Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts Books

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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Book SynopsisToday's neurological research has placed habit at the center of human behavior; we are what we do repetitively. When we want to add something to our life, whether it's exercise, prayer, or just getting up earlier in the morning, we know that we must turn an activity into a habit through repetition or it just won't stick. What would happen if we applied the same kind of daily dedication to faith? Could faith become a habit, a given--automatic? With vulnerable storytelling and insightful readings of both Old and New Testament passages, Jen Pollock Michel invites the convinced and the curious into a 40-day Bible reading experience. Vividly translating ancient truths for a secular age, Michel highlights how the biblical text invites us to see, know, live, love, and obey. The daily reflection questions and weekly discussion guides invite both individuals and groups, believers and doubters alike, to explore how faith, even faith as small as a mustard seed, might grow into a life-defining habit.

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Book SynopsisReady to go deeper into what you learned about following the Ten Commandments and receiving the blessings that come from obedience? In this study guide designed to accompany The 10, Dr. Robert Jeffress gives you practical, actionable ways to · esteem God alone · worship God only · revere God's name · value God's day · honor your parents · preserve life · keep marriage holy · respect the property of others · safeguard the reputation of others · control yourself and be content Perfect for individuals, small groups, ministry teams, and more, this resource will help you put into practice all that you learned from the book so that you can see a difference in the way you live and love in a world that has lost its way.

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Book SynopsisEnd-Times Prophecy Does Not Need to Be Complicated Or Confusing... "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." --Matthew 24:42 The words of Jesus remind Christians that--even though we do not know the date when He will return--we need to have our finger on the pulse of what is happening morally, spiritually, and politically in our world. And with the increasing chaos, division, and war happening today, it is right to ask, "Are we living in the end times now?" In this book, Dr. Robert Jeffress provides biblical answers to seven frequently asked questions about the future: 1. What Does the Bible Mean by the End Times? 2. What Role Does Israel Play in the End Times? 3. What News Events Signal the End Times? 4. What Are the Major Events of the End Times? 5. What's the Difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming in the End Times? 6. Why Has God Delayed the End Times? 7. How Do I Prepare for the End Times? Getting answers to these questions--and understanding the phenomenal events that are going to happen before the revelation of the King of kings and Lord of lords--helps believers face the future with hope and confidence.

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Book SynopsisThis important work by one of the most significant New Testament scholars of the modern period, now available in English for the first time, explores the significance of Christian apocalyptic for the church in times of conflict and crisis. Engaging with global social and political realities that are still very much with us, Ernst Käsemann offers a theological indictment of global white supremacy, capitalism, and militarism and passionately articulates an apocalyptic theology of liberation. The book includes a foreword by James H. Cone and an introduction by Ry O. Siggelkow.Table of ContentsContentsForeword by James Hal ConeEditor's Introduction by Ry O. SiggelkowTranslator's PrefaceAuthor's Preface (1982)1. Aspects of the Church2. Primitive Christian Conflicts over the Freedom of the Congregation (1979)3. On the Ecclesiological Use of the Key Words "Sacrament" and "Sign" (1974)4. "Jesus Christ Frees and Unites" (1975)5. The Presence of the Crucified (1967)6. The Place That Cannot Be Surrendered (1977)7. On the Way toward Abiding (1977)8. The Appeal to Reason (1977)9. Guests of the Crucified (1979)10. Presence of Mind (1969)11. Love, Which Rejoices in the Truth (1972)12. The Proclamation of the Cross of Christ in a Time of Self-Deception (1974)13. Cross and Healing Activity (1974)14. The Healing of the Possessed (1978)15. Meaning and Problematic of the 1981 Kirchentag Motto (1980)16. The Eschatological Royal Rule of God (1980)17. Where Eternal Life Begins on Earth (1981)18. What I, as a German Theologian, Unlearned in Fifty Years (1981)Indexes

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Book SynopsisA top New Testament scholar, preacher, and tour guide to the lands of the New Testament offers an informed commentary on this challenging portion of Scripture with an eye toward preaching the text. Jeffrey Weima explains the meaning of the seven "sermons" of Revelation 2-3 and provides sample sermons that show how these ancient messages, despite their subtle Old Testament allusions and perplexing images, are relevant for the church today. The book includes photos, maps, and charts and is of interest to preachers, students, teachers, and Bible study groups.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction1. Ephesus2. Smyrna3. Pergamum4. Thyatira5. Sardis6. Philadelphia7. LaodiceaAppendix: Grammatical OutlinesIndexes

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Book SynopsisOur culture often views shame in a negative light. However, Paul's use of shame, when properly understood and applied, has much to teach the contemporary church. Filling a lacuna in Pauline scholarship, this book shows how Paul uses shame to admonish and to transform the minds of his readers into the mind of Christ. The author examines Paul's use of shame for moral formation within his Jewish and Greco-Roman context, compares and contrasts Paul's use of shame with other cultural voices, and offers a corrective understanding for today's church. Foreword by Luke Timothy Johnson.Table of ContentsContents Foreword by Luke Timothy Johnson Introduction Part 1: Framework 1. Definitional Background 2. Greco-Roman Backgrounds 3. Jewish Backgrounds Part 2: Exegesis 4. Paul's Use of Retrospective Shame 5. Paul's Use of Prospective Shame 6. Constructing Paul's Use of Shame Part 3: Cultural Engagement 7. Contemporary Contribution 8. Contemporary Challenges Indexes

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Book SynopsisBeginning as a marginal group in Galilee, the movement initiated by Jesus of Nazareth became a world religion within 100 years. Why, among various religious movements, did Christianity succeed? This major work by internationally renowned scholar Udo Schnelle traces the historical, cultural, and theological influences and developments of the early years of the Christian movement. It shows how Christianity provided an intellectual framework, a literature, and socialization among converts that led to its enduring influence. Senior New Testament scholar James Thompson offers a clear, fluent English translation of the successful German edition.Table of ContentsContents 1. On Writing a History of Origins 1.1 History as Interpretation of the Present and the Past 1.2 History and Method 2. Definition and Demarcation of the Epoch 2.1 Primitive Christianity or Early Christianity? 2.2 The Chronological Framework 3. Presuppositions and Contexts 3.1 Hellenism as a World Culture 3.2 Greco-Roman Culture 3.3 Judaism 3.4 The Political and Economic Situation in the Roman Empire in the First and Second Centuries CE 4. The New Movement of Christ-Believers 4.1 The Easter Events 4.2 The Origin of Christology 4.3 The Founder of a New Discourse and New Thinking 5. The Jerusalem Church 5.1 The Beginnings 5.2 Groups and Persons 5.3 Places: The Temple 5.4 Conflicts 5.5 Theological Institutions and Discourse 5.6 Texts: The Passion Narrative 5.7 The Theological Development of the Early Jerusalem Church 6. Early Churches and Early Mission outside of Jerusalem 6.1 Contexts: Mobility and Religious-Philosophical Variety in the Roman Empire 6.2 Persons 6.3 Groups: The Jesus Movement 6.4 Lands and Places 6.5 Competitors and Conflicts 6.6 The Development of the Community's Own Cult Praxis and Theology/the First Forms of Institutionalization 6.7 Texts 6.8 The First Missionary Journey and the Mission to the Gentiles without the Requirement of Circumcision 6.9 The Three Great Currents at the Beginning 7. The Apostolic Conference 7.1 The Initial Conflict 7.2 The Essential Problem 7.3 The Process 7.4 The Result 7.5 Interpretations of the Outcome 7.6 The Incident at Antioch 8. The Independent Mission of Paul 8.1 Perspective, Process, and Conflicts 8.2 Persons 8.3 Structures 8.4 External Discourse 8.5 Internal Discourse 8.6 Theology in Letter Form: The Pauline Letters 8.7 Paul and the Development of Early Christianity as an Independent Movement 9. The Crisis of Early Christianity around 70 CE 9.1 The Deaths of Peter, Paul, and James and the First Persecutions 9.2 The Destruction of the Temple, the Fall of the Jerusalem Church, and the Fiscus Judaicus 9.3 The Rise of the Flavians 9.4 The Writing of the Gospels and Pseudepigraphy as Innovative Responses to Crises 10. The Establishment of Early Christianity 10.1 A New Genre for a New Era: The Gospels 10.2 The Synoptic Gospels and Acts as Master Narratives 10.3 The Continuing Legacy of Paul 10.4 Johannine Christianity as the Fourth Great Current (Stream) 10.5 Jewish Christianity as an Abiding Power 10.6 Perceptions by Outsiders 11. Dangers and Threats 11.1 The Delay of the Parousia 11.2 Poor and Rich 11.3 Controversies/False Teachers/Opponents 11.4 Structures and Offices 11.5 Conflicts with Judaism after 70 CE 12. Persecutions of Christians and the Imperial Cult 12.1 The Imperial Cult as a Political Religion 12.2 Persecution under Nero 12.3 Persecution under Domitian? 12.4 Pliny and Trajan concerning Christianity 13. Early Christianity as an Independent Movement 13.1 The New Narrative and the New Language of the Christians 13.2 New Perspectives about God 13.3 Serving as a Model of Success 13.4 Early Christianity as a Religion of the City and of Education 13.5 The Major Theological Currents and Networks near the End of the First Century 13.6 The Expansion of Early Christianity 14. The Transition to the Ancient Church 14.1 Claims to Power and Established Structures 14.2 The Emergence of Another Message: Early Gnosticism 15. Fifteen Reasons for the Success of Early Christianity Works Cited Indexes

