or less guilty than the other: both rebel against God. Both receive curses because of it. This view has more to do with medieval Catholic teaching than what the Bible actually says.
"As an academic, I think you leave faith at the door… I don't think you can use the Bible as a reliable historical source."
The second half of that statement is a statement of opinion. Dr Stavrakopoulou is of the belief that the Bible is not historical. But that in itself is a faith position. It means that when she reads the Bible she has already decided the events didn't really happen in history—that's a belief, just as much as deciding the events did happen in history. It's a fact that needs to be pointed out as often as possible by Christians: everyone has faith, and you can't leave it at the door when you read the Bible.
One more quick thing: the comments under The Telegraph article on this are mainly angry that an atheist is able to talk about the Bible on TV. Actually, I'm not sure that's a problem in and of itself, if:
Hopefully the series will include those three things!
Carl is Editorial Director at The Good Book Company and is a member of Grace Church Worcester Park, London. He is the best-selling author of The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross and God's Big Promises Bible Storybook, and also serves as series editor of the God's Word for You series. Before joining TGBC, he worked as a journalist and then as a teacher, and pastored a congregation in Hull. Carl is married to Lizzie, and they have two children. He studied history at Oxford University.
