Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts Books

Book SynopsisThis study walks readers through the prophecies of Ezekiel, pointing them to the promises of God to restore his people so theydisplay his glory to the nations.

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Book SynopsisThis accessible study guide reveals how the unfaithfulness of Israelunder the leadership ofjudges pointed to the need for a faithful King who wouldrulethe people in righteousness.

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Book SynopsisTheGreek Scripture Journal: New Testament Setfeaturesthe entirety of individual books of the Greek New Testament with widemargins and extra space between each line of text. This set of 19 journals presents the entirety of the Greek New Testament in an engaging format.

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Book SynopsisUsing the words of Jesus in Luke 24:4647 as a springboard, After Emmaus explains how the story of redemption foretold in the Old Testament is fulfilled in Christ, is reflected in the apostles' ministry, and continues today through the mission of the church.

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Book SynopsisAuthor and scholar Vern S. Poythress explores major systematic theology topics through the lens of truth, explaining how truth informs and confirms what the Bible teaches.

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Book SynopsisMitchell L. Chase traces the theme of resurrection hope throughout Scripture, explaining how an understanding of resurrection is essential to faith now, in addition to a longing for what is to come.

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Book SynopsisThis ESV Bible includes study notes, articles, and daily devotionals written especially for men by more than 100 of the world's leading Bible scholars and teachers, helping readers understand God's Word more deeply and apply it to their lives.

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Book SynopsisThis study presents a substantial revision to received ideas about the relationship between biblical and ancient Greek conceptions of human nature.Table of ContentsPreface & Acknowledgements Introduction: Athens and Jerusalem I: In Defense of Perplexity II: Man's Estate III: An Ethical Compass IV: Raven's Land V: The Reformation VI: Contemplating the Bust of Homer VII: Nobodies VIII: The Birth of Death IX: Becoming Political X: Love Stories XI: Life & Times XII: Misbehaviourism Conclusion: On the Carmel Notes Index Bibliography

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Book SynopsisErasmus yearned to make the New Testament an effective instrument of reform in society, church, and everyday life, and to this end he composed the Paraphrases, in which the words of Holy Scripture provide the core of a text that was vastly expanded to embrace the reforming philosophy of Christ. Paraphrase on Luke 110 contains the first half of Erasmus’s Paraphrase on Luke the second half of which appeared in this series in 2003 and completes the set of translations of the Paraphrases into English. In his Paraphrase on Luke, Erasmus expands on the original Gospel of Luke in the voice of its original author. The narrative is supplemented by Erasmus’ explications of the text’s moral, theological, and allegorical meanings and its psychological, historical, and geographical context. In addition to a fluid and idiomatic translation, Paraphrase on Luke 110 includes extensive annotations for the genTrade Review'The Toronto Erasmus project is a magnificent achievement, one of the scholarly triumphs of our time. The succession of fine volumes - both in quality of content and of design and production - has continued to fulfil the original promise of the distinguished team of editors and the equally distinguished advisory committee.' -- Lisa Jardine Common Knowledge 'Academic publishing does not get any better than this: durably bound, expertly annotated, beautifully translated editions of the works of one of the finest scholars in the illustrious history of the Christian Church.' -- Michael Bauman Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 'The Collected Works of Erasmus project has long since established a new standard for scholarly translation series to emulate. Not only have the English versions represented Erasmus' writings in crisp and accessible language, but meticulous editorial scholarship has placed the author's thought and work in their proper intellectual contexts.' -- Jerry H. Bentley Renaissance Quarterly 'One of the most ambitious, meticulous, and essential scholarly projects now underway.' -- Willis G. Regier Modern Language NotesTable of ContentsPreface (by Robert D. Sider) Translator's Note (by Jane E. Phillips) Paraphrase on Luke / Paraphrasis in Lucam (translated and annotated by Jane E. Phillips) The Sequences and Dates of the Publication of the Paraphrases Works Frequently Cited Short-Title Forms for Erasmus' Works Index of Scriptural Passages Cited Index of Greek and Latin Words Cited General Index

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Book SynopsisAmong the most important of Erasmus’ contributions to Christian humanism were his Greek text, new Latin translation, and annotations of the New Testament, an implicit challenge to the authority of the Vulgate and one that provoked numerous responses. This volume of the Collected Works contains translations of four of Erasmus’ responses to his critics, written between 1520 and 1532 and directed primarily to his Franciscan and Dominican contemporaries at the university in Louvain. Three are connected to his Annotations on the New Testament. The fourth, a letter to Christopher von Utenheim, bishop of Basel, deals with pastoral questions such as fasting, abstinence, and the celibacy of priests. Though they mostly deal with philological rather than doctrinal matters, these debates were no less important to Erasmus’ work. Carefully and extensively annotated by the translator, Denis L. Drysdall, volume 73 of the Collected Works invites the reader to exaTrade Review'The Collected Works of Erasmus project has long since established a new standard for scholarly translation series to emulate. Not only have the English versions represented Erasmus' writings in crisp and accessible language, but meticulous editorial scholarship has placed the author's thought and work in their proper intellectual contexts.' -- Jerry H. Bentley Renaissance Quarterly 'One of the most ambitious, meticulous, and essential scholarly projects now underway.' -- Willis G. Regier Modern Language Notes 'The Toronto Erasmus project is a magnificent achievement, one of the scholarly triumphs of our time. The succession of fine volumes - both in quality of content and of design and production - has continued to fulfil the original promise of the distinguished team of editors and the equally distinguished advisory committee.' -- Lisa Jardine Common Knowledge 'Academic publishing does not get any better than this: durably bound, expertly annotated, beautifully translated editions of the works of one of the finest scholars in the illustrious history of the Christian Church.' -- Michael Bauman Journal of the Evangelical Theological SocietyTable of ContentsIntroduction Translator's Note A Defence by Erasmus of Rotterdam Publicly Refuting the Mischievous Clamour of Certain Men among People both Influential and Humble to Whom They Declare that it was an Impiety on his Part to Translate in the Gospel of John: In principio erat sermo (1520a) Apologia Erasmi Roterodami palam refellens quorundam seditiosos clamores apud populum ac magnates, quibus ut impie factum iactitant, quod in evangelio Ioannis verterit, 'In principio erat sermo' A Defence by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam of In principio erat sermo (1520b) Desiderii Erasmi Roterodami Apologia de 'In principio erat sermo' A Defence by Erasmus of Rotterdam against Criticism Made in Public Teaching by Nicolaas of Egmond of the Passage in Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 15 'We shall indeed all rise again, but we shall not all be changed' Desiderii Erasmi Roterodami Apologia de loco taxato in publica professione per Nicolaum Ecmondanum Theologum et Carmelitanum Lovanii. Locus est in epistola Pauli ad Corinthios priore, cap XV: 'Omnes quidem resurgemus, sed non omnes immutabimur A Letter by Desiderius Erasmus Defending his Views Concerning the Prohibition on Eating Meat and Similar Human Regulations, to the Reverend Father in Christ and Honourable Prince Christopher, Bishop of Basel Ad reverendum in Christo patrem et illustrem principem Christophorum episcopum Basiliensem, epistola apologetica Erasmi Roterodami, de interdicto esu carnium, deque similibus hominum constitutionibus Notes on the Letter about Abstinence In epistolam de delectu ciborum scholia A Response by Desiderius Erasmus to the Discussions of a Certain 'Youth Who Would Teach his Elders' Desiderii Erasmi responsio ad Collationes cuiusdam iuvenis gerontodidasca Works Frequently Cited Short-Title Forms Erasmus' Works Index of Scriptural References Index of Green and Latin Works Cited General Index