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Book SynopsisA leading New Testament scholar provides an easy-to-navigate resource for studying and understanding the Gospels. Written with classroom utility and pastoral application in mind, this accessibly written volume summarizes the content of each major section of the biblical text to help students, pastors, and laypeople quickly grasp the sense of particular passages. The series, modeled after Baker Academic's successful Old Testament Handbook series, focuses primarily on the content of the biblical books without getting bogged down in historical-critical questions or detailed verse-by-verse exegesis. The book covers all four Gospels and explores each major passage, showing how Jesus is the central figure of each plot. It also unpacks how the Old Testament informs the Gospels.Table of ContentsContentsSeries PrefaceAuthor's Preface1. The Gospel of Matthew2. The Gospel of Mark3. The Gospel of Luke4. The Gospel of JohnIndexes

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Book SynopsisThe history of Israel is a much-debated topic in Old Testament studies. On one side are minimalists who find little of historical value in the Hebrew Bible. On the other side are those who assume the biblical text is a precise historical record. Many serious students of the Bible find themselves between these two positions and would benefit from a careful exploration of issues in Israelite history. This substantive history of Israel textbook values the Bible's historical contribution without overlooking critical issues and challenges. Featuring the latest scholarship, the book introduces students to the current state of research on issues relevant to the study of ancient Israel. The editors and contributors, all top biblical scholars and historians, discuss historical evidence in a readable manner, using both canonical and chronological lenses to explore Israelite history. Illustrative items, such as maps and images, visually support the book's content. Tables and sidebars are also included.Table of ContentsContentsPreface Bill T. Arnold and Richard S. HessIntroduction: Foundations for a History of Israel Richard S. Hess1. The Genesis Narratives Bill T. Arnold2. The Exodus and Wilderness Narratives James K. Hoffmeier3. Covenant and Treaty in the Hebrew Bible and in the Ancient Near East Samuel Greengus4. Early Israel and Its Appearance in Canaan Lawson G. Stone5. The Judges and the Early Iron Age Robert D. Miller II6. The Story of Samuel, Saul, and David Daniel Bodi7. United Monarchy: Archaeology and Literary Sources Steven M. Ortiz8. The Biblical Prophets in Historiography James K. Mead9. Late Tenth- and Ninth-Century Issues: Ahab Underplayed? Jehoshaphat Overplayed? Kyle Greenwood10. Eighth-Century Issues: The World of Jeroboam II, the Fall of Samaria, and the Reign of Hezekiah Sandra Richter11. Judah in the Seventh Century: From the Aftermath of Sennacherib's Invasion to the Beginning of Jehoiakim's Rebellion Brad E. Kelle12. Sixth-Century Issues Peter van der Veen13. Fifth- and Fourth-Century Issues: Governorship and Priesthood in Jerusalem André Lemaire14. The Hellenistic Period David A. deSilvaIndexes

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Book SynopsisBringing Pentecostal theology into the Bible and mission conversation, Amos Yong identifies the role of the divine spirit in God's mission to redeem the world. As he works through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, Yong emphasizes the global missiological imperative: "People of all nations reaching out to people of all nations." Sidebars include voices from around the globe who help the author put the biblical text into conversation with twenty-first-century questions, offering the church a fresh understanding of its mission and how to pursue it in the decades to come.Table of ContentsContentsSeries PrefaceIntroduction: On the Pneumatological and Missiological Interpretation of ScripturePart 1: Divine Wind and the Old Testament: Ruahic Witness across Ancient Israel1. Torah and the Missio Spiritus: The Winds of Creational Mission2. The Spirits of Ancient Israel: Ambiguity in Mission3. The Postexilic Ruah: Rewriting and Renewing Mission4. The Breath of the (Writing) Prophets: Centripetal and Centrifugal WitnessPart 2: Divine Breath and the Christian Scriptures: Pneumatic Witness after Pentecost5. The Witness of the Evangelistic Spirit: Gospel Mission6. Pauline Testimony in the Spirit: Apostolic Mission7. The Witness of the Eternal Spirit: Catholic Mission8. Johannine Paraclete and Eschatological Spirit: Mission for and against the WorldConcluding Late Modern "Prescript": Missio Spiritus--Triune Witness in a Post-Mission WorldIndexes

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Book SynopsisThree experienced biblical language professors inspire readers to learn, retain, and use Hebrew for ministry, setting them on a lifelong journey of reading and loving the Hebrew Bible. This companion volume to the successful Greek for Life offers practical guidance, inspiration, and motivation; incorporates research-tested strategies for learning; presents methods not usually covered in other textbooks; and surveys helpful resources for recovering Hebrew after a long period of disuse. It will benefit anyone who is taking (or has taken) a year of Hebrew. Foreword by Miles van Pelt.Table of ContentsContents Foreword by Miles V. Van Pelt 1. The Goal of the Harvest 2. Weighed in the Balances and Found Wanting 3. Review the Fundamentals Often 4. Develop a Next-Level Memory 5. Strategically Leverage Your Breaks 6. Read, Read, Read 7. The Wisdom of Resources 8. Hebrew's Close Cousin--Aramaic 9. Getting Back in Shape Sources of Featured Quotations Indexes

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Book SynopsisA senior scholar and teacher with four decades of classroom experience offers a concise, student-level theology of the entire Old Testament. W. H. Bellinger Jr. uses ancient Israel's confession of faith, the Psalms, to introduce the sweep of Old Testament theology: creation, covenant, and prophecy. He shows how these three theological dimensions each entail a portrayal of God and invite a human response to God. Bellinger also discusses how to appropriate Old Testament theology for contemporary life.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction1. Beginnings2. A Shape for Old Testament Theology3. Pentateuch4. Historical Books5. Psalms6. Wisdom7. ProphecyConclusionIndexes

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Book SynopsisSenior New Testament scholar F. Scott Spencer focuses on a neglected area in the study of Jesus and the Gospels: the emotional life of Jesus. This book offers a fresh reading of the Gospels through the lens of Jesus's emotions--anger, grief, disgust, surprise, compassion, and joy. These emotions motivate Jesus's mission and reveal to Gospel readers what matters most to him. Amid his passions, Jesus forges his character as God's incarnate Messiah, wholly embodied and emotionally engaged with others and thoroughly embedded in the surrounding environment.Table of ContentsContentsPart 1: Mission Im/passible: Theory and Theology1. Emotion Theory and the Passional Christ2. The Pathos Logic of Theology and ChristologyPart 2: The Virtue of Jesus's Vehement Emotions3. That's Enough! The Angry Jesus4. That's Heart Rending! The Anguished Jesus in Ministry5. That's Soul Crushing! The Anguished Jesus at the End6. That's Gross! The Disgusted JesusPart 3: The Power of Jesus's Positive Emotions7. That's Amazing! The Surprised Jesus8. What's Love Got to Do with It? The Compassionate Jesus and Pastoral Ministry9. What's Love Got to Do with It? The Compassionate Jesus and Discipleship10. That's Good! The Joyous JesusEpilogue: Final Thoughts about Jesus's EmotionsIndexes

