The Bible Says So by Dan McClellan

I appreciated reading Dan’s scholarly perspective of the Bible. This really helped de-bunk things that even I feel uncomfortable having doubts or questions about, for example the idea that the Bible presents Mary as “The Virgin Mary” or that Jesus himself and/or the writers of the gospel strongly believed he was God. The writers weren’t necessarily at that point, and yet they worshipped Jesus as God’s son and the “anointed” one who bears God’s name.

I found Dan’s study of 1 Enoch and other works outside the Bible to be deeply helpful. Dan shows us that the concept of an afterlife (or a hell if we insist on calling it that) evolved and changed with cultural influences (and works like 1 Enoch), some of which even sound very similar to today’s political scene in which both sides want the other side to be punished after death. Personally, I haven’t believed in hell for many years now, and Dan’s work reminds me that believing in hell seems linked to hating people—something many would argue is anti-Christian.

I think Dan’s introduction and conclusion are critically important to the book. He never claims to be correct about everything. In fact, the more scholarly he becomes in his historical-critical approach to the Bible, the more he realizes that we are all interpreting, cherry-picking, even manipulating the Bible based on our identity groups (like denominations and political parties). He wants his interpretation to help the marginalized and oppressed. That is his worthy and arguably very “Christian” aim and goal.

He debunks the idea that the Bible didn’t endorse slavery. It did. Does that mean we should endorse slavery? No, it proves we negotiate, argue and disagree with the Bible. He argues strongly that the Bible is not inerrant and this is one of the most problematic beliefs in some denominations today.

I enjoyed reading chapters about Satan and about God’s wife. Dan uncovers that many writers of Biblical books believed in more than one God, the concept of Satan and the angels and demons evolved over time, and for some writers, there existed a female-god who was probably understood to be God’s wife.

Chapters about abortion, homosexuality and women covering up (modesty) were probably my favorite. Abortion is not equated with murder in the Bible. Rape victims don’t always marry their rapists, however women had almost no sexual agency and there was a ton of rape in the Bible (thank you for confirming my suspicions, Dan). Today’s concept of homosexuality isn’t really in the Bible, and verses translated “homosexual” are likely refer to the sexual exploitation or “feminization” of being a male who is penetrated by another male. And we can disagree with the Biblical authors understanding of why being penetrated makes someone lesser or abominable (which essentially applied to women as well).

Dan basically debunks and re-interprets the book of Revelation. It depicts events in 60-100CE and likely has little or nothing to do with future apocalyptic events.

There is so much more explored in this book and after reading it, I feel very validated in my own claim that I am still a Christian, despite my questions about who Jesus was and what he achieved, my questions about the existence of Satan, angels, demons and hell. I want Christianity to evolve toward love, grace, equity and inclusion and that’s what I believe Dan is arguing for. Well written, Dan! This book is incredibly illuminating.

Dan McClellan’s The Bible Says So is a breath of fresh air in the often overheated world of biblical interpretation. What sets this book apart is its rare combination of clarity, thoughtfulness, and academic rigor—delivered in an accessible and engaging style that invites readers into the world of serious biblical scholarship without overwhelming them.

McClellan has a remarkable gift for making complex topics understandable. He explains concepts from linguistics, history, theology, and cognitive science with care, helping readers grasp not just what scholars think, but why they think it. Importantly, he doesn’t try to use scholarship to push a personal theological agenda. Instead, he consistently foregrounds the mainstream scholarly consensus, offering readers a well-grounded and balanced perspective on how the Bible came to be and how it has been interpreted over time.

This book is not about deconstruction for its own sake, nor is it an apologetic work. It's about inviting people to think critically, compassionately, and contextually about sacred texts. McClellan’s deep respect for his subject matter, paired with his clear-eyed commitment to evidence and reason, makes The Bible Says So a trustworthy guide for anyone interested in how belief works and how scripture functions in the real world.

Highly recommended for curious lay readers, students, and anyone who wants to engage the Bible with both heart and head.

As a non-linguist or scholar of the Bible I find the information provided very interesting & helpful. Author gets into Biblical subjects that I've had questions about for a long time. I'm a little over 1/2 way through the book and I'm enjoying it a lot.

The You Tube 'algorithm' sent me the Author's Reels 2 + years ago & that's how I found out he was putting out a book. I'm on page 163 & I'm very happy I bought this book. The book is in line with what Dr. McClellan puts out on line but gets way more specific with his references and discussions.

Hmm, What can I say? The author is educated, but seems to really enjoy stirring the pot more than trying to find the absolute truth of intention by original authors of the Bible or finding ways to teach. Some of the things he says appear to be true, but are presented in such an inflammatory way, that he is probably not getting the message across to people who can’t see past it (which is the case, I’m sure for most people-besides other pot-stirrers). However, I think a lot of topics brought up are very interesting and if you are one to think twice and study for yourself, it is a great book! I like that it gives you topics to look up and ponder. I don’t agree with much of it from what I have studied of the Bible so far, but it was thought-provoking for me. I also don’t feel like he is presenting what is necessarily true of God, but what he feels due to his research, is what the original authors would have meant and understood. However, I think many would be unnecessarily, offended by the author. It’s just not an effective way to discuss religion in my opinion. For me, still worth the read.