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Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive and accessible introduction to scriptural art yet written Literary Study of the Bible: An Introduction approaches each book of the Bible (including several of the apocrypha) with non-sectarian literary questions, exploring the meanings that the Bible reveals when we read it like a poem, narrative, or play. As a unique hybrid of introductory guide, essential handbook, historical survey, and absorbing commentary, this book fills a gap in literary Bible study with its fresh perspectives on the biblical writers' many arts. Readers will engage in wide range of textual approaches and interpretive traditions through this broadly informed, accessibly written text. Dr. Christopher Hodgkins has taught Literary Study of the Bible for 25 years, over which time he has field-tested the many lensesof genre, image, language, characterization, plot, and craftused throughout this book. Tracing the sources, composition, and influences of the Biblical Table of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgments xix Part I Beginning 1 1 "The Dream Was Doubled": Reading Like a Hebrew 3 1.1 Seeing Deep and Whole: Stereoscopic Vision 3 1.2 Tabernacles for the Sun: Biblical Genres 10 2 "In the Scroll of the Book": Composition and Canonicity 15 2.1 The Documentary Hypothesis: Its Origins, Assumptions, and Evolution 15 2.1.1 Hypothetical Documents: Divine Names, Disputed Dates, and the "Polychrome Bible" 17 2.1.2 Toledoth: Generations of Genesis and Torah 22 2.2 New Testament Sources: "Q" and A 23 2.3 "In His Hand Was a Measuring Rod": Community, Councils, and Canons 23 2.3.1 Tanakh, Old Testament, the Deutero]Canonicals, and New Testament Apocrypha 24 2.4 Literary Study of the Bible: A Way Forward 29 Part II The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible/Tanakh 31 3 Hebrew Poetry: Deep Calls to Deep 33 3.1 "In the Great Congregation": The Many Voices of Psalms 33 3.1.1 A Pentateuch of Poems: The Five Books of the Psalter 35 3.1.2 "Create in Me a Clean Heart": Interior Drama and Psychological Discovery 39 3.1.3 "Play Skillfully": Figure and Form 45 3.1.3.1 Figurative Language 45 3.1.3.2 Form: Parallelism – Synonymous, Antithetic, Synthetic 46 3.1.3.3 Form: Refrain and Litany 46 3.1.3.4 Form: Juxtaposition 47 3.2 Love Strong as Death: The Song of Solomon 48 3.2.1 Lyric Sequence or Dramatic Narrative: Whose Story? 48 3.2.1.1 Allegory? 51 3.2.1.2 Literal Love Story? 52 3.2.1.3 Earthly Desire and Heavenly Longing 54 4 Wisdom Literature: Understanding Their Riddles 57 4.1 "Take Hold of Her": Wisdom and Desire in Proverbs 58 4.1.1 "She Calls Aloud in the Streets": Wisdom and Folly Personified 59 4.1.2 Folly Made Flesh: The Loose Woman 60 4.1.3 Wisdom Incarnate: The Good Wife 62 4.1.4 "The Beginning of Wisdom": How to Read a Proverb 65 4.2 "Enjoy Your Toil": The Counter]Wisdom of Ecclesiastes 67 4.2.1 "Under the Sun": Living by Mortal Light 69 4.2.2 "The Wind Whirls About": Cycles and Cynicism 70 4.2.3 "Remember Your Creator": The End and the Beginning 73 5 Origin Narrative I: Divine Images in Genesis 77 5.1 Biblical Narrative Style: The Elements 77 5.1.1 Minimalism 77 5.1.2 Wordplay 79 5.1.3 Doubling and Repetition 79 5.1.4 Juxtaposition 80 5.1.5 Deferred Judgment 80 5.1.6 Irony – Sad, Happy, Complex 83 5.2 Day of Days: Creation in Stereoscope 84 5.2.1 "And It Was Good": The Quiet Polemic Against Creative Violence 85 5.2.2 "In Our Image": Man or Manikin? 88 5.2.3 "Male and Female": Gendering Genesis 89 5.2.4 "Flesh of My Flesh": Biblical Erotics and Marriage 91 5.3 Nakedness and Knowledge: Deception, Folly, Fall, and Curse 93 6 Origin Narrative II: Patriarchy and Its Discontents in Genesis 101 6.1 "Arc" of the Covenant: The Story of God’s Contracts 102 6.1.1 Kinds of Covenant: Bilateral and Unilateral 102 6.1.2 Keeping Covenant: Promises, Conditions, Signs 103 6.1.3 Specific Covenants: Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic 104 6.1.3.1 Adamic Covenant 104 6.1.3.2 Noahic Covenant 107 6.1.3.3 Abrahamic Covenant 110 6.2 Warts and All: Abraham and Anti]Patriarchal Patriarchy 114 6.3 "The Older Shall Serve the Younger": Against Primogeniture 120 6.4 "What Will Become of His Dreams": Joseph and His Brothers 131 7 Biblical Epic I: Making the Nation in the Pentateuch 145 7.1 Mosaic Epic: The Priestly Kingdom 145 7.1.1 Moses: A Man Drawn Out 148 7.1.2 The Exodus: Let My People Go 151 7.1.3 Exodus and Leviticus: Covenant Law and Liberty 155 7.1.3.1 Mosaic Covenant: Moral, Civil, and Ritual Law 158 7.1.4 Numbers: Rebellion and Wandering 169 7.1.5 Deuteronomy: The Law Renewed 172 8 Heroic Narrative: Remaking the Hero in Joshua, Judges, and Ruth 177 8.1 Joshua’s Conquest: Taking the Promised Land 177 8.2 "When the Judge Was Dead … They Reverted": Cycles of Decay in Judges 183 8.2.1 Alternative Heroes: Ehud, Deborah, Jael, and Gideon 185 8.2.2 "Weak … Like Any Other Man": The Tragedy of Samson 191 8.2.3 The Anti]Hero: "Right in His Own Eyes" 195 8.3 "Famous in Bethlehem": Ruth and Boaz, Local Heroes 200 9 Biblical Epic II: Making the Kingdom in 1 and 2 Samuel 207 9.1 Saul’s Epic Tragedy: "A King … Like All the Nations" in 1 Samuel 207 9.1.1 "The Glory Has Departed": Samuel, the Ark, and Israelite Survival 208 9.1.2 Cross Destinies: Saul, David, and Chiastic Plot Structure 212 9.2 David's Epic Tragicomedy: A Sure House, a Lasting Covenant in 2 Samuel 225 9.2.1 A Biblical Elegy: The Song of the Bow 225 9.2.2 "From Strength to Strength": King in Hebron, King in Jerusalem 226 9.2.3 Cross Destinies Times Two: David, Absalom, and Double Chiastic Plot Structure 230 9.2.4 Coda: "He Who Rules Over Men" 238 10 National Narrative: Chosen Stories of Chosen People in Kings, Chronicles, Ezra]Nehemiah, and Esther 241 10.1 Sad Stories of the Death of Kings: Kings and Chronicles 241 10.1.1 "Cast Down the Mighty": Highlights of Misrule and Divine Intervention in Kings 252 10.1.2 Doubled, with a Difference: The Book of Chronicles 260 10.2 Return and Rebuild: Ezra and Nehemiah, Restorers of the City 261 10.3 "For Such a Time as This": Esther in a Strange Land 268 11 Drama: The Divine Tragicomedy of Job 277 11.1 Job as Primal Theater 278 11.1.1 Prologue: Nakedness and Knowledge, Again 279 11.1.2 Act 1: Debate Begins – Job 4–14 282 11.1.3 Act 2: The Pace Quickens – Job 15–21 284 11.1.4 Act 3: Climax, Sullen Silence, and Summation – Job 22–31 287 11.1.5 Act 4: Elihu, Angry Young Man – Job 32–37 289 11.1.6 Act 5: The LORD Answers – Job 38–42 290 11.1.7 Epilogue: Theodicy vs. Theophany and Satan's Real Absence – Job 42 292 12 Prophecy: Who Speaks for God? 297 12.1 Nevi’im: Prophets Former and Latter, Major and Minor 298 12.1.1 Forthtelling Prophecy: Elijah, Elisha, and Social Justice 298 12.1.2 Foretelling Prophecy: The Scandal of Prediction 300 12.1.2.1 Messianic Prophecy: The Anointed One 302 12.1.2.2 Apocalyptic Prophecy: Visions of the End, and the Beginning 303 12.2 The Major Prophets: Isaiah Through Daniel 304 12.2.1 Isaiah: The Art of Prophesying 304 12.2.2 Jeremiah and Lamentations: The Weeping Prophet of Hope 307 12.2.3 Ezekiel: "Son of Man, Can These Bones Live?" 313 12.2.4 Daniel: "Man Greatly Beloved" 315 12.3 The Minor Prophets: "The Day of Small Things" 318 12.3.1 Hosea: "Take Unto Thee a Wife of Whoredoms" 318 12.3.2 Joel: "The Day of the Locust" 319 12.3.3 Amos: "Let Justice Run Down Like Water" 319 12.3.4 Obadiah: "Concerning Edom" 320 12.3.5 Jonah: "Should I Not Pity Nineveh?" 320 12.3.6 Micah: Birth Pangs of the Kingdom 321 12.3.7 Nahum:"Woe to the Bloody City!" 322 12.3.8 Habakkuk: "On the Day of Wrath, the Just Shall Live by His Faith" 322 12.3.9 Zephaniah: "I Will Gather Those Who Sorrow" 323 12.3.10 Haggai: "The Desire of All Nations" 323 12.3.11 Zechariah: "Behold, Your King" 324 12.3.12 Malachi: "Who Can Endure the Day of His Coming?" 325 Part III The New Testament/New Covenant 329 13 Gospel Narrative: Kingdom Coming 331 13.1 Make It New: Another Covenant 331 13.2 "A House Divided": Intertestamental Developments and Religious/Political Parties in Jesus' Day 332 13.3 Synoptic and Johannine: Stereoscopic Vision Revisited 336 13.3.1 Mark,"Q," and Synoptic Composition 337 13.3.2 Jesus of History, Christ of Faith? 338 13.4 "Tell No Man": The Messianic Secret 340 13.4.1 Parables: Kingdom Secrets, "Ears to Hear" 343 13.5 Gospel vs. Biography: Chosen Stories of the Chosen One 347 13.5.1 Matthew: Jesus, Son of Abraham 348 13.5.1.1 Toledoth Y’shua: The Generations of Jesus 348 13.5.2 Mark: Jesus, Son of God 350 13.5.2.1 "Render Unto Caesar": Mark and Romanitas 350 13.5.3 Luke]Acts: Jesus, Son of Adam 352 13.5.3.1 "Most Excellent Theophilus": Luke's Testimony 354 13.5.3.2 Discoursing Wonders: Luke and the Marvelous 354 13.5.3.3 Acts of the Holy Spirit: "The World Turned Upside Down" 358 13.5.3.4 Preacher, Martyr, Evangelist, and Convert: Peter, Stephen, Philip, and Saul/Paul 360 13.5.4 John: Jesus, Son of the Father, Word Made Flesh 366 13.5.4.1 "And Dwelt Among Us": Gnosticism Refuted by the Word Made Flesh 367 13.5.4.2 "What Sign Do You Show Us?": The Semeia of John 370 13.5.5 Ordinary Splendor: The Miracle of the Everyday 374 14 Epistle: Divine–Human Correspondence 377 14.1 Sent to the Nations: Pauline Epistles 379 14.1.1 Paul's Letters to Churches 380 14.1.1.1 At the Center of Power: Romans 380 14.1.1.2 At the Center of Trade: 1 and 2 Corinthians 385 14.1.1.3 The Law of Grace: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians 390 14.1.1.4 Paul's Apocalypse: 1 and 2 Thessalonians 398 14.1.2 Paul's Letters to Individuals 400 14.1.2.1 Pastoral Epistles: 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus 400 14.1.2.2 "More Than a Slave": Philemon 402 14.2 General Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, Jude 403 14.2.1 Better Than Moses: The Letter to the Hebrews 403 14.2.2 Trials of the Faith that Works: James 405 14.2.3 The Forge of Persecution and the Cancer of Corruption: 1 and 2 Peter 407 14.2.4 Fire and Hope: Jude 410 14.3 Johannine Epistles: "God is Love" 411 15 New Testament Apocalypse: Kingdom Come 417 15.1 Little Apocalypses: The Gospels and Epistles 418 15.2 "An Angel Standing in the Sun": The Brilliant Difficulties of Revelation 420 15.2.1 Fearful Symmetry: Structuring the Vision 421 15.2.2 Theatrum Mundi: Staging the Vision 423 15.2.3 "The Words of This Book": Speaking the Vision 424 15.2.4 "If Anyone Adds … and Takes Away": Interpreting the Vision 425 15.2.4.1 Preterist: Apocalypse Then 426 15.2.4.2 Historicist: Apocalypse Then to Now 427 15.2.4.3 Futurist: Apocalypse Soon 428 15.2.4.4 Spiritual/Symbolist: Apocalypse Now – and Always 430 15.2.5 The Three]Fold Answer: A Symbolic Drama of Past, Present, and Future 432 15.3 Full Circle: A Tree in a Garden 433 Appendix 1 Suggestions for Further Reading 437 Appendix 2 Boxes and Illustrations 439 Index 443