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Book SynopsisThis reader-friendly yet robust introduction to the Christian faith explores the essentials of Christianity and the impact they have on life, worldview, and witness. Written in an accessible and engaging voice for college-age readers, the book connects the biblical plotline, the Apostles' Creed, the comparative distinctiveness of Christianity, and life's big questions. The author shows how the Christian metanarrative speaks to questions about purpose, worth, ethics, personhood, and more, and helps readers understand what it means to be a Christian in a post-Christian world.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: Why Worldview MattersPart 1: The Plotline of Scripture1. The Old Testament2. The Life of Jesus3. The New Testament ChurchPart 2: The Apostles' Creed 4. God the Father5. Jesus Christ6. The Holy Spirit and the ChurchPart 3: A Christian Point of View7. The Distinctiveness of the Christian Faith8. Christianity and Life's Big Questions9. Challenges to the Christian System10. Not Blind FaithAppendix A: More about Paul's TheologyAppendix B: HellIndexes

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Book SynopsisThis readable, faith-friendly, one-semester textbook aids students as they engage in their first reading of the biblical text in an academic setting. The authors, who have significant undergraduate teaching experience, approach the Christian Scriptures from historical, literary, and theological perspectives. Text boxes, illustrations, maps, and suggestions for further reading are included. This new edition incorporates professor and student feedback, adds a glossary, has been revised throughout, and is supplemented by updated and expanded web-based pedagogical resources.Table of ContentsContents1. Places to BeginWhy Read the Bible?How Did We Get the Bible?How Shall We Read the Bible?Suggested ReadingPart One: The Old Testament2. PentateuchThe Old Testament WorldPrimeval HistoryAncestral StoriesThe Composition of the PentateuchExodus and CovenantSojourn in the WildernessTheological Reflection: Creation and CovenantSuggested Reading3. Former and Latter ProphetsHistorical and Social Contexts of the ProphetsSettlement in the LandMovement to MonarchyThe Latter ProphetsExile and BeyondTheological Reflection: Crises of Monarchy and ExileSuggested Reading4. WritingsThe Context of the WritingsThe PsalmsThe Wisdom BooksDanielThe Five ScrollsTheological Reflection: Faith and CultureSuggested ReadingPart Two: The New Testament5. Between the TestamentsSociohistorical DevelopmentsJewish Beliefs and Religious Practices in AntiquityGreek and Roman Beliefs and Religious Practices in AntiquitySuggested Reading6. The Gospels and the Acts of the ApostlesThe World of the GospelsThe Genre and Literary Tradition of the GospelThe Gospel according to MarkThe Gospel according to MatthewThe Gospel according to LukeThe Gospel according to JohnThe Acts of the ApostlesTheological Reflection: Unity and DiversitySuggested Reading7. Paul and the Pauline TraditionPaul's Life, Ministry, and LettersThe First Letter of Paul to the ThessaloniansThe Letter of Paul to the GalatiansThe First Letter of Paul to the CorinthiansThe Second Letter of Paul to the CorinthiansThe Letter of Paul to the RomansThe Letter of Paul to the PhilippiansThe Letter of Paul to PhilemonThe Pauline TraditionTheological Reflection: The Contours of Paul's TheologySuggested Reading8. The General Letters and RevelationThe World of Early ChristiansThe Letter to the HebrewsThe Letter of JamesThe First Letter of PeterThe Second Letter of Peter and the Letter of JudeThe Johannine LettersThe Revelation to JohnTheological Reflection: A Fitting ConclusionSuggested ReadingConclusion: Overarching Story of the Christian ScripturesGlossaryIndexes

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Book SynopsisAn Accessible, Up-to-Date Intermediate Greek Grammar This intermediate grammar for students of New Testament Greek incorporates the advances of recent linguistic research in an accessible and understandable way. Drawing on years of teaching experience at a leading seminary, the authors help students extend their grasp of Greek for reading and interpreting the New Testament and related writings. They make extensive use of New Testament texts to illustrate each grammatical category. Long enough to provide substantial help yet concise enough for frequent practical use, this book is ideal for intermediate Greek and Greek exegesis classes. It is also a valuable resource for preachers and others.Table of ContentsContents Introduction 1. The Cases 2. Pronouns 3. Adjectives and Adverbs 4. The Article 5. Prepositions 6. The Greek Verb System 7. Voice, Person, and Number 8. Mood 9. Infinitives 10. Participles 11. Clauses, Conditional Clauses, and Relative Clauses 12. Dependent Clauses and Conjunctions 13. Discourse Considerations Indexes

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Book SynopsisRespected scholar Dorothy Lee considers evidence from the New Testament and early church to show that women's ministry is confirmed by the biblical witness. Her comprehensive examination explores the roles women played in the Gospels and the Pauline corpus, with a particular focus on passages that have been used in the past to limit women's ministry. She argues that women in the New Testament were not only valued as disciples but also given leadership roles, which has implications for the contemporary church.Table of ContentsContentsIntroductionPart 1: Women's Ministry in the New Testament1. Gospels of Matthew and Mark2. Writings of Luke: Gospel3. Writings of Luke: Acts of the Apostles4. John's Gospel5. Paul's Letters: Historical and Thematic Issues6. Paul's Letters: Key Texts7. Later New Testament WritingsPart 2: Women's Ministry in the Tradition8. History and Texts9. TheologyConclusionIndexes

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Book SynopsisContinuing the innovative approach found in Cook and Holmstedt's Beginning Biblical Hebrew, Intermediate Biblical Hebrew features integrated examples and lessons, pedagogical advancements that enhance student outcomes, and full-color illustrated readings from the Elijah narrative. The instructor's manual includes the entire text of Intermediate Biblical Hebrew accompanied by pedagogical notes and answers to exercises.

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Book SynopsisThe Handbooks on the New Testament set contains three volumes that span the entirety of the New Testament: Handbook on the Gospels by Benjamin L. Gladd Handbook on Acts and Paul's Letters by Thomas R. Schreiner Handbook on Hebrews through Revelation by Andreas J. Köstenberger Written with classroom utility and pastoral application in mind, these accessible volumes summarize the content of each major section of the biblical text to help students, pastors, and laypeople quickly grasp the sense of particular passages. Series volumes are neither introductions nor commentaries, as they focus primarily on the content of the biblical books without getting bogged down in historical-critical questions or detailed verse-by-verse exegesis.

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Book SynopsisTop-notch biblical scholars from around the world and from various Christian traditions offer a fulsome yet readable introduction to the Bible and its interpretation. The book concisely introduces the Old and New Testaments and related topics and examines a wide variety of historical and contemporary interpretive approaches, including African, African-American, Asian, and Latino streams. Contributors include N. T. Wright, M. Daniel Carroll R., Stephen Fowl, Joel Green, Michael Holmes, Edith Humphrey, Christopher Rowland, and K. K. Yeo, among others. Questions for reflection and discussion, an annotated bibliography, and a glossary are included.Table of ContentsContentsIntroductionMichael J. GormanPart 1: The Bible1. The Bible: A Book, a Library, a Story, an InvitationPaul P. Zilonka and Michael J. Gorman2. The Setting: Biblical Geography, History, and ArchaeologyKaren J. Wenell3. The Scriptures of Israel (The Christian Old Testament)Claire Mathews McGinnis4. The Writings of the New Covenant (The New Testament)Michael J. Gorman5. Significant Noncanonical WritingsChristopher W. Skinner6. From Books to Library: The Formation of the Biblical CanonsMichael W. Holmes7. From There to Here: The Transmission and Translation of the BibleMichael L. BarréPart 2: The Interpretation of the Bible in Various Traditions and Cultures8. The Reception of the Bible and Its SignificanceChristine E. Joynes9. Premodern Interpretation of the BibleCarole Monica C. Burnett10. Modern and Postmodern Methods of Biblical InterpretationJoel B. Green11. Theological Interpretation of the BibleStephen Fowl12. Protestant Biblical InterpretationMichael J. Gorman13. Roman Catholic Biblical InterpretationRonald D. Witherup14. Orthodox Interpretation of ScriptureEdith M. Humphrey15. Pentecostal Biblical Interpretation / Spirit HermeneuticsCraig S. Keener16. African Biblical InterpretationBungishabaku Katho17. African American Biblical InterpretationC. Anthony Hunt18. Latino/Latina Biblical InterpretationM. Daniel Carroll R.19. Asian and Asian American Biblical InterpretationK. K. YeoPart 3: The Bible and Contemporary Christian Existence20. The Bible and SpiritualityPatricia Fosarelli and Michael J. Gorman21. Scripture and Christian Ethics: Embodying PentecostBrent Laytham22. The Bible and PoliticsChristopher Rowland23. Scripture and Christian CommunityJonathan Wilson-Hartgrove24. The Bible and Christian MissionN. T. WrightGlossaryIndexes

