Why read the Bible? Gerd Theissen shares the wisdom gained in decades of Bible instruction at a state university to address questions of the Bible's relevance in a postmodern, pluralistic society. He describes the enduring value of the biblical legacy for anyone seeking to be a well-informed, self-aware, and responsible citizen, and commends the contributions the Bible can make to inter-religious and secular conversation. In a concluding chapter he addresses how the Bible may still serve as an essential resource for Christian identity in the twenty-first century.