"The Bible is the book of books. It has been and is the most widely read and most translated book on the planet. It expresses transcendent questions of human existence while narrating ordinary actions with extraordinary simplicity and depth. It is not enough, therefore, to walk through the text: it demands to be understood".

With these words, University of Navarra theologian José Morales presents his new book, Reading and Understanding the Bible (Rialp), in which he offers keys to approach the Holy Scriptures.

According to the author, the book is intended so that "the men and women of our time can approach the biblical texts with ease and sufficient information to improve their lives and broaden their cultural horizons, if necessary. 

To this end, Professor Morales has tried to take into account "the sentiments of the centuries of the Christian community regarding the sacred books, and to situate them in the theological and historical-critical coordinates that an ecclesial reading demands today, according to the spirit of the Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini".

The volume consists of the following chapters: The Bible in the framework of the sacred books of religions. The Bible and the People of Israel. Content of the Bible; The Biblical Text. Authority of the Bible; Bible, Revelation and Church; Documents of the Church on the Sacred Scripture; The Biblical Canon; Inspiration of the Sacred Scripture; The truth of the Sacred Scripture; Interpretation of the Sacred Scripture. History of biblical exegesis (I); History of biblical exegesis (II). Methods of interpretation; Interpretation; The interpretation of the Sacred Scripture by the doctrinal documents of the Church, Liturgy and Preaching. Principles of interpretation; The meanings of the Sacred Scripture; Literary genres of the Bible; The Sacred Scripture in theology and Christian life; and The Bible in art. Bible and Literature.

José Morales is Professor of Dogmatic Theology at School of Theology at the University of Navarra. He has published numerous books on Literature, Theology, History and Islamic issues at programs of study . His books include El Islam, La experiencia de Dios, Introducción a la Teología, Jesús de Nazaret, Los santos y santas de Dios, Madre de la Gracia, Fidelidad, El hombre nuevo and Newman (1801-1890).