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Book SynopsisThis handsomely produced Greek-English synopsis of related or parallel passages in the Pauline corpus and the Acts of the Apostles provides an essential tool for studying the New Testament text. Conveniently organized by topic, it is the first conspectus of related passages in Paul's letters both in Paul's original Greek (following the Nestle-Aland Greek text) and in English translation (using the NRSV) on facing pages. It is also the first synopsis that includes all thirteen epistles attributed to Paul as well as relevant passages from the portrayal of Paul's teaching and ministry in the book of Acts.Table of ContentsIntroductionAbbreviations and Sigla Table of TopicsThe SynopsisGlossaryIndex of PassagesIndex of Subjects

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Book SynopsisUpdated Edition of a Bestselling Study of Jesus and the Gospels In this work Darrell Bock, a leading evangelical New Testament scholar who speaks and teaches around the world, and Benjamin Simpson show that a coherent portrait of Jesus emerges from the four Gospels when they are taken seriously as historical documents. When read together, the Gospels provide a clear picture of Jesus and his unique claims to authority. This book surveys all the Gospel units and relates them to their parallel passages, showing how the literary and canonical relationships work. Offering up-to-date interaction with the latest discussions about Jesus, the second edition has been substantially revised and updated throughout and includes three new chapters on how we got the Gospels.Table of ContentsContentsPreface to the Second EditionPreface to the First EditionIntroductionPart 1: The Four Gospels: Distinctive Voices and How We Got Them1. Witnessing the Gospel2. Remembering the Gospel3. Retelling the Gospel4. Overviews of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and JohnPart 2: Jesus according to the Synoptists5. The Birth and Childhood of Jesus: The Hope of Promise (Matt. 1-2; Luke 1-2)6. The Backdrop to Jesus's Ministry: John the Baptist, Jesus's Baptism and Temptations (Matt. 3:1-4:11; Mark 1:1-13; Luke 3:1-4:13)7. The Initial Portrait of Jesus's Galilean Ministry: Teaching, Healing, and Controversy (Matt. 4:12-25; Mark 1:14-3:19a; Luke 4:14-6:16)8. Jesus's Teaching on Relating to God and Others: The Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain (Matt. 5:1-7:29; Luke 6:20-49)9. More Galilean Ministry: Miracles, Mission to the Outcasts, and Discipleship in the Face of Opposition (Matt. 8:1-12:50; Mark 3:19b-35; Luke 7:1-8:3)10. From Kingdom Teaching to Confession: How the Disciples Began to Understand Jesus (Matt. 13:1-16:12; Mark 4:1-8:26; Luke 8:4-9:17)11. Confession and Prediction: The New Reality, Part 1 (Matt. 16:13-18:35; Mark 8:27-9:50; Luke 9:18-50)12. Toward Jerusalem: The New Reality, Part 2 (Luke 9:51-18:14)13. Continuing toward Jerusalem: Ministry in Judea and Final Lessons (Matt. 19:1-21:9; Mark 10:1-11:10; Luke 18:15-19:44)14. The Passion Week: Controversy, Prediction of Judgment and Return, Trial, Death, and Resurrection (Matt. 21:10-28:20; Mark 11:11-16:8; Luke 19:45-24:53)Part 3: Jesus according to John15. Introducing Jesus in John's Gospel: The Word Incarnate and the First Witnesses--John the Baptist and the Disciples (John 1)16. The Book of Signs: Before the Hour (John 2-12)17. The Book of Glory: The Farewell Discourse and the Johannine Passion Account--The Hour Has Come (John 13-21)Indexes

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Book Synopsis2020 Center for Biblical Studies Book Award (Reference Works) This book introduces readers to a much-neglected and misunderstood assortment of Jewish writings from around the time of the New Testament. Dispelling mistaken notions of "falsely attributed writings" that are commonly inferred from the designation "pseudepigrapha," Daniel Gurtner demonstrates the rich indebtedness these works exhibit to the traditions and scriptures of Israel's past. In surveying many of the most important works, Introducing the Pseudepigrapha of Second Temple Judaism shows how the pseudepigrapha are best appreciated in their own varied contexts rather than as mere "background" to early Christianity or emerging rabbinic Judaism. Foreword by Loren T. Stuckenbruck.Table of ContentsContentsForeword by Loren T. StuckenbruckIntroductionSection 1: Apocalypses1. 1 Enoch2. 4 Ezra3. 2 Baruch4. Apocalypse of Abraham5. Sibylline Oracles 3-5, 116. Additional Writings: 2 Enoch, 3 Baruch, Apocalypse of Zephaniah, Testament of Abraham, and Apocalyptic Material in the Dead Sea ScrollsSection 2: Testaments and Related Texts7. Testament of Moses8. Testament of Job9. Aramaic Levi Document10. Testament of Qahat11. Visions of Amram12. Additional Writings: Testament of Solomon, Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Testament of Naphtali (4Q215), and Other Testamentary Material in the Dead Sea ScrollsSection 3: Legends and Expansions of Biblical Traditions13. Jubilees14. Biblical Antiquities15. Genesis Apocryphon16. Letter of Aristeas17. Joseph and Aseneth18. Additional Writings: Life of Adam and Eve (Greek), 4 Baruch, and Ezekiel the TragedianSection 4: Psalms, Wisdom Literature, and Prayers19. Psalms 151-15520. Psalms of Solomon21. Sentences of Pseudo-Phocylides22. Additional Writings: Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers, Prayer of Joseph, and Prayer of Nabonidus (4Q242)ConclusionIndexes

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Book SynopsisA leading evangelical scholar of the New Testament provides an easy-to-navigate resource for studying and understanding Hebrews through Revelation. Written with classroom utility and pastoral application in mind, this accessibly written volume summarizes the content of each major section of the biblical text to help students, pastors, and laypeople quickly grasp the sense of particular passages. The series, modeled after Baker Academic's successful Old Testament handbook series, focuses primarily on the content of the biblical books without getting bogged down in historical-critical questions or detailed verse-by-verse exegesis.Table of ContentsContentsSeries PrefaceAuthor's Preface1. Hebrews2. James3. 1 Peter4. 2 Peter5. 1 John6. 2 and 3 John7. Jude8. RevelationIndexes

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Book SynopsisVictor Hamilton, a highly regarded Old Testament scholar with over thirty years' experience in the classroom, offers a comprehensive exegesis of the book of Exodus. Written in a clear and accessible style, this major, up-to-date, evangelical, exegetical commentary opens up the riches of the book of Exodus. Hamilton relates Exodus to the rest of Scripture and includes his own translation of the text. This commentary will be valued by professors and students of the Old Testament as well as pastors.Table of ContentsI. Oppression in Egypt (1:1-6:1)II. Liberation from Egypt (6:2-15:21)III. Testing Time in the Wilderness (15:22-18:27)IV. Covenant and Law at Sinai (19:1-24:18)V. How to Build the Tabernacle (25:1-31:18)VI. The Gold Calf and Covenant Renewal (32:1-34:35)VII. Tabernacle Built, God's Glory Fills (35:1-40:38)

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Book SynopsisLeading New Testament theologian Grant Macaskill introduces Paul's understanding of the Christian life, which is grounded in the apostle's theology of union with Christ. The author shows that the exegetical foundations for a Christian moral theology emerge from the idea of union with Christ. Macaskill covers various aspects of Christian moral theology, exploring key implications for the Christian life of the New Testament idea of participatory union as they unfold in Paul's Letters.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: Union with Christ as the Basis for Christian Life1. Scholarly Contexts for the Present Study: Attempts to Revise Our Understanding of Justification and Sanctification2. Who Am I Really? Paul's Moral Crisis3. Baptism and Moral Identity: Clothing Ourselves in Christ4. The Lord's Supper and Someone Else's Memory: Do This in Remembrance of Me5. Crying "Abba" in the Ruins of War: The Spirit and the Presence of Christ6. One Little Victory: Hope and the Moral Life7. Concluding Synthesis: Living in Union with ChristIndexes

