ABSTRACT
This chapter observes that much, if not most, of the biblical material was written in the wake of traumatic experience and asks what difference this observation makes to reading biblical text with individual Christians, or congregations, who have experienced traumatic events. Four primary points of significance are identified and discussed in the chapter. First, it is argued that the traumatic background of biblical material means that it is sufficiently robust to support ministry with traumatised people. Second, the author suggests that the Bible’s roots in trauma can be effective in reassuring today’s readers that they are not alone; God’s people have experienced overwhelming events since the times of the biblical writers, and their stories have been read and prayed over by generation after generation of faithful Christians and Jews for centuries. Third, in the face of the silencing of trauma, the Bible offers readers both language and literature for speaking about traumatic experience. Fourth, it is argued that biblical stories offer a model (or models) for the reframing of narrative and identity that is central to the building of resilience.
