“Writing a book about the Bible is like building a sandcastle in front of the Matterhorn.”
That arresting analogy is the opening line to N. T. Wright’s The Last Word: Beyond the Bible Wars to a New Understanding of the Authority of Scripture. (Incidentally, it’s not the best sandcastle. Watch D. A. Carson knock it over [pp. 45–62].)
Actually, I’m not sold on the analogy. A good book about the Bible (like a good sermon about the Bible, which is essentially the same) should be like a skilled and experienced guide taking you up the Matterhorn. To be sure, I’ve heard and read plenty of sandcastles, but they weren’t being faithful to the text. He makes it sound like books have to compete with the Bible. I don’t think that’s true. FWIW.
The analogy I typed in the title isn’t quite what Wright says. His analogy is about the process, not the final product. Wright says that the process of writing a book about the Bible is like the process of building a sandcastle in front of the Matterhorn.
I like the analogy. Like most analogies, it’s not perfect, but I see the point. I’ve been wanting to write a book for quite some time now and that is the challenge; to manufacture something that looks like the wisdom of the Bible (consistent in theology and doctrine, not impersonating) even though it is insignificant compared to scripture itself, no matter how many copies are sold.
Not meaning to be contrary. :)