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Book SynopsisThis book introduces students to the practice of reading scripture theologically and shows how explicitly theological concerns can be brought to bear on the interpretation of scripture. While the volume offers some methodological essays, it does not lay out a single method; it points to the variety of questions that can and have been raised about interpreting scripture theologically.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements. List of Contributors. Introduction. Part I: The Contexts of Theological Interpretation:. 1. Spiritual Understanding: Henri de Lubac, S. J. (French Jesuit Theologian, 1896-1991), Translated by Luke O'Neill. 2. The Superiority of Pre-Critical Exegesis: David C. Steinmetz (Duke University). 3. The Story-Shaped Church: Critical Exegesis and Theological Interpretation: George Lindbeck (Yale University). 4. Feminist Theological Hermeneutics: Canon and Christian Identity: Claudia V. Camp (Texas Christian University). 5. The Bible and African Americans: An Outline of an Interpretative History: Vincent L. Wimbush (Union Theological Seminary in New York). 6. The New Testament and the Nicene Dogma: A Contribution to the Recovery of Theological Exegesis: David S. Yeago (Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary). Part II: Theological Interpretations of Select Biblical Texts: Exodus 3: . 7. Selections from Gregory of Nyssa's Life of Moses:. Translated and introduced by Joseph W. Trigg (Rector, Christ Church, Port Tobacco Parish, La Plata, Maryland). 8. Selections from Nicholas of Lyra's Commentary on Exodus: Translated and introduced by Corrine Patton (University of St Thomas). 9. Three Postcritical Encounters with the Burning Bush: Peter Ochs. 10. Exodus 3: A Theological Interpretation: Terence E. Fretheim (Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary). 11. Exodus 3: Summons to Holy Transformation: Walter Brueggemann (Columbia Theological Seminary). Isaiah 52-53:. 12. Selections from Theodoret of Cyrus's Commentary on Isaiah: Translated and introduced by Angela Russell Christman (Loyola College, Maryland). 13. Selections from John Calvin's Sermons on Isaiah: Translated and introduced by Kathryn Greene-McCreight (Yale College). 14. Speech and Silence in the Servant Passages: Towards a Final-Form Reading of the Book of Isaiah: Tod Linafelt (Georgetown University). 15. Selections from I, He , We, They: A Literary Approach to Isaiah 53: David J. A. Clines (University of Sheffield). 16. Engaging Metaphors: Suffering with Zion and the Servant in Isaiah 52-53: Beverly J. Stratton (Augsburg College). Matthew 5-7:. 17. Selections from John Chrysostom's Homilies on Matthew: Translated and Introduced by Robin Darling Young (The Catholic University of America). 18. Selections from Martin Luther's Sermons on the Sermon on the Mount: Translated and Introduced by Mark S. Burrows (Andover Newton Theological School). 19. Righteousness from the Inside: The Transformative Spirituality of the Sermon on the Mount: Brian K. Blount (Princeton Theological Seminary). 20. Selections from The Cost of Discipleship: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Theologian, Pastor in the Confessing Church in Germany, Martyr, 1906-45). 21. The Sermon on the Mount as Radical Pastoral Care: Richard Lischer (Duke University). Romans 9-11: . 22. Selections from Augustine's Propositions from the Epistle to the Romans and To Simplician - on Various Questions: Introduced by Peter Gorday (Georgia Association for Pastoral Care). 23. Selections from Thomas Aquinas's Commentary on Romans: Translated and Introduced by Eugene F. Rogers, Jr. (University of Virginia). 24. Romans 10:4 and the 'End' of the Law: Paul W. Meyer (Princeton Theological Seminary). 25. Divine Initiative and Human Response: E. Elizabeth Johnson (New Brunswick Theological Seminary). 26. Figure and Ground in the Interpretation of Romans 9-11: Neil Elliott (The College of St Katherine). Index.

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Book SynopsisAddresses the ways in which Jewish people and religious customs are presented in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Probing questions about the roots of modern anti-Semitism in relationship to the New Testament, Tyson concludes that there is a deep and complex ambivalence in Luke-Acts, making the texts both profoundly pro-Jewish and anti-Jewish.

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Book SynopsisHow are we to study complex speech acts such as the text of Jeremiah? How can understanding these complex speech acts both shed light on the larger text and the smaller text portions and reveal how a larger text employs smaller texts within a more complex speech act? In A (S)Word against Babylon, Holroyd proposes a multilevel speech act approach and demonstrates it with the oracle against Babylon in MT Jeremiah.This study endeavors to expand the works of Walter Houston, Jim Adams, and Steven Mann by further exploring indirect speech acts, illocutionary compatibility, and studies of the performative nature of liturgy. Holroyd applies this more-expansive application of performative theories of language to the oracle against Babylon in MT Jeremiah 50–51 to study the illocutionary force of the oracle against Babylon on some of its many levels, including lower levels in which the oracle performs to Babylon and to Israel and higher levels in which the oracle performs within the collection of foreign nation oracles and the larger text of MT Jeremiah.Table of Contents1. Introduction1.1. Speech Act Theory1.2. Jeremiah1.3. This Study2. A Multilevel Speech Act Approach2.1. Speech Act Theory2.2. A Multilevel Approach2.3. Summary3. The Speech Act Levels of the Oracle against Babylon3.1. The Oracle against Babylon through Three Samples3.2. The Oracle against Babylon in the Oracles against the Nations3.3. The Oracle against Babylon in the Book of Jeremiah3.4. The Oracle against Babylon in Exilic Liturgy4. Results4.1. Returning to the Question4.2. A Multilevel Speech Act Approach4.3. Results4.4. Relevance4.5. Future StudiesSummaryAppendix: A Brief Speech Act Analysis of the Oracle against BabylonBibliography

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Book SynopsisAttested as both a human and a divine expression, the biblical Hebrew term qinʾâ is most often translated as “jealousy” or “envy.” In this study, Erin Villareal makes the case for reading qinʾâ as more than a simple reference to an emotion, instead locating the term’s origins in ancient Israel’s social and legal spheres.Jealousy in Context evaluates the socioliterary context of qinʾâ. Through a series of case studies examining this term as it is applied to residents, sister-wives, brothers, and husbands in biblical narrative passages, Villareal explains that qinʾâ is felt by people who experience a threat or disruption to their rights and status within a social arrangement or community and is therefore grounded in practical concerns that have social and juridical ramifications. Investigating examples of divine qinʾâ, Villareal shows that its social meaning was adapted into theological language about the Israelite deity and his relationship with the people of Israel, and that Yahweh expresses qinʾâ whenever there is a threat to the integrity of his land or his sanctuary. Villareal examines the term through this socioliterary lens to reveal ancient Israelite perceptions concerning social organization and divine-human relationships. Additionally, she explores how the socioliterary character of qinʾâ in the Hebrew Bible communicates representations of ancient Israelite beliefs, values, and social expectations.This convincing new understanding of a key biblical term will be appreciated by students and scholars of the Hebrew Bible, Hebrew linguistics, and ancient Near Eastern societies more generally.Trade Review“Villareal smartly balances rigorous philological and historical-critical analysis as she offers fresh and compelling readings of familiar and oft-debated passages related to biblical “jealousy.” Jealousy in Context represents a much-needed advance in the study of biblical קנאה and a welcome contribution to the study of emotions in the Hebrew Bible.”—Anthony I. Lipscomb Review of Biblical LiteratureTable of ContentsList of TablesAcknowledgementsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction Purpose History of Interpretation A New Approach to Biblical קנאהChapter 1. Methodology and Approach The Social Implications of קנאה Emotion as Part of Social Culture Emotion as Scenario and Script Biblical Hebrew קנאה as a Script Scope of StudyChapter 2. קנאה in the Patriarchal Narratives Social Organization in Genesis קנאה in Genesis 26 קנאה in Genesis 30:1 קנאה in Genesis 31:11 The Scripts of the קנאה Scenarios in Genesis ConclusionChapter 3. קנאה in Numbers 5:11-31 Interpretive Issues The Cultic-Legal Framework of קנאה in the Hebrew Bible Numbers 5:11-31 The Script of the קנאה Scenario in Numbers 5:11-31 ConclusionChapter 4. The Song of Moses and the Ideology of Land, People, and God The Legacy of Deuteronomy 32:1-43 The Framework of the Divine-Human Relationship The קנאה Scenario in the Song of Moses Reevaluating the Issue of Allotment and Order The Script of the קנאה Scenario in the Song of Moses ConclusionChapter 5. The Divine קנאה in Ezekiel, Psalm 79, and Zechariah The Case of Ezekiel: Divine קנאה Toward the Israelites and Adversaries Divine קנאה in Other Relevant Works: Psalm 79 and Zechariah The Scripts of the קנאה Scenarios in Ezekiel, Psalm 79, and Zechariah ConclusionChapter 6: Yahweh as אל קנא Attestations and Interpretations The Narrative Context of אל קנא in Exodus 34 אל קנא in Deuteronomy 4:24 and 6:15 אל קנא in Joshua 24:19 אל קנא in Nahum 1:2 The Script of an אל קנא Scenario ConclusionConclusion קנאה and Jealousy: The Prototypical Scenario A Summary of Biblical קנאה as a Socioliterary Phenomenon Final RemarksBibliographyIndex of AuthorsIndex of Ancient Sources