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Book SynopsisAt the birth of the United States, African Americans were excluded from the newly-formed Republic and its churches, which saw them as savage rather than citizen and as heathen rather than Christian. Denied civil access to the basic rights granted to others, African Americans have developed their own sacred traditions and their own civil discourses. As part of this effort, African American intellectuals offered interpretations of the Bible which were radically different and often fundamentally oppositional to those of many of their white counterparts. By imagining a freedom unconstrained, their work charted a broader and, perhaps, a more genuinely American identity. In Pillars of Cloud and Fire, Herbert Robinson Marbury offers a comprehensive survey of African American biblical interpretation. Each chapter in this compelling volume moves chronologically, from the antebellum period and the Civil War through to the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights movement, the blTrade ReviewDeepens in substantial ways our understanding of the socio-political dynamics informing Africana encounters with the Bible in North America. Marbury utilizes the 'cloud pillar' and the 'fire column' from Exodus as master tropes for examining the contexts and performative dimensions of biblical hermeneutics in the North American diaspora. The result is a new paradigmboth evocative and creativefor reconceptualizing biblically informed rhetorics of liberation and their historical development. -- The Rev. Hugh R. Page, Jr.,general editor of The Africana Bible: Reading Israel's Scriptures from Africa and the African DiaMarbury brilliantly functions as historical, literary, rhetorical and ideological critic in this work. Most exciting is how he demonstrates the sophisticated exegetical and hermeneutical usages of the biblical text by African Americans over three centuries. . . . . Fundamental to all of the individuals explored in this work and to Marbury is the belief that using the biblical text for inspiring African Americans to strive for freedom and for motivating other racial ethnic groups to assist in this effort is a worthwhile endeavor. This work is a must read. -- Randall C. Bailey,Andrew W. Mellon Distinguished Professor of Hebrew Bible, Interdenominational Theological CenterThe book will find a wide audience with scholars of African American biblical interpretation, scholars of the biblical book of exodus, and historians of American religion. * Religious Studies Review *Herbert Robinson Marbury offers an insightful exploration of select African American social, cultural and political exegesis of Exodus, both the biblical text and liberative trope. * Black Theology *Table of Contentsix Contents Preface: Locating the Project xi Acknowledgments xv Introduction 1 1. Exodus: Israelite Deliverance and Antebellum Hope 13 2. Exodus in the Wilderness: Making Bitter Water Sweet 49 3. Exodus and Hurston: Toward a Humanist Critique of Black Religion in the Harlem Renaissance 107 4. Exodus in the Civil Rights Era: Returning the Struggle to the Black Church 133 5. Exodus at the Intersection of the Black Power Movement and the Black Church 170 Conclusion: Cloud, Fire, and Beyond 201 Notes 207 Bibliography 231 Index of Names 239 Index of Subjects 243 About the Author 249

