On the Face of the Deep: The Sea in Scripture - Paperback

by Linford Stutzman (Author), Barry J. Beitzel (Editor)

The Old Testament tells a story primarily written to, by, and about people of the land―the promised land and its neighboring territories. Those at home on the sea were almost always portrayed as enemies by those authors. But with the New Testament comes a startling shift of focus: The disciples take their message to the ends of the earth via the Mediterranean Sea.

In On the Face of the Deep, Linford Stutzman highlights the importance of sea stories in Scripture. A biblical scholar as well as an expert sailor, Stutzman rereads these passages with insights from history, marine archaeology, ancient texts, and the cultural and physical environment of the Mediterranean itself. His study reveals geographical and cultural details that enhance our appreciation of the drama and significance of the Bible's sea stories.

Back Jacket

Highlights the Importance of Sea Stories in Scripture

Biblical scholar and expert sailor Linford Stutzman rereads sea stories in Scripture with insights from history, marine archaeology, ancient texts, and the cultural and physical environment of the Mediterranean.

"In this gem of a book, readers are trained to see the waterborne contexts and peoples of the Bible in new and illuminating ways. With Stutzman--a seasoned sailor-scholar--as guide, readers learn to engage Scripture and the life of faith from the perspective of the sea and those who traveled it."
--Eric M. Trinka, Emory & Henry University, Virginia; author of Cultures of Mobility, Migration, and Religion in Ancient Israel and Its World

"A compelling nautical journey through the Scriptures that is rich with historical background, biblical insights, and personal reflections. Stutzman traces the biblical story of the people of God from Genesis to Revelation as they move from their land-based origins to engage, in an increasingly vital fashion, with 'the sea and its people.' We owe Stutzman a debt of gratitude for demonstrating the significance of the sea as a crucial historical, theological, and missiological motif throughout the Scriptures."
--Dorothy Jean Weaver, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Virginia (emerita)

"Stutzman challenges Bible readers to make a paradigm shift: to read the text from the perspective of the sea rather than the land. With a broad sweep he surveys Jewish and Greco-Roman history to show how the sea played a prominent role in these ancient societies, their traditions, and their texts. All aboard for a great read!"
--Mark Wilson, director of Asia Minor Research Center, Turkey; Stellenbosch University; University of South Africa

"Stutzman invites us to take a seaward view of Scripture--a gaze long overdue in biblical studies. His observations spring from texts, geography, archaeology, and his own years of experience sailing the sea routes of the apostle Paul. A delightful read."
--Paul H. Wright, Jerusalem University College, Israel (emeritus)

Author Biography

Linford Stutzman (PhD, Catholic University of America) is professor emeritus of culture, religion, and missions at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he previously directed the Biblical Lands Educational Seminars and Service (BLESS). He is the author of Sailing Acts and With Paul at Sea. Linford and his wife, Janet, have been sailing the Mediterranean since 2004.