Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts Books

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 1989 PEN/Hemingway Foundation Award  for best first novel, this exquisite book  confronts real-life issues of alienation and violence  from which the author creates a stunning testament  to the human capacity for mercy, compassion and  love.

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Book Synopsis"Judas is a dark journey through the murderousness of Christian Anti-Semitism, culminating in the mass slaughter of more than a and their associated European butchers. Lucid, study is close to definitive on the fictive figure of Judas."—Harold BloomTrade Review"If Judas had not existed, God would have had to invent him. The divine script called for betrayal with a kiss, and someone had to be cast in that role. Judas, the intimate friend of the Son, became thus the indispensable collaborator of the Father and a figure of endlessly inviting ambivalence for the Western imagination. Susan Gubar has assembled a tour-de-force collection of Judas-art and Judas-literature and turned it into a Judas biography full of thought, heart, and fascination." -- Jack Miles, author of God: A Biography"A most readable account of the story of the New Testament’s arch-villain and his history over the past 2000 years, Susan Gubar’s Judas links Christian anti-Semitism with Christianity’s attempt to grapple with transcendent evil. The recent discovery of the ancient Gospel of Judas makes Gubar’s book a MUST READ." -- Sander Gilma

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Book SynopsisArgues that the Book of Judges is essentially a political tract and not a historical account of the conquest of Israel and the rise of the monarch, or an ancient Israelite work of literary fiction.Table of ContentsPreface 1. Judges and the Historian 2. Reading Judges as Literature? 3. The Short Story 4. The Samson Cycle 5. Poetry and Prose in Judges 4-5 6. Winding Down: The Concubine of Gibeah 7. A Conclusion that became an Introduction 8. Conclusion: The Center Does Cohere Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Resurrection accounts of Jesus in the Gospels are the most dramatic and impactful stories ever told. One similarity unites each testimony--that none of his most loyal and steadfast followers could see it was him, back from the dead. The reason for this is at the very foundation of the Christian faith.She turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. (John 20:14) Hope in the Time of Fear is a book that unlocks the meaning of Jesus's resurrection for readers. Easter is considered the most solemn and important holiday for Christians. It is a time of spiritual rebirth and a time of celebrating the physical rebirth of Jesus after three days in the tomb. For his devoted followers, nothing could prepare them for the moment they met the resurrected Jesus. Each failed to recognize him. All of them physically saw him and yet did not spiritually truly see him. It was only when Jesus reached out and invited them to

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Book SynopsisA compelling exploration of the biblical foundations, contemplative practices, and spiritual path of Jesus himself—from the bestselling author of The Case for Jesus“What happens when a biblical theologian explores classic spirituality? This book. Pitre’s students have asked, Why have we never heard this before? The reader wonders the same.”—Dr. David Fagerberg, author of Liturgical Mysticism The path of following Jesus is an ancient and storied spiritual tradition. Yet many believers are not familiar with the three major forms of prayer and the three stages of spiritual growth that exist to bring them closer to God.In his most personal book yet, Brant Pitre, PhD, draws on the riches of the Bible, the words of Jesus, and the writings of mystics across the centuries to shed light on the mystery—and wonder—of the spiritual life.Starting with the age-old b