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Book SynopsisProvides a foundational analysis of the Aramaic text of Ezra and Daniel. John Cook's analysis is a convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, and engages important text-critical debates.Trade ReviewA thorough introduction addresses the linguistic features of biblical Aramaic, with special attention to particularly challenging syntactical questions. -- The Bible TodayAramaic Ezra and Daniel provides up-to-date, sophisticated linguistic analysis and explanation from one of the top scholars in the field... It is highly recommended for those teaching or taking graduate-level courses in Biblical Aramaic, those studying Ezra or Daniel, and those preaching these books who want access to the riches of the original Aramaic text, led by a capable guide. -- Books at a Glance

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Book SynopsisProvides a foundational examination of the Greek text of the Letter to the Philippians. Lidija Novakovic's exposition is a convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, and engages important text-critical debates.

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Book SynopsisIn Seek to See Him April DeConick argues that the Gospel of Thomas, contrary to the way Thomas is normally understood, does not originate from gnostic traditions. Instead, she proposes that Thomas is best explained by Hermetic and Second Temple Jewish mystical traditions.

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Book SynopsisDemonstrates that angel and angel-related traditions, especially those built upon the so-called “Angel of the Lord” figure in the Hebrew Bible, had a profound impact upon the origin, development, and shape of early Christian claims about Jesus.Trade Review"Well-researched and carefully argued." -- James R Davila, Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic & Roman Period, reviewing a previous edition or volume"Gieschens enthusiasm for the subject, along with the impressive erudition provided, combine to make this an engaging and valuable study." -- Larry Hurtado, Journal of Biblical Literature, reviewing a previous edition or volume"Gieschens enthusiasm for the subject, along with the impressive erudition provided, combine to make this an engaging and valuable study." -- Larry Hurtado, Journal of Biblical Literature, reviewing a previous edition or volume

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Book SynopsisSecond Temple Judaism exerted a profound and shaping influence upon early Christianity. The Jewish Roots of Christological Monotheism documents this influence by exploring the ways in which the Christian praxis of Christ-devotion in the first two centuries of the Common Era can be understood as a manifestation of Jewish monotheism.