Book came well packaged and in great condition.

Before I proceed with my review, please permit me to deal with why we need a book like “The Bible Says So” in the first place.

If you think you know what the Bible says, you’re mistaken. I don’t care how many times you’ve read it. I don’t care what your favorite apologists say. I don’t care how many Sunday School, catechism, or Hebrew schools you attended or even taught. I don’t care if you attended a theological seminary.

Most of the above includes me. Back in my religious days, I studied the Bible like mad and attended and taught Bible classes. I now realize I didn’t know what I was talking about.

The Bible comprises independent works by over 100 authors who had no concept that their work would someday be assembled into one volume and deemed authoritative. They wrote in different times and settings with differing objectives. Many were not who they claimed or whom tradition later deemed them to be. They wrote in languages and idioms foreign to modern readers. There are competing compilations and translations, some more or less reliable than others. No complete original texts survive to consult.

Now, unless you are versed in the pertinent histories and languages, you are doomed to apply limited perspective when you read the Bible. You are at the mercy of your modern understanding, your biases, and the biases of anyone you permit to interpret the Bible on your behalf.

There. That’s why we need an author like Daniel McClellan and a book like “The Bible Says So.”

McClellan is beyond versed in the above–referenced matters. He is a scholar with degrees in religious and biblical studies, including a Master of Studies from University of Oxford, a Master of Arts from Trinity Western University, and a PhD from University of Exeter.

And, lucky for us, McClellan excels at boiling down his exhaustive research, knowledge, and expertise so the rest of us can understand and even enjoy it. That’s because, aside from being academically dead–on, McClellan’s work is as accessible as it is compelling. The scholarship is there, but he writes in everyday American English, sneaking in colloquialisms, witticisms, and, here and there, even a bit of snark.

Now, “The Bible Says So” is NOT a theological study. It takes no doctrinal stands, makes no “truth” claims. McClellan acknowledges that he has personal beliefs but, consummate scholar that he is, leaves them out of his work. His commitment is to what the biblical texts say and do not say.

So read “The Bible Says So.” You will emerge enlightened, even humbled. (Unless, that is, you happen to number among a particular brand of crusader who would twist the Bible to support a given agenda. In that case, you’ll emerge angry. Indeed, a good number already have.)

Next time you hear someone utter the dread words, “the Bible says,” you can look them in the eye and say, “You don’t know jack about what the Bible says.” You’ll be right.

As someone who spent almost four decades deep within evangelical Christianity, has read the Bible cover to cover at least three times, and has poured over scripture in countless Bible studies, I've never had anyone who presented it with context. It has always been dogma passed down and around.

I started deconstructing five or so years ago, and it's hard now to even read a Bible, but this book was helpful to me in so many ways. Following Dan for a couple years already on TT means I'm familiar with his dry wit and dedication to presenting facts, not feelings when it comes to the Bible. His thoughts and research collected within these pages is a great complement to all the work he puts in daily to helping people understand the history, the original intention, and the background of the written word.

Presented (mostly) in easy to understand breakdowns, I greatly appreciate Dan's insight.

Wow! This is a very well researched book that definitely challenges a lot of conventionally held ideas like biblical inerrancy, abortion, homosexuality, and slavery and brings up a ton of things I hadn’t even thought about like God having a human form or a wife or child sacrifice. I think the biggest overall takeaway is that we are always “negotiating with what the Bible says”. McClellan makes a really compelling argument that there isn’t one truth like I’ve always been told and thought. Everyone negotiates with the Bible and you can’t avoid it. There was so much information that I really want to buy a physical copy and read it again. I listened to the audiobook which a thought was really good and interesting but very wordy and I had to listen to it slower than my 1.50 speed I listen to everything else at.

I will also add that while I thought it was great, my friend who is a pastor read it and said she really thought you could see his Mormon bias in the book. The only place I thought maybe that was true is about God having a wife, but I’m not as well versed in either religion as she is.

This book discusses biblical topics based on the biblical documents themselves along with history and archeology as we understand it in 2025. No doctrinal development and dogmatism and as little presuppositional influence as humanely possible. A hundred years from today, this book will probably be out of date based on new discoveries and research. However, this volume presents the findings of modern scholarship.

I was a Christian for the first 39 years of my life and graduated from a Bible college. I was led by personal study to become a 12er Shi'ite Muslim because Theodicy and Anti-Imperialism were important to me as a Christian. I still love the Bible and Christians. My wife, in fact, is a Roman Catholic. So, when I read the Bible, its not to criticize Christians. I like the Bible because its a fascinating collection of books to read.

Since the author is a member of the LDS Church, one might think a a Muslim who believes in the Oneness of God wouldn't care about what an Bible Scholar who is a member of that community would write. However, even if I have very different beliefs than the author, I have always gotten along well with members of the LDS Church.