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Book SynopsisThe Old Testament prophets did not hesitate to use the rhetorical conventions accessible to them when delivering their sermons of salvation and judgment. One source of comparison used frequently in the prophets and widely throughout the ancient Near East is the image of a tree. In Trees and Kings, William Osborne evaluates the cultural and cognitive setting that potentially gave rise to this figurative tree imagery, drawing on both comparative study with ancient Near Eastern tree imagery and the cognitive-linguistic approach to metaphor theory.Osborne examines tree metaphors that appear in the texts of Israel's writing prophets, specifically Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. He takes this material as largely reflective of the Israelite prophetic tradition from the 8th–6th centuries BC. Tree imagery in the Old Testament is certainly not limited to these prophetic books, and this study takes many of these texts into consideration in seeking to understand tree imagery in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel better. The question is rarely asked, why do the prophets often defer to the metaphorical use of the tree? The goal of this study is to answer this important question by comparing and contrasting tree metaphors in much of the prophetic literature of the Old Testament with tree imagery and metaphors encountered from the ancient Near East.Trade Review“Osborne’s study offers additional nuance to prior examinations of prophetic agricultural imagery, demonstrating that both ancient Israel and its surrounding cultures commonly utilized tree imagery in distinct ways that bear upon one’s understanding of the prophetic texts.”—Joseph W. Mueller Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsList of FiguresPreface Abbreviations1. Background and MethodologyIntroductionProphetic RhetoricMethodological ConsiderationsPrevious Research and the Present StudyConclusion2. Tree Imagery in the Ancient Near East: Egypt and MesopotamiaTrees in the Ancient Near EastTree Imagery, Gods, and Kings in Ancient EgyptGods and Trees in Ancient EgyptTrees, Temples, and Kings in Ancient EgyptTree Imagery, Gods, and Kings in Mesopotamia3. Tree Imagery in the Ancient Near East: Syria-Palestine and the BibleTree Imagery in Syria-PalestineTree Metaphors and Imagery in and around the Biblical TextTrees and the RighteousTrees and Love SongsTrees as Sacred Sites in Ancient IsraelConclusion4. Trees and Kings in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and EzekielIntroductionTrees and Kings in IsaiahTree and Kings in JeremiahTrees and Kings in EzekielConclusion5. Summary and ConclusionsSummaryAreas of Future ResearchAppendix: A Catalog of Tree Imagery in the Books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and EzekielBibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Name Command (NC) is usually interpreted as a prohibition against speaking Yhwh’s name in a particular context: false oaths, wrongful pronunciation, irreverent worship, magical practices, cursing, false teaching, and the like. However, the NC lacks the contextual specification needed to support the command as speech related. Taking seriously the narrative context at Sinai and the closest lexical parallels, a different picture emerges—one animated by concrete rituals and their associated metaphorical concepts. The unique phrase ns' shm is one of several expressions arising from the conceptual metaphor, election as branding, that finds analogies in high-priest regalia as well as in various ways of claiming ownership in the Ancient Near East, such as inscribed monuments, the use of seals, and the branding of slaves. The NC presupposes that Yhwh has claimed Israel by placing Yhwh’s own name on her. In this light, the first two commands of the Decalogue reinforce the two sides of the covenant declaration: “I will be your God; you will be my people.” The first expresses the demand for exclusive worship and the second calls for proper representation. As a consequence, the NC invites a richer exploration of what it means to be a people in covenant with Yhwh—a people bearing his name among the nations. It also points to what is at stake when Israel carries that name “in vain.” The image of bearing Yhwh’s name offers a rich source for theological and ethical reflection that cannot be conveyed nonmetaphorically without distortion or loss of meaning.Trade Review“Many will benefit from Imes’ judicious work here, especially those with interests in the Decalogue and in the character and role of ancient Israel in its world. Contemporary religious leaders may find the final chapter especially meaningful for their work. In the end, many will find reward in their patient reading of this book and, whether persuaded or not, will nevertheless agree that Imes has put forward a compelling case for a nonelliptical or representational understanding of the name command.”—Mark W. Bartusch Review of Biblical Literature“This book is a testimony to the continued value of traditional close-reading strategies and to their renewal through appeal to more recent, cognitively-informed approaches to literary figures.”—Jeremy M. Hutton Journal of Semitic Studies“The interpretation of the [Name Command] that emerges from Imes’s study can certainly be very useful to those who pursue a synchronic reading of the [Name Command], insofar as it offers not only a rich theological interpretation relating to the election of the people and its mission of representing yhwh but also important ethical consequences to be kept in high regard.”—Francesco Cocco Vetus TestamentumTable of ContentsContentsList of Figures List of Tables ForewordAcknowledgmentsAbbreviations1. Introduction2. A History of the Interpretation of the Name Command3. A Reexamination of the Name Command: Lexico-Historical Considerations 4. A Reexamination of the Name Command in the Context of the Decalogue5. Bearing Yhwh’s Name at Sinai Appendix: Semantic Overlap between נשׂא and λαμβάνωBibliographyIndexesIndex of AuthorsIndex of Scripture

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Book SynopsisThe last few decades have seen a gradual shift in Isaianic studies as scholars have begun to give greater attention to the book’s literary features rather than focusing predominantly on the question of its sources. Brittany Kim’s study takes a literary approach, exploring how the book portrays Israel and its capital city using five metaphors that arise from the realm of household relationships: sons/children, daughter(s), mother, wife, and servant(s).Drawing selectively on the resources of metaphor studies and rhetorical criticism, Kim examines each metaphor separately to determine its rhetorical import and, if possible, to trace its development throughout the book. From the beginning of Isaiah, in which Zion appears as a vulnerable but promiscuous daughter in need of both paternal protection and discipline, through the book’s end, when her marital relationship has been restored and Zion has been transformed into a radiant and caring mother, Kim follows the thread of these five themes, showing ultimately how and why only those among yhwh’s children who willingly take on the role of servant experience the joy and delight of Zion’s maternal care.Pulling together insights from individual studies, “Lengthen Your Tent-Cords” draws connections and highlights contrasts among the various metaphors. Kim concludes by examining how Israel and Zion fit into YHWH’s royal household.Trade Review“This study contains well-written and scholarly honest exegetical discussions that might be of help for any scholar interested in these metaphors in the book of Isaiah. The use of recent publications in the detailed textual investigations is impressive. Several times this study opens up new vistas.”—Marjo C. A. Korpel Vetus Testamentum“Lengthen Your Tent-Cords” is a stimulating study of the household metaphor in Isaiah, especially in its attempt to integrate the household metaphor into a coherent whole.”—Wilson de Angelo Cunha Bibliotheca OrientalisTable of ContentsIntroductionThe People of Israel as Sons/ChildrenZion and the People as Daughter(s)Zion as Mother and WifeIsrael, an Unnamed Representative, Zion, and the Faithful People as YHWH's ServantsConclusion: Integrating the Metaphors—A Portrait of the People of YHWHAppendix 1: Distribution ChartsAppendix 2: Overview of PassagesAppendix 3: Texts with Implied MetaphorsBibliographyIndexes

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Book SynopsisHistory and Hope examines the rhetorical function of Isaiah 28–35, a relatively overlooked series of six woe oracles, in relation to reading the book of Isaiah as a whole. These eight chapters rely on the language of agrarian wisdom to transport the reader from prior reflections on historical destruction into a vision of ultimate hope. Stulac’s study, therefore, offers new insight into the book of Isaiah, but perhaps more importantly, it does so through two methodological innovations that promise to enhance biblical research at large.First, History and Hope develops an interpretive strategy based on ancient Israel’s agro-ecological past. Through comparisons to the thought and practice of several contemporary agrarian thinkers (such as Wendell Berry), it draws attention to the holistic, traditional worldview of the people who created the Bible and develops an “agrarian hermeneutic” that is then used to examine the book of Isaiah. This interpretive strategy, which introduces a variety of observations consistent with ancient Israel’s subsistence culture, offers a new lens on the Bible that is historically and phenomenologically appropriate to its premodern character. Second, the study applies modern narratology to the book of Isaiah in its final form, a move that allows for a careful delineation of the differences in knowledge that stand between the book’s characters and its implied reader. When combined with an agrarian hermeneutic, narratological precision opens understanding of Isaiah’s written rhetoric to the associative, soil-bound logic by which it is constructed.In the past, many scholars have regarded Isaiah 28–35 as little more than a fragmentary reiteration of ideas already found in prior parts of the book. Now, through exegetical analysis of Isaiah 28–35 from an agrarian perspective, these eight chapters are interpreted as a rhetorical key to the overall book’s coherent vision of destruction and hope.Trade Review“Certainly an enriching reading, which shows once again how the book of Isaiah presents a mine of images and metaphors closely connected with the cultural fabric of the various historical moments in which the book itself was produced, redacted, and reviewed.”—Guido Benzi Rivista Biblica“This is another very interesting application of the insights of modern agrarianism to the Bible.”—John F. A. Sawyer Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