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Book SynopsisIt has been more than two decades since the publication of George Kennedy's influential New Testament Interpretation Through Rhetorical Criticism (1984). The essays in Words Well Spoken demonstrate the influence of Kennedy's work on New Testament studies.Table of Contents Abbreviations Acknowledgements 1. C. Clifton Black and Duane F. Watson Introduction 2. Margaret D. Zulick The Recollection of Rhetoric: A Brief History 3. Thomas H. Olbricht George Kennedy's Scholarship in the Context of North American Rhetorical Studies 4. Duane F. Watson The Influence of George Kennedy on Rhetorical Criticism of the New Testament 5. C. Clifton Black Kennedy and the Gospels: An Ambiguous Legacy, A Promising Bequest 6. Vernon K. Robbins Rhetography: A New Way of Seeing the Familiar Text 7. Blake Shipp George Kennedy's Influence on Rhetorical Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles 8. Frank W. Hughes George Kennedy's Contribution to Rhetorical Criticism of the Pauline Letters 9. James D. Hester Kennedy and the Reading of Paul: The Energy of Communication 10. Greg Carey Moving an Audience: One Aspect of Pathos in the Book of Revelation 11. George A. Kennedy Afterword Curriculum Vitae: George Alexander Kennedy Bibliography List of Contributors Indexes

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Book SynopsisProvides a foundational analysis of the Greek text of Matthew 15-28. Olmstead's analysis is a convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, and engages important text-critical debates.

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Book SynopsisJohn's theological obsession with Christology might suggest that history counts for little in the Gospel. But, as Jorg Frey argues, the Gospel's clear and central claim is that John narrates the story of Jesus of Nazareth, his ministry, and his death, as “factual,” and that this narrated “history” is foundational for the Christian message.

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Book SynopsisExplores how believers lapse into idolatry, a process Stephen Fowl insists is much different from the decision of those who have rejected belief in God. He asserts that the Old Testament's account of Israel's idolatry as dramatic folly and betrayal describes the after effects of idolatry, not the process of how believers lapse into idolatry.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Thinking about Idolatry 2. Forgetting and Attending 3. Bounded and Unbounded Desire 4. Insecurity, Love, and Mission 5. The Community of the Curious Conclusion

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Book SynopsisFocuses upon the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus in their discussion of pistis Christou. The authors survey Paul's use of pistis in Philippians, the Corinthian letters, Galatians, Romans, and Ephesians, revealing how pistis epitomizes the risen Christ's continuing faithfulness toward all those who participate in him by pistis.Table of Contents Introduction: ""He Remains Faithful"" 1. The Semantics of Pistis: ""The Lord Is Faithful"" 2. Philippians: ""To Know Him and the Power of His Resurrection"" 3. The Corinthian Correspondence: ""We Have the Same Spirit of Faithfulness"" 4. Galatians: ""I Live in the Faithfulness of the Son of God"" 5. Romans: ""The One Who Is Righteous Will Live by Faith"" 6. Ephesians: ""In Whom We Have Boldness and Access with Confidence through His Faithfulness"" Conclusion: ""In His Faithfulness and Love, in His Suffering and Resurrection""

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Book SynopsisSiegfried Kreuzer's Introduction to the Septuagint presents, in English, the most extensive introduction of the Septuagint to date. It offers comprehensive overviews of the individual biblical writings, including the history of research, current findings and problems, and perspectives for future research.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Origins and Transmission of the Septuagint Siegfried Kreuzer Overview of Textual Witnesses to the Septuagint Siegfried Kreuzer / Marcus Sigismund 1. Pentateuch 1.0. From the Torah to Nomos: Perspectives of Research on the Greek Pentateuch Martin Rösel 1.1. Genesis Martina Kepper 1.2. Exodos/Exodus Peter Schwagmeier 1.3. Levitikon/Leviticus Martin Vahrenhorst 1.4. Arithmoi/Numeri/Numbers Gilles Dorival 1.5. Deuteronomion/Deuteronomium/Deuteronomy Melvin K. H. Peters 2. Historical Books 2.1. Jesus/Josue/Joshua Cornelis G. den Hertog 2.2. Kritai/Iudices/Judges Natalio Fernà ndez Marcos 2.3. Ruth Eberhard Bons 2.4. The Books of Kingdoms/Reigns 2.4.1â2. Basileion I and II / 1â2 Kingdoms / 1â2 Samuel Philippe Hugo 2.4.3. Basileion III / 3 Kingdoms / 1 Kings. Martin Meiser 2.4.4. Basileion IV / 4 Kingdoms / 2 Kings Julio Trebolle-Barreira 2.5. Paraleipomenon I and II / 1â2 Chronica / 1â2 Chronicles Adrian Schenker 2.6.1. Esdras I / 1 Esdras / 3 Ezra Dieter Böhler 2.6.2. Esdras II / 2 Esdras / Ezra-Nehemiah Dieter Böhler 3. Later Historical Books and Narratives 3.1. Esther / The Book of Esther Kristin De Troyer 3.2. Judith / The Book of Judith Helmut Engel 3.3. Tobit / The Book of Tobit / Tobias Katrin Hauspie 3.4. The Books of the Maccabees 3.4.1. Makkabaion I / 1 Maccabees Michael Tilly 3.4.2. Makkabaion II / 2 Maccabees Tobias Nicklas 3.4.3. Makkabaion III / 3 Maccabees Wolfgang Orth 3.4.4. Makkabaion IV / 4 Maccabees Robert J. V. Hiebert 4. Psalms and Odes 4.1. Psalmoi / The Book of Psalms Eberhard Bons / Ralph Brucker 4.2. Odai / Odai / The Book of Odes Ioan ChirilÄ / Siegfried Kreuzer 4.3. Psalmoi Solomontos / Psalms of Solomon Felix Albrecht 5. Wisdom Books 5.1. Paroimiai / Proverbia / Proverbs of Solomon Hans-Winfried JÃ"ngling 5.2. Ekklesiastes / Qohelet / Ecclesiastes Peter J. Gentry with Yun-Yeong Yi 5.3. Asma / Canticum Canticorum / Song of Songs Eva Schulz-FlÃ"gel 5.4. Job Markus Witte 5.5. Sophia Solomonos / Sapientia Salomonis / Wisdom of Solomon Helmut Engel 5.6. Sophia Sirach / Ekklesiasticus / The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach Frank Ueberschaer 6. Prophetic Books 6.1. Dodekapropheton / The Twelve Prophets 6.1.0. Dodekapropheton / The Twelve Prophets: An Overview Cécile Dogniez 6.1.1. Osee/Hosea Jan Joosten 6.1.2. Amos Eberhard Bons 6.1.3. Michaias/Michaeas/Micah Cécile Dogniez / Jan Joosten 6.1.4. Joel Cécile Dogniez 6.1.5. Abdiu/Abdias/Obadiah Cécile Dogniez 6.1.6. Jonas/Jonah Cécile Dogniez 6.1.7. Naoum/Nahum Heinz-Josef Fabry 6.1.8. Ambakoum/Habacuc/Habakkuk Heinz-Josef Fabry 6.1.9. Sophonias/Zephaniah Jong-Hoon Kim 6.1.10. Aggaios/Aggaeus/Haggai Thomas Pola 6.1.11. Zacharias/Zechariah Thomas Pola 6.1.12. Malachias/Malachi Cécile Dogniez 6.2. Esaias/Isaias/Isaiah Arie van der Kooij 6.3. Jeremiah Writings 6.3.1. Jeremias/Ieremias/Jeremiah Pierre-Maurice Bogaert 6.3.2. Baruch Pierre-Maurice Bogaert 6.3.3. Threnoi/Lamentationes/Lamentations Frank Ueberschaer 6.3.4. Epistole Jeremiou / Epistola Ieremiae / Epistle of Jeremiah Benjamin Wright 6.4. Iezekiel/Ezechiel/Ezekiel Johan Lust 6.5. Daniel Writings 6.5.1. Daniel Marco Settembrini 6.5.2. Sousanna/Susanna/Susannah Heinz-Dieter Neef 6.5.3. Bel kai Drakon / Bel et Draco / Bel and the Dragon Heinz-Dieter Neef 7. The Septuagint and the New Testament 7.1. The Septuagint Text in Early Christianity Martin Karrer 7.2. The Significance of Septuagint Quotations in the New Testament against the Background of Old Testament Textual History Wolfgang Kraus

