Biblical Quote by Frank Moore Cross
![“I sense that what you two [Elie Wiesel and Frank Moore Cross] share is that you each have a public relationship to the Biblical text and a somewhat private relationship to the Biblical text.” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c90/frank-moore-cross-14963_biblical_i-sense-that-what-you-two-elie-wiesel-an_2178317.jpg)
“I sense that what you two [Elie Wiesel and Frank Moore Cross] share is that you each have a public relationship to the Biblical text and a somewhat private relationship to the Biblical text.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Harvard Divinity School, 1995
Scholars can hold both public scholarly roles and private personal connections to sacred texts.
In simple terms: Public and private relationships to scripture coexist.
Key Takeaway
Balance scholarly analysis with personal reverence.
Themes
theology
scholarship
personal faith
Mood
introspective
academic
Type
scholarly
contemplative
When to use this quote
- academic conferences
- faith communities
- personal study
Key Concepts
biblical studies
public discourse
private devotion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you navigate scholarly objectivity and personal belief?
- What benefits arise from both perspectives?
A Different Perspective
Public analysis may limit personal insight.
![“Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, Elie Wiesel is also the author of more than 40 books. As relevant as anything to today's discussion are the insights into the Biblical texts that are contained in his lectures and books. They include Messengers of God [1976], Five Biblical Portraits [1978]…” quote by Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/327/hershel-shanks-25800_biblical_awarded-the-nobel-peace-prize-in-1986-el_864515.jpg)
![“We're both [with Elie Wiesel] a long way from the position of the so-called Biblical minimalists. Some of them see no history in the Bible until Josiah.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fa/elie-wiesel-341_bible_we-re-both-with-elie-wiesel-a-long-way-f_1724153.jpg)
![“I know that the Bible has been a central influence in [Elie Wiesel and Frank Moore Cross] lives - but in a very different way. In truth, you inhabit very different Biblical worlds.” quote by Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a11/hershel-shanks-25800_bible_i-know-that-the-bible-has-been-a-central_315652.jpg)
![“I have a tremendous respect for Professor [Frank Moore] Cross.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c39/elie-wiesel-341_crosses_i-have-a-tremendous-respect-for-professo_1096229.jpg)
![“I don't think there is any other professional Bible scholar who is more respected and honored [like Frank Moore Cross].” quote by Hershel Shanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/397/hershel-shanks-25800_bible_i-don-t-think-there-is-any-other-profess_2579618.jpg)
![“That is to say, the inspiration, the interpretive richness of the text is what Elie [Wiesel] does publicly, and his interest in history is his private reserve; he knows that he is not an expert in dissecting the text the way Frank [Moore Cross] does.” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cb/frank-moore-cross-14963_crosses_that-is-to-say-the-inspiration-the-inter_1980741.jpg)
![“In fact, we're both [with Elie Wiesel] engaged with the text. We search for different things, we find different things. There is a side of what he does that I'd like to do, a bit more privately. I'm not sure he is as interested in history, as I am.” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/749/frank-moore-cross-14963_bits_in-fact-we-re-both-with-elie-wiesel-enga_2265347.jpg)
![“If I do an interview with [Holocaust survivor] Elie Wiesel, am I required as a journalist to find a Holocaust denier?” quote by Scott Pelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5e6/scott-pelley-22805_climate-change_if-i-do-an-interview-with-holocaust-surv_728384.jpg)
![“[Sacrifice of Isaac] is a major theme of the so-called Elohist [one authorial strand in the Pentateuch]. It is marked by all of his linguistic characteristics, and so on. We cannot determine what is historical and what isn't. As literary critics, we would understand the importance of this for…” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7b3/frank-moore-cross-14963_characteristics_sacrifice-of-isaac-is-a-major-theme-of-t_309064.jpg)
![“[The story of Adam and Eve] it's poetry. One must interpret it as poetry. The first 11 chapters of Genesis [the Primeval History] are absolutely remarkable.” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2f9/frank-moore-cross-14963_adam_the-story-of-adam-and-eve-it-s-poetry-on_634404.jpg)
![“Elie [Wiesel], when you ask, "Why do I want to know," I'm trying to grab the holy. And I'm getting thrown back.” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/952/frank-moore-cross-14963_asks_elie-wiesel-when-you-ask-why-do-i-want-t_690408.jpg)
![“The history of interpretation [of the Bible] is fascinating; but that is something else.” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/946/frank-moore-cross-14963_bible_the-history-of-interpretation-of-the-bib_729883.jpg)
![“The fall [of your soul] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical version of a myth known to many lands.” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ff/joseph-campbell-300_biblical_the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-in_22526.jpg)
![“[John Calvin's] treatment of the person and work of Christ, of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, of prayer and liturgy, of the sacraments, and of the way in which we have an in-built sense of the divine that we suppress to our great sorrow - these are all immense contributions to…” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ef/oliver-d-crisp-12863_believer_john-calvin-s-treatment-of-the-person-an_62415.jpg)
