"We would sell the
Bible short were we to read it only to nourish what we already believe and
think, or to support what we already do or avoid doing. The Bible also
challenges us to alter our believing, thinking, and doing. Once this is
granted, it becomes apparent that who, where, when, and what we are must not be
allowed to govern our understanding of the Bible so effectively that the only
challenge we experience from it is to be better at what we are already about.
Alert readers have discovered repeatedly that the Bible has surprises for
everyone." [Leander Keck, "Introduction to the New Interpreter's Bible," The
New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 1, pp. 193f. (1995; available on
CD-Rom)]