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Book SynopsisThis book traces the theme of justice throughout the narrative of Exodus in order to explicate how yhwh’s reclamation of Israel for service-worship reveals a distinct theological ethic of justice grounded in yhwh’s character and Israel’s calling within yhwh’s creational agenda.Adopting a synchronic, text-immanent interpretive strategy that focuses on canonical and inner-biblical connections, Nathan Bills identifies two overlapping motifs that illuminate the theme of justice in Exodus. First, Bills considers the importance of Israel’s creation traditions for grounding Exodus’s theology of justice. Reading Exodus against the backdrop of creation theology and as a continuation of the plot of Genesis, Bills shows that the ethical disposition of justice imprinted on Israel in Exodus is an application of yhwh’s creational agenda of justice. Second, Bills identifies an educational agenda woven throughout the text. The narrative gives heightened attention to the way yhwh catechizes Israel in what it means to be the particular beneficiary and creational emissary of yhwh’s justice. These interpretative lenses of creation theology and pedagogy help to explain why Israel’s salvation and shaping embody a programmatic applicability of yhwh’s justice for the wider world.This volume will be of substantial interest to divinity students and religious professionals interested in the themes of exodus, exile, and return.Trade Review“This study successfully holds in balance (and sometimes in tension) careful analytical work with the text and broader theological conceptions and issues that arise and that in turn permit further critical interrogation of the text. It is a strength of the reading that it takes in the whole shape of the narrative of the book, incorporating initial struggle, combat, and resettlement in the tabernacle narrative.”—Tremper Longman III,Westmont College“Nathan Bills offers a reading of justice in Exodus against the horizon of creation: the oppression of Israel is a ‘cosmic affront,’ and the exodus itself is a re-creation of cosmic order. The whole book of Exodus is held in careful scholarly focus. The result is a deeply engaged study, and all quite beautifully written, finding in Exodus a ‘hermeneutical wardrobe’ that leads the reader ‘further up and further in’ towards creational justice.”—Richard Briggs,author of Words in Action: Speech Act Theory and Biblical Interpretation“This is an original, well-written and captivating account of the book of Exodus.”—Isabelle Hamley Journal for the Study of the Old Testament“This book makes such a valuable contribution to our understanding of OT Theology. . . . Nathan Bills deserves congratulations for moving us all forward in our understanding of the OT as a profound theological work with vast implications for ministry today.”—Mark W. Hamilton Restoration QuarterlyTable of ContentsAcknowledgments1. Justice and Exodus2. Defining Justice: Justice in the Ancient Near East and Israel3. Justice Under Threat: Exodus1–44. Justice Championed: Exodus 5–155. Summoned to Justice: Exodus 15–246. Building for Justice: Exodus 25–407.Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThe well-known parallels between Genesis and Leviticus invite further reflection, particularly in regard to the rhetorical and theological purpose of their lexical, syntactical, and conceptual correspondences. This volume investigates the possibility that the final-form text of Leviticus is an indirect reference to Genesis 1–3 and examines the rhetorical significance of such an allusion.The face of Pentateuch scholarship has shifted dramatically in the last forty years, resulting in the questioning of many received truths and the employment of a host of new, renewed, and often competing methodologies by biblical scholars. This study sits at the intersection of these recent interpretive trends. G. Geoffrey Harper uses insights from the fields of intertextuality, rhetorical criticism, and speech act theory to create a methodological framework, which he applies to three Leviticus pericopes. Chapters 11, 16, and 26 are examined in turn, and for each the assessment of potential parallels at lexical, syntactical, and conceptual levels reveals a complex web of interconnected allusion to the creation and Eden narratives of Genesis 1 and 2–3. Moreover, Harper probes the theological and rhetorical import of these intertextual connections and explores how Leviticus ought to be understood in its Pentateuchal context.This comprehensive study of the connections between these two sections of the Hebrew Bible sheds light on both the literary artistry of these ancient texts and the persuasive purposes that lie behind their composition.Trade Review“I wonder if labouring to have allusion that is both intertextual and deliberate is to attempt to reinsert authors into a fundamentally text-orientated hermeneutic, and that what [Harper] offers is one (elegant) reading, rather than a reconstruction of purpose—but that would be to praise [Harper]’s book on terms other than those in which it is offered.”—Richard S. Briggs Journal for the Study of the Old Testament“This highly recommended study provides a lot of material for further reflection on the theology and composition of the Pentateuch. And it invites you to leave the conventional path for this reflection.”—Benjamin Kilchör Bulletin for Biblical Research

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Book SynopsisFor more than a century, scholars have debated whether Paul the apostle was a faithful follower of Jesus or a corruptor of Jesus’s message and the true founder of Christianity. Signs of Continuity intervenes in this debate by exploring a largely overlooked element of similarity between the two men: the place of miracles in their ministries.In his close analysis of the miracles performed by Jesus and Paul, Greg Rhodea points to signs of continuity between these two historical figures of Christianity. He argues that both Jesus and Paul understood their miracles as accompanying and actualizing a message of gracious inclusion of the marginalized, resisted proving their ability to work miracles to those who asked for a sign despite the importance of miracle-working to their personal authentication, and interpreted miracles as proof of the presence of the eschatological kingdom. Based on these similarities, Rhodea concludes that Paul the apostle knew of Jesus’s miracles and that he imitated Jesus in his own ministry of miracle-working.In highlighting this previously unexplored area of continuity, Rhodea makes a significant contribution to the debate over the relationship between Jesus and Paul. Biblical scholars and students interested in this debate will find Signs of Continuity enlightening and informative.Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsChapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 Signs of Gracious InclusionChapter 3 Signs of Authoritative Power with a Lifestyle of WeaknessChapter 4 Signs of the New AgeChapter 5 Paul and the Miracles of Jesus: Knowledge, Continuity, and DependenceChapter 6 ConclusionBibliographyIndex of AuthorsIndex of Scripture

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Book SynopsisHarlot or Holy Woman? presents an exhaustive study of qedešah, a Hebrew word meaning “consecrated woman” but rendered “prostitute” or “sacred prostitute” in Bible translations. Reexamining biblical and extrabiblical texts, Phyllis A. Bird questions how qedešah came to be associated with prostitution and offers an alternative explanation of the term, one that suggests a wider participation for women as religious specialists in Israel’s early cultic practice.Bird’s study reviews all the texts from classical antiquity cited as sources for an institution of “sacred prostitution,” alongside a comprehensive analysis of the cuneiform texts from Mesopotamia containing the cognate qadištu and Ugaritic texts containing the masculine cognate qdš. Through these texts, Bird presents a portrait of women dedicated to a deity, engaged in a variety of activities from cultic ritual to wet-nursing, and sharing a common generic name with the qedešah of ancient Israel. In the final chapter she returns to biblical texts, reexamining them in light of the new evidence from the ancient Near East.Considering alternative models for constructing women’s religious roles in ancient Israel, this wholly original study offers new interpretations of key texts and raises questions about the nature of Israelite religion as practiced outside the royal cult and central sanctuary.Trade Review“Phyllis Bird deserves praise for amassing all this material into one volume and for her careful and insightful analysis of both biblical and extrabiblical texts.”—Elaine Adler Goodfriend Review of Biblical Literature“Exploring the relationship between Orientalism and the myth of sacred prostitution reveals the ongoing significance of Bird’s work. Her book shows how the myth of sacred prostitution is embedded in a broader discourse about fertility and the uncontrolled sexuality of Middle Eastern women—and this may be the lasting legacy of the work.”—Jessie DeGrado OrientaliaTable of ContentsPreface and AcknowledgmentsList of Abbreviations1. Introduction2. Sacred Prostitution as Interpretive Construct3. Sir James George Frazer and the Concept of Sacred Prostitution 4. Classical Sources in Constructions of Sacred Prostitution5. New Sources from the Ancient Near East6. Qedešah in the Hebrew BibleAppendix A. Synopsis of Classical Sources in Constructions of Sacred ProstitutionAppendix B. Synopsis of qadištu /nu.gig TextsAppendix C. Nu- gig in Early Sumerian TextsBibliographyIndex of Sources

