Viewpoint Sample
The Critics' Corner
by Dr. Stewart Custer
3:16 Bible Texts Illuminated by Donald E. Knuth. Madison, Wisconsin:
A-R Editions, Inc., 1991. 268 pp.
Knuth studies the Bible by the "stratified sampling" method (p. 5). The author samples the Bible by looking at the 3:16 reference in all the different Biblical books. He omits the books that are too short to have the 3:16 reference, but for those that have too short a chapter he counts on into chapter 4 to get a 3:16 (Ps. 4:8, pp. 82ff). This method gives him 59 verses to use (p. 7). His view is that stratified sampling gives a better grasp of the subject than random sampling would. That leaves open the question of whether a consecutive, verse-by-verse study would give an even better impression of the subject. Knuth refers to the numbering of the Israelites at over 600,000 armed men, commenting that "almost every Bible scholar agrees that these numbers are impossibly large" (p. 24). His method of study by sampling has obviously given him tunnel vision. He commends the documentary hypothesis for Genesis (p. 10). The fact that he uses his own translation for the verses leaves something to be desired. The element that makes this work highly interesting is that every verse used is portrayed by calligraphy. Many of these works of art are challenging and thought-provoking: Judg. 3:16, p. 35; I Sam. 3:16, p. 43; II Sam. 3:16, p. 47; II Kings 3:16, p. 55; Job 3:16, p. 79. At times the calligraphy seems to be confusing (I Kings 3:16, p. 51; Isa. 3:16, p. 99; Lam. 3:16, p. 107). There are, however, other verses in which the artist manifests genuine insight and real helpfulness in interpretation: Matt. 3:16, p. 159; Acts 3:16, p. 174; II Cor. 3:16, p. 187; Gal. 3:16, p. 191; II Thes. 3:16, p. 211; II Pet. 3:16, p. 235. There are some artistic portraits that must be termed brilliant: John 3:16, p. 171; Eph. 3:16, p. 195; I John 3:16, p. 239.