It is only in the reading and the rereading which each community does together that the Bible becomes a timeless text, the Word of God. If and when that happens, the Bible ceases to be just another book, gathering dust on a shelf. In a community of readers a conversation takes place. The give and take of interpretation creates an extra voice in the room, the sound of Reading the Book. When that happens, the Bible speaks not only to each community of readers, be they Jewish, Christian or any other flavor, but to all humanity.
— Burton L. Visotzky, Reading The Book