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Book SynopsisIn Ruled Reading and Biblical Criticism, Matthew T. Bell contends that the gulf in interpretive priorities between ancient and modern readers has been exaggerated and that careful study of early Christian reading practices suggests that it is both possible and productive to recontextualize early Christian “ruled reading” for a postmodern setting.Modern prejudice holds that ancient Christian interpretation was relatively unconcerned with history and concomitantly determined to foist extrascriptural doctrinal commitments onto scripture, silencing those layers of scripture’s meaning that modern criticism has been most concerned with uncovering. In this book, Bell argues that, when the ethos and theology of reading in the early Church are taken into account, premodern interpretive priorities turn out to be less implausible than the modern world has believed them to be. Through close reading of ancient Christian texts, Bell outlines an ontology of scripture wherein the relationship between early Christianity’s “Rule of Faith,” on one hand, and its scriptures, on the other, was expressly constructed as a hermeneutical spiral, the slant of which was designed to attend to and be edified by textually mediated conundrums and intellectual provocations. Viewed along that spiral, the Church’s Rule was as “scriptural” as the Church’s catalog of scriptures was “ruled.” This book will be welcomed by academics who study early Christianity and scripture, as well as scholars interested in reconsidering Christian hermeneutical questions for a postmodern age.Trade Review“Bell’s book is a welcome articulation of theological interpretation as a critically engaged task. This is a significant work particularly as the project of defining and pursuing the theological interpretation of Scripture in our times continues to develop.”—Chris Blumhofer Review of Biblical LiteratureTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: Communion, Canon, and the Bible of the ChurchChapter 2: Ontology of Scripture and Indwelling Salvation’s Epic (Or, Whose Identity Story?)Chapter 3: The Legacy of Modernity and the Methodological (Pre?)Occupations of a Critical AgeChapter 4: A Case Study in “Postmodern” Ruled ReadingRuled Reading in the Unfolding Epic: Concluding Reflections on the Arts of Homily and Devotional CriticismBibliographyAuthor / Subject Index

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Book SynopsisStephen H. Levinsohn is by no means the only SIL International member deserving recognition for significant contributions to the field of biblical studies; all too frequently such work goes unrecognized, even if it is appreciated in some quarters. The goal of this volume is to see that at least in Stephen's case, his work receives the commendation that it deserves. Each of the contributors to this volume has had their ideas challenged or influenced by Levinsohn's work, and each counts it an honor to contribute to a volume honoring him. The caliber of these scholars should dispel any doubts about why we're honoring Stephen's work in this Festschrift; the list of contributors speaks for itself. If you have been wondering exactly what discourse studies has to offer to biblical interpretation, I commend these articles to you as evidence of the dividends that are in store for those who invest the time and effort to enter this field.

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Book SynopsisAs the old adage goes, you have to ask the right questions before you can get the right answers. And that's exactly what the Not Your Average Bible Study series helps you do. Rather than spoon-feeding you with individual facts, this study of Colossians coaches you on how to think through the text as a whole. Tested and proven in Bible Study Magazine, it's perfect for group and individual studies alike.At some point, everyone experiences real suffering--pain, disappointment, sickness, abuse. Paul's message to the Colossian church--and to us--is that suffering isn't senseless or worthless. Chained in a Roman prison, Paul tells us how suffering can be an opportunity for Christ to show his power and glory in us.Each section of the guide begins with a concise introduction, providing context for the biblical passage. Next, you'll consider questions designed to prompt your own in-depth study. You'll also find specific prayer suggestions, along with ideas for further research. Experience the joy of discovering biblical insights for yourself--then apply these lessons to your everyday life.This is not your average Bible study!

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Book SynopsisAs the old adage goes, you have to ask the right questions before you can get the right answers. And that's exactly what the Not Your Average Bible Study series helps you do. Rather than spoon-feeding you with individual facts, this study of 2 Peter and Jude coaches you on how to think through the text as a whole. Tested and proven in Bible Study Magazine, it's perfect for group and individual studies alike.What does active faith look like in the midst of struggle? When false teachers threatened the spiritual health of the early church, Jude and Peter urgently called early Christians to faithful lives that demonstrated mercy, love, and wisdom. These books show us what it means to grow in faith and respond to the love that Christ has for us.Each section of the guide begins with a concise introduction, providing context for the biblical passage. Next, you'll consider questions designed to prompt your own in-depth study. You'll also find specific prayer suggestions, along with ideas for further research. Experience the joy of discovering biblical insights for yourself--then apply these lessons to your everyday life.This is not your average Bible study!

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Book SynopsisAs the old adage goes, you have to ask the right questions before you can get the right answers. And that's exactly what the Not Your Average Bible Study series helps you do. Rather than spoon-feeding you with individual facts, this study of Malachi coaches you on how to think through the text as a whole. Tested and proven in Bible Study Magazine, it's perfect for group and individual studies alike.So often we affirm God's love until things go wrong. In anger, anxiety, or pain, we doubt his goodness or involvement in our lives. Like the Israelites of Malachi's day, we cry out, "How have you loved us?" But the words of the prophet Malachi comfort us with God's love, and they challenge us to reciprocate that love--even in dark times. Malachi shows us that we need a savior.Each section of the guide begins with a concise introduction, providing context for the biblical passage. Next, you'll consider questions designed to prompt your own in-depth study. You'll also find specific prayer suggestions, along with ideas for further research. Experience the joy of discovering biblical insights for yourself--then apply these lessons to your everyday life.This is not your average Bible study!

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Book SynopsisAs the old adage goes, you have to ask the right questions before you can get the right answers. And that's exactly what the Not Your Average Bible Study series helps you do. Rather than spoon-feeding you with individual facts, this study of Ruth coaches you on how to think through the text as a whole. Tested and proven in Bible Study Magazine, it's perfect for group and individual studies alike.Ruth was an outcast, yet God drew her from the outskirts of society. He incorporated her not only into the community of Israel but also into his plan of salvation. In Ruth, we find a story of love, loyalty, and compassion--both from people and from God. And we see how God works through ordinary people to achieve his great purposes.Each section of the guide begins with a concise introduction, providing context for the biblical passage. Next, you'll consider questions designed to prompt your own in--depth study. You'll also find specific prayer suggestions, along with ideas for further research. Experience the joy of discovering biblical insights for yourself--then apply these lessons to your everyday life.This is not your average Bible study!

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Book SynopsisAs the old adage goes, you have to ask the right questions before you can get the right answers. And that's exactly what the Not Your Average Bible Study series helps you do. Rather than spoon-feeding you with individual facts, this study of select Psalms coaches you on how to think through the text as a whole. Tested and proven in Bible Study Magazine, it's perfect for group and individual studies alike.To whom do you turn in good times and bad? In the Psalms, we find ancient people worshiping God in all types of situations, through many different emotions--praise, anger, thankfulness, frustration, and sadness. Their cries and praises abandon facades. The Psalms reflect genuine worship, and they encourage us to turn to God in every situation.Each section of the guide begins with a concise introduction, providing context for the biblical passage. Next, you'll consider questions designed to prompt your own in--depth study. You'll also find specific prayer suggestions, along with ideas for further research. Experience the joy of discovering biblical insights for yourself--then apply these lessons to your everyday life.This is not your average Bible study!

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Book SynopsisAs the old adage goes, you have to ask the right questions before you can get the right answers. And that's exactly what the Not Your Average Bible Study series helps you do. Rather than spoon-feeding you with individual facts, this study of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount coaches you on how to think through the text as a whole. Tested and proven in Bible Study Magazine, it's perfect for group and individual studies alike.Greed, power, selfish gain. We can easily get caught up in the values that guide our world. But on a mountainside in Galilee, Jesus spoke about a different way to live--the way of a different kingdom. He spoke about loving enemies, giving generously, and living without hypocrisy. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shows us what it means to truly live.Each section of the guide begins with a concise introduction, providing context for the biblical passage. Next, you'll consider questions designed to prompt your own in-depth study. You'll also find specific prayer suggestions, along with ideas for further research. Experience the joy of discovering biblical insights for yourself--then apply these lessons to your everyday life.This is not your average Bible study!

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