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Book SynopsisThe question of the good life - what it looks like for people and societies to be well ordered and flourishing - has universal significance, but its proposed solutions are just as far reaching. With Seeking What Is Right, Iain Provan invites us to consider how Scripture - the Old Testament in particular - can aid us in this quest.Table of Contents Part 1. Foundations 1 The Good Life and How to Recognize It A Short Introduction 2 The Twenty-Five Percent Bible Scripture and the Good Life 3 In the Beginning Design, Sin, and Redundancy Part 2. Explorations 4 The Emperor's New Clothes Constantine as Biblical Hero 5 Not Wholly Roman The Carolingian Empire 6 Journey to the Center of the Earth The First Crusade and Jerusalem 7 The Foulness of Fornication Sex and Marriage in John Calvin's Geneva 8 Apocalypse Now The New Jerusalem in Münster 9 Men of Blood The English Revolution 10 A City upon a Hill The Godly Republic in New England 11 God's Servant for Your Good Tyranny, Freedom, and Right Government 12 Conceived in Liberty? Race, Slavery, and the People Of God 13 A Monstrous Regiment? The Vocation and Rights of Women 14 Staying Alive Jews, Palestinians, and the Holy Land 15 On Looking After the Garden The Good Life and Environmental Ethics Part 3. Conclusions 16 The Sword of the Spirit The Cutting Edge of Biblical Ethics 17 The Moral Maze of the Moment A Brief Guide for the Perplexed 18 Who Am I? Questions of Identity 19 The Landscape of Exile On Living in Dangerous Times 20 The Disciplines of Exile On Hearts and Minds

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Book SynopsisMakes a biblical and theological case for the ordination of women to the ministerial office of Word and Sacrament. William Witt argues that not only those in favour of, but also those opposed to, women's ordination embrace new theological positions in response to cultural changes of the modern era.

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Book SynopsisProvides a foundational examination of the Greek text of Acts. The analysis is distinguished by the detailed yet comprehensive attention paid to the text. The authors' exposition is a convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text and offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses.

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Book SynopsisProvides a comprehensive interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew that draws on the best of modern research. Along with an analysis of the narrative structure, Matthias Konradt discusses the dense network of references to the Scriptures of Israel as well as the historical situation in which the Gospel was composed.Table of Contents Author's Preface to the English Edition Translator's Preface Author's Preface to the German Edition A. Introduction B. Commentary 1 The Prologue (1:2–4:16) 2 Jesus' Ministry in Israel and the Mission of His Disciples to Israel (4:17–11:1) 3 Between Hostility and Confession as Messiah: Reactions to Jesus' Ministry in Israel and Their Results (11:2–16:20) 4 The Passion as the Central Point of the Way of the Messiah—Suffering and Service as Signs of Discipleship to Christ (16:21–20:34) 5 Jesus' Final Controversy with His Opponents and the Last Judgment (21–25) 6 The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus and the Commissioning of the Disciples to the Universal Mission (26:1–28:20) Bibliography A. Literature Referenced in the Commentary B. Commentaries for the General Reader C. Technical Academic Commentaries D. Histories of Research E. Selected Literature

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Book SynopsisInvites students and scholars alike to explore the various ways in which the concept of silence is expressed in the Old Testament and the many meanings it conveys. John Kessler surveys the diverse facets of the Old Testament's understanding of silence to help readers discover the richness of this often-overlooked biblical theme.

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Book SynopsisA convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, engages important text-critical debates, and addresses questions relating to the Greek text that are frequently overlooked by standard commentaries.

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Book SynopsisPowerfully demonstrates the disciplinary fusion of Renaissance biblical scholarship - in which the Bible remained the primary locus for cultural, anthropological, and psychological reflection - against modern historians' penchant for bracketing all things religious when reimagining the Renaissance world.

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Book SynopsisA true ""Reference Edition"", this book provides thorough, detailed, and exacting overviews, background material, and textual analysis. Carl Holladay leads readers to consider questions of canon, authority, and genre that shape the formation of the text and the text's formation of the identity, theology, and mission of the church today.Table of Contents List of Maps, Figures, Tables, and Plates Preface to the Reference Edition Preface to the First Edition Abbreviations Introduction Part 1. Theology and Scripture 1. The New Testament as Theological Writings 2. The Shape of the Canon Part 2. The Gospels: Narrative Traditions About Jesus 3. Relating the Gospels to Each Other 4. From Jesus to the Gospels 5. From the Gospels to Jesus 6. The Gospel of Mark 7. The Gospel of Matthew 8. The Gospel of Luke 9. The Gospel of John Part 3. The Story of Jesus Continued: The Church's Origin and Expansion 10. The Acts of the Apostles Part 4. The Pauline Letters and Hebrews 11. Reading the Pauline Letters 12. The Thessalonian Letters 13. The Corinthian Letters 14. Galatians 15. Romans 16. Philippians 17. Philemon 18. Colossians 19. Ephesians 20. The Pastoral Letters 21. Hebrews Part 5. The Catholic Letters 22. James 23. First Peter 24. Jude 25. Second Peter 26. The Johannine Letters Part 6. Jesus in the Apocalyptic Imagination 27. Revelation Part 7. The New Testament as the Church's Book: The Formation of the New Testament Canon 28. The Christian Scriptures Appendix 1. Ancient Canonical Lists Appendix 2. Early Christian Views of the Gospels

