The Bible and the common reader

"This book makes no claim to profound biblical scholarship. As its title clearly implies, it is written for the common reader; and from those common readers who may perhaps enjoy its pages I am myself distinguished only by the fact that I may possess more knowledge of its subject than they. I write it because for many years I have taken more delight in the Bible than in any other book I know and because I have become convinced that too few persons know how to read it." Mary Ellen Chase.