I had encountered much of this scholarship previously, so I wasn't caught off guard by any of the chapters. Obviously, I believe there is only one Uncreated Being that I call God. However, that is not what an archeology might conclude from the evidence. The popular belief in biblical times was not Unitarian or Binitarian monotheism. In my view, God would not have sent Prophets if the nations believed Unitarian Monotheism. Thus, there is nothing to get upset about when reading this book.

Even though many Muslim nations in most of history were empires, the Quran clearly teaches that there is no compulsion in religion and that warfare in defensive only, and has limits. So, I shouldn't expect other scholars to reach the same conclusions I reached. Nor should I desire the force others to confess the same faith that I confess.

I have heard talk of a second volume in the works. I hope this is the case. I quite like the way Dan McClellan writes. I enjoy his YouTube videos as well.

Dan’s extensive research and scholarship challenges long held engrained traditions with real data in an easy-to-read format. Highly recommended!

Hervorragendes Buch! Der Autor wirft einen sehr genauen Blick auf die biblischen Texte (besonders AT) und widerlegt / problematisiert zahlreiche Mythen und Dogmen darüber, was die Bibel angeblich “sagt” (Schöpfung aus dem Nichts, Hölle etc.) - gleichzeitig ein sehr gut verständlicher Einblick in die historisch-kritische Methode

Dan’s book tries to present itself the same way his videos do—scholarly, impartial, and grounded in “just the data.” But the reality is very different. Right on page two he admits that his approach is to “give the benefit of the doubt to the less powerful group.” Now, caring for the marginalized is a deeply biblical value. But when that becomes the starting point for interpretation instead of the outcome of good interpretation, it risks smuggling modern categories into ancient texts and ignoring what the original authors actually meant. That’s exactly what happens here, again and again, as Dan uses the Bible and his brand of scholarship to argue for abortion, same-sex relationships, and even the idea that Jesus wasn’t divine.

He admits later in the book: “Even scholars like me who choose a historical-critical approach and presume to speak more authoritatively about what the Bible ‘actually says’ are not really excavating meaning. We’re reconstructing it just like everyone else” (253). But if all we’re doing is reconstructing meaning, then why does he spend so much time telling everyone else they’re wrong? That’s a pretty big contradiction.

Another problem is the way Dan sets himself up. He often takes aim at random fundamentalists on social media who don’t have training in biblical studies, which makes the whole thing feel more like bullying than serious scholarship. Meanwhile, when it comes to actual scholars who disagree with him, Dan simply ignores them. More than once I found myself thinking, Why won’t he deal with this other view? The answer is hard to miss—he doesn’t want to wrestle with interpretations that challenge his own.

In the end, the book feels like an apologetics for progressive postmodern ideals dressed up in biblical studies language. At times it reads less like exegesis and more like a recruitment brochure for a certain moral vision. And the irony is that while Dan spends much of his time critiquing fundamentalism, he often slips into his own version of progressive fundamentalism.

Interesting read. Seems well-researched and assertions backed by scholarship (and clearly identified as such).

The popular Tiktok and YT critical biblical scholar takes 10 biblical tropes and debunks them all.

Be warned as no sacred cow is sacred here, from the virgin birth through to Jesus divinity is held up under a microscope, where the question is asked, who wrote this and why might they be doing so, and what does it's context (historical or otherwise) tell us, as well as what the language also says.

If you want a little context, this book is really best read after watching Dan on YT or Tiktok first. It's quite dense and scholarly, however it's peppered with Dan's millennial references (he even uses the word cromulent, 10 points to Gryffindor / Slytherin if you get that reference!) and wry humour. However the book is deadly serious and if you are easily shocked, look away now!

For those that want, or need, the Bible held to account, this is for you. Wanting a lite read or a know your enemy thing? Id say give it a skip.

My own story is that my childhood had a horrible long shadow cast over it by anxiety and scrupulousity caused by evangelical Christianity. As a child, I was made to waste sunny days pouring over apocalyptic and mind bending texts with horror movie symbology I was told to take literally. The devil for me was all powerful and omnipresent, Jehovah or God on retirement, but would work over whatever the devil and his demons had left over. Also the world was imminently going to end. Causing me panic attacks and delusions, with the people around me only affirming that message when I looked for reassurance.

Anyway fast forward to I am 40 and I suddenly get separated at a time in my life I am a stay at home dad. With all the turbulence, I realized as a conservative I had 'backed the wrong horse' and was reaping the whirlwind.

I thought I had beaten my religious upbringing, but no, it came back for round 2 as it saw I was on my back and struggling.

Thank you Dan, I seriously thought the only 2 options were full acceptance or atheistic shrugging off of the Bible. To have it analysed with an objective and evidence based lens is truly mind blowing.

I am nowhere near as persuasive or eloquent as Dan but would love to see the evangelical street preachers that have no idea what they are truly pushing squirm.

Dan has been a balm and reassurance to me and so interesting on a text whose,.let's be frank, willful misinterpretation for generations has been a blight on humanity.