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Book SynopsisSurprisingly little scholarly attention has been focused on inheritance as a unique and crucial concept for Israelite and Jewish religious life and belief. This paucity of attention extends to Matthew's Gospel, where inheritance terms appear on four occasions. Daniel Daley argues that these passages play a vital role in Matthew's overall narrative.Table of Contents 1. Introduction: Matthew and Jewish Tradition 2. Inheritance in the Hebrew Bible 3. Inheritance in the Second Temple Period: Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha 4. Inheritance in the Second Temple Period: The Qumran Scrolls 5. Inheritance in the Gospel of Matthew 6. Conclusion: Matthew and the Promise of Discipleship

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Book SynopsisOffers a robust, canonically holistic ‘figural eschatology’ that has not been defended in three centuries. By being more faithful to Christian Scripture, this is an approach more theologically promising than any offered in the modern era, including the twentieth century ‘rediscovery of eschatology’.Table of Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction 1. Death, the Last Enemy 2. Prefigurative Resurrections in 1–2 Kings and the Gospels 3. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus 4. Post-figurative Resurrections in Acts and Beyond 5. The Holy Spirit and Present Spiritual Resurrection 6. Awaiting the Return of Christ 7. Resurrection as Configuration to Christ 8. Constraining Speculation by the Figure of Christ 9. The Same Body or Another Body? 10. Resurrection as/and Judgment 11. Ascension as Christian Destiny 12. Resurrection as (New) Creation Conclusion: Resurrection, the End of Scripture, and Theology

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Book SynopsisPresents some of the key figures and their arguments across three major periods of interest in the development of using associations as a model for understanding early Christ groups. A new introduction orients the reader to the important contributions of each essay.Table of Contents Introducing the Conversation, by Richard S. Ascough Part One: Initiating the Conversation (1866-1927) 1 St. Paul and the Pagan Guilds (1927), by Thomas Wilson 2 Religious Legislation of the Period (1905), by Ernest Renan 3 Bishops and Deacons (1881), by Edwin Hatch 4 Christianity and the Collegia (1906), E. G. Hardy 5 Edwin Hatch, Churches, and Collegia (1993), by John S. Kloppenborg 6 On the Exegetical Interest in Ancient Associations in the 19th and 20th Centures (2006), by Thomas Schmeller Part Two: Reanimating the Conversation (1960-1984) 7 Unofficial Associations: Koinonia (1960), by E. A. Judge 8 Patrons and Officers in Club and Church (1977), by William L. Countryman 9 Christianity as a Burial Society (1984), by Robert L. Wilken 10 A Hellenistic Cult Group and the New Testament Churches (1981), by S. C. Barton and G. H. R. Horsley 11 The Formation of the Ekklēsia (1983), by Wayne A. Meeks Part Three: Moving the Conversation Forward (1999-2013) 12 Paul's House Churches and the Cultic Associations (1999), by James Harrison 13 Voluntary Associations and the Formation of Pauline Churches: Overcoming the Objections (2006), by Richard S. Ascough 14 Roman Legislation on Associations and Christian Communities (2002), by Markus Öhler 15 Christ-Bearers and Fellow-Initiates: Local Cultural Life and Christian Identity in Ignatius' Letters (2003), by Philip A. Harland 16 Membership Practices in Pauline Christ Groups (2013), by John S. Kloppenborg

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Book SynopsisCalling into question the common assumption that the Middle Ages produced no secondary epics, Ann W. Astell here revises a key chapter in literary history. She examines the connections between the Book of Job and Boethius'' s Consolation of Philosophytexts closely associated with each other in the minds of medieval readers and writersand demonstrates that these two works served as a conduit for the tradition of heroic poetry from antiquity through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. As she traces the complex influences of classical and biblical texts on vernacular literature, Astell offers provocative readings of works by Dante, Chaucer, Spenser, Malory, Milton, and many others.Astell looks at the relationship between the historical reception of the epic and successive imitative forms, showing how Boethius''s Consolation and Johan biblical commentaries echo the allegorical treatment of epic truth in the poems of Homer and Virgil, and how in turn many worksTrade ReviewThough present-day critics, who concentrate on form, generally find the epic discontinuous in the Middle Ages, Astell argues that the genre persisted as the biblical book of Job and Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy were imitated and alluded to as examples throughout the period.... The scholarship is prodigious, the argument convincing, and the Christian stance congenial to the subject. Highly recommended. * Choice *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIt is the first English translation of the text and is, therefore, a welcome addition to the literature on Maximus. Prassas has rendered us a great service by striving so vigorously with Maximus's difficult Greek. The collection of Quaestiones et Dubia itself is an excellent text for beginning a study of Maximus. Prassas' work is, therefore, definitely to be recommended. * Journal of Early Christian Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction - Historical and Cultural Context - Maximus and the Quaestiones et dubia - Translator's Note St. Maximus the Confessor's Quaestiones et dubia Translation Abbreviations and References Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAnimal studies may be a recent academic development, but our fascination with animals is nothing new. Surviving cave paintings are of animal forms, and closer to us, as Ken Stone points out, animals populate biblical literature from beginning to end. This book explores the significance of animal studies for the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. The field has had relatively little impact on biblical interpretation to date, but combined with biblical scholarship, it sheds useful light on animals, animal symbolism, and the relations among animals, humans, and God—not only for those who study biblical literature and its ancient context, but for contemporary readers concerned with environmental, social, and animal ethics. Without the presence of domesticated and wild animals, neither biblical traditions nor the religions that make use of the Bible would exist in their current forms. Although parts of the Bible draw a clear line between humans and animals, other passages complicate that line in multiple ways and challenge our assumptions about the roles animals play therein. Engaging influential thinkers, including Jacques Derrida, Donna Haraway, and other experts in animal and ecological studies, Reading the Hebrew Bible with Animal Studies shows how prehumanist texts reveal unexpectedly relevant dynamics and themes for our posthumanist age.Trade Review"Most people who read the Hebrew Bible don't see or hear the animals. But they are everywhere, and they are complicated. This book looks at all of them—the good, the bad, and the ugly animals. Well worth reading if you are interested in literary studies, Biblical studies, or animals."—Laura Hobgood, Southwestern University"This was a book begging to be written, and I can think of no one better qualified to write it than Ken Stone. He has descended more deeply into the field of animal studies than any other scholar of the Hebrew Bible. His ecological sensibilities, theoretical acumen, and incisive exegetical arguments open up fresh perspectives on overread biblical texts and tired scholarly debates."—Stephen D. Moore, The Theological School, Drew University"Reading the Hebrew Bible with Animal Studies is an excellent book that offers a much-needed interface between biblical and animal studies....[Stone] gives biblical texts—and animals—the opportunity to contribute to both a complete reimagining of the Hebrew Bible and contemporary debates in animal studies. This monograph is poised to become a key work in the field."—Anne Létourneau, Reading Religion"Stone's monograph succeeds on several fronts. It serves as an excellent introduction to the field of animal studies for scholars who may not be familiar with this discipline. His applications of these ideas to biblical passages are always interesting, and often illuminate the text in new ways. What's more, the monograph offers a roadmap for scholars working with contemporary theories of all kinds as to how these theories can be introduced into biblical studies while building on the foundation of historical-critical scholarship."—Brandon R. Grafius, Horizons in Biblical Theology"This superb book fills a void in scholarship and deserves to be widely read....I strongly recommend it for scholars, pastors, graduate students, and other interested readers who care about animals and the future of our planet."––Barry R. Huff, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology"Ken Stone's groundbreaking work...invites readers to enter into the animal world to discover the contributions that animals have made not only to life in ancient Israel but also to the understanding of the Bible's poems and stories....[This] wonderfully crafted, insightful, and accessible book is a 'must read' for all humans on Planet Earth."—Carol J. Dempsey, OP, Horizons"In the context of a growing interest in the multiple relationships between human and other animals, this is an important contribution to the literature, which should enjoy a broad readership."—Philip J. Sampson, Journal of Animal EthicsTable of ContentsIntroduction: Reading the Hebrew Bible with Animal Studies 1. Israel's Companion Species and the Creation of Bibles 2. Tracking the Dogs of Exodus 3. The Chimera of Biblical Sacrifice 4. From Animal Hermeneutics to Animal Ethics 5. Israel's Wild Neighbors in the Zoological Gaze 6. The Psalmist, the Primatologist, and the Place of Animals in Biblical Religion 7. Reading the Hebrew Bible in an Age of Extinction

