The World of the Bible: Indispensable Context in the Study of the Old Testament (original) (raw)
Introduction to the Old Testament
2014
This volume introduces ancient Israel's Scriptures, or the Hebrew Bible, commonly called the Old Testament. It also traces the legacy of monotheism first found in the pages of the Old Testament. Where pertinent to the message of the Old Testament, the book explores issues of history, comparative religions, and sociology, while striking a balance among these topics by focusing primarily on literary features of the text. In addition, frequent sidebar discussions introduce the reader to contemporary scholarship, especially the results of historical-critical research and archaeology. Along the way, the book explores how the Old Testament conceptualized and gave rise to monotheism, one of the most significant developments in history. • Pays unique attention to the origins of monotheism, the common heritage of Jews, Christians, and Muslims • Includes generous number of illustrations, 20 freshly created maps, and frequent sidebar discussions in each chapter, as well as concise chapter summaries and glossary of terms • Has a web component that includes study guides, flashcards, PowerPoint lecture slides and a test bank Pays unique attention to the origins of monotheism, the common heritage of Jews, Christians and Muslims Includes a generous number of illustrations, twenty freshly created maps, and frequent sidebar discussions in each chapter, as well as concise chapter summaries and glossary of terms Has a web component that includes study guides, flashcards, PowerPoint lecture slides and a test bank
Biblical Interpretation: Paradigm Shifts and Historical and Sociological Perspectives
This essay falls into three parts, the first of which deals with the major shifts or switches that have occurred in the history of biblical hermeneutics. While the most recent shift is away from the diachronic historical method as the touchstone of criticism, its usefulness in partnership with synchronic methods like sociological exegesis is widely recognised. It is this method which we will discuss in the second part. In the third part, our attention will be focused on the sociological approach, which is a more than useful complement to historical criticism.
The Bible is a collection of Books which are recognized and used by Christian churches as the inspired record of God's revelation of himself and his will to mankind. Etymologically the word "Bible" is from Greek "biblia" or" biblion"diminutive of biblios (book),from byblos (papyrus).It is called paprus because in ancient times papyrus was used to in making the paper from which books were manufactured ( Douglas & Tennecy eds (1987).The Bible is said to have first been written in Heaven.This fact is proved in Psalm 119:89;1Peter 1:23,25;2 Peter 1:21 also in the Old Testament there are phrases such as "The word of Lord came" and " the Lord spoke" and "thus sayeth the Lord" etc.
2012
Irrespective of one’s views concerning divine origin or the cultural value we should assign these texts today, the Bible’s stamp on history is palpable and deserves to be engaged responsibly with deference to its ancient setting.