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Book SynopsisCan anyone say anything that has not already been said about the most scrutinized text in human history? In one of the most radical rereadings of the opening chapters of Genesis since The Zohar, David Kishik manages to do just that. The Book of Shem, a philosophical meditation on the beginning of the Bible and the end of the world, offers an inspiring interpretation of this navel of world literature. The six parts of the primeval story—God's creation, the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah's Ark, the first covenant, and the Tower of Babel—come together to address a single concern: How does one become the human being that one is? By closely analyzing the founding text of the Abrahamic religions, this short treatise rethinks some of their deepest convictions. With a mixture of reverence and violence, Kishik's creative commentary demonstrates the post-secular implications of a pre-Abrahamic position. A translation of the Hebrew source, included as an appendix, helps to peel away the endless layers of presuppositions about its meaning. Trade Review"With The Book of Shem, we are far from the antiquarianism or spiritual edification one normally expects from a commentary on an ancient text. David Kishik's unconventional reading follows an unconventional method, one that clearly draws on vast erudition and real linguistic expertise."—Adam Kotsko, North Central College"The Book of Shem is a fantastic book that teaches us something new and returns us to something we have abandoned for too long. David Kishik turns his well-honed attention to a truly original question: how to translate 'origin'—how to relate it, relate to it, and let ourselves be interpellated by it."—Gil Anidjar, Columbia University"The Book of Shem is a rare work of scholarship that combines elegance with rigor, economy with originality. This is a book I want to teach, reread, and give as a gift."—Brian Britt, Virginia Tech

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Book SynopsisCan anyone say anything that has not already been said about the most scrutinized text in human history? In one of the most radical rereadings of the opening chapters of Genesis since The Zohar, David Kishik manages to do just that. The Book of Shem, a philosophical meditation on the beginning of the Bible and the end of the world, offers an inspiring interpretation of this navel of world literature. The six parts of the primeval story—God's creation, the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah's Ark, the first covenant, and the Tower of Babel—come together to address a single concern: How does one become the human being that one is? By closely analyzing the founding text of the Abrahamic religions, this short treatise rethinks some of their deepest convictions. With a mixture of reverence and violence, Kishik's creative commentary demonstrates the post-secular implications of a pre-Abrahamic position. A translation of the Hebrew source, included as an appendix, helps to peel away the endless layers of presuppositions about its meaning. Trade Review"With The Book of Shem, we are far from the antiquarianism or spiritual edification one normally expects from a commentary on an ancient text. David Kishik's unconventional reading follows an unconventional method, one that clearly draws on vast erudition and real linguistic expertise."—Adam Kotsko, North Central College"The Book of Shem is a fantastic book that teaches us something new and returns us to something we have abandoned for too long. David Kishik turns his well-honed attention to a truly original question: how to translate 'origin'—how to relate it, relate to it, and let ourselves be interpellated by it."—Gil Anidjar, Columbia University"The Book of Shem is a rare work of scholarship that combines elegance with rigor, economy with originality. This is a book I want to teach, reread, and give as a gift."—Brian Britt, Virginia Tech

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Book SynopsisExploring Latin@ theologies and the power of revelation. The Word Became Culture enacts a preferential option for culture, retrieving experiences and expressions from across latinidad as sources of theologizing and acts of resistance to marginalization. Each author in this edited volume demonstrates the many ways in which Latin@ theologies are disruptive, generative, and creative spaces rooted in the richness, struggles, texts, and rituals found at the intersections of faith and culture. With a foreword by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture, this book situates Latin@ theologies in the ongoing search for and recognition of the “Word becoming” within the particularities of diverse cultural experiences.Table of ContentsPreface to the Series | vii Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández, Gary Riebe-Estrella, Miguel H. Díaz Acknowledgments | xi Introduction: A Preferential Option for Culture | xv Miguel H. Díaz Foreword | xxi Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi 1. The Word That Crosses: Life-giving Encounters with the Markan Jesus and Guadalupe | 1 Miguel H. Díaz 2. Beyond Borders and Boundaries: Rethinking Eisegesis and Rereading Ruth 1:16–17 | 25 Jean-Pierre Ruiz 3. A “Preferential Option”: A Challenge to Faith in a Culture of Privilege | 49 María Teresa Dávila 4. (De)Ciphering Mestizaje: Encrypting Lived Faith | 71 Néstor Medina 5. Playing en los Márgenes: Lo Popular as Locus Theologicus | 93 Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández Index | 115

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