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Trade Review"This unique study provides the first full-length study of the impact that Paul's quotations had upon his audience.... It is a fresh approach to the analysis of Paul's use of scripture.... This emphasis on authority and quotation then becomes a key ingredient in Stanley's examination of Paul's Scripture quotations.... His points provide a good critique of many studies on Paul's use of Scripture.... There are a number of strengths to Stanley's study. He has provided a much needed vantage point for looking at Paul's quotations of Scripture and emphasized the audience's reaction to Scripture quotations rather than the author's use. He has also focused attention on the diverse Scripture literacy of Paul's audience. These points deserve to be considered further in Paul's use of Scripture.... Arguing with Scripture does open up much room for understanding Paul's use of Scripture. His audience-centered approach will provide a fruitful starting point for many further investigations of Paul, his readers, and the role of Scripture." -RBL (Society of Biblical Literature), 1/05Review ~ International Review of Biblical Studies, vol 51,2004/05"In our opinion, Stanley's treatment of Paul's quotations is not penetrating either in content or rhetorical analysis. As a result he can present a view of Paul's quotation process that is at odds with the organic nature of revelation and the progressive movement of redemptive history. Perhaps others can find some usefulness in this work in spite of these flaws, but we have found little. Save your money and look up the quotations yourself. And if you want rhetorical insights, read Paul along with some classical rhetorical handbooks and Greco-Roman speeches. That would even help your preaching, but this book will not." - Scott F. Sanborn, Kerux: The Journal of Northwest Theological Seminary, September 2008 -- Scott F. Sanborn"Arguing with Scripture" is a theoretically sophisticated, methodologically innovative, exegetically sound, thorough and balanced study of how the Apostle Paul used scripture to argue with opponents and to persuade members of early Christian churches. By positing different hypothetical audiences for Paul's letters, at varying levels of familiarity with Jewish scripture, Stanley moves the debate about Paul's interpretive practices in new and more fruitful directions, away from concentrating exclusively on Paul's "intentions" and toward the variety of interpretations that are possible given a variety of possible kinds of audiences. Cognizant of the views of others and in dialogue with recent scholarship, Stanley judiciously demonstrates the remarkable freedom Paul used in quoting and interpreting scripture, but this study also shows just how persuasive--and sometimes unpersuasive--Paul's rhetoric may have been in the ancient church. Stanley's own arguments are persuasive indeed."--Dale B. Martin, Professor of Religious Studies, Yale University -- Dale B. Martin * Blurb from reviewer *"Christopher Stanley has provided an insightful analysis of Paul's enigmatic use of Scripture. Why did Paul seldom explicitly quote the Old Testament? Why did he use Scripture infrequently to support his deeper theological arguments? Stanley finds the answers to these and other questions in Paul's sensitivity to his rhetorical situations and the argumentation that he tailored for each. Stanley merges the study of Paul's use of Scripture and rhetorical analysis to create a helpful, custom-made tool for interpreting the Pauline Epistles."--Duane Watson, Professor of New Testament Studies, Malone College, Canton, Ohio -- Duane Watson * Blurb from reviewer *"While not everyone will agree with all of Chris Stanley's own arguments with Paul concerning his use and abuse of scriptural quotations, Arguing with Scripture represents a quantum leap forward in the study of this dimension of Paul's intertextuality. Stanley's highly productive combination of reader response and rhetorical criticism keeps the focus on a range of effects that Paul's strategic 'rhetoric of quotations' could have had on readers/auditors of varying competencies. While previous studies occasionally touch on these issues, Stanley foregrounds them and uses them to present many fresh insights. Indeed, he succeeds in problematizing no less than nine traditional scholarly assumptions about how Paul and his readers interacted with the biblical text! This is an important scholarly contribution that is clear, concise, and reader-friendly even to non-specialists. It deserves to be read by readers of all competencies.--Mark D. Given, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield Missouri -- Mark D. Given * Blurb from reviewer *"...Stanley's book is engaging and provocative. The questions that he raises are both poignant and important."- David Lincicum, June 2006/ Vol. 49 no.2 * Journal of Evangelical Theological Society *'[A] new methodological approach which promises to offer new insights into Paul's use of Scripture...This accesible study offers the reader a tremendous amount of insight into first century Christianity, pexposing some of the fallacies that are often assumed about Paul's audiences...This book is a fresh approach to Paul's use of Scriptures that has much to offer...and will certainly be of benefit whatever side of the Maximalist/Minimalist divide one resides.' Bryan D. Lee, Themelios, Vol 32, Issue 2, January 2006 * Themelios *Stanley’s method is enlightening and can be built upon for further insight into the Pauline use of scripture… [his] study gives the NT, and specifically Pauline community, much to consider. -- Aaron White, Pastoral Intern * Mosissimus Mose, A Blog by PhD Students at Trinity College, Bristol *

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Book SynopsisA collection of essays on the interpretation of the Old Testament on the topics of law and ethics.Trade Review"This book is a festschrift for the well-known British evangelical OT scholar, Gordon J. Wenham who retired from teaching at the University of Gloucestershire in 2005. Wenham is a prolific writer, widely known for his two-volume commentary on Genesis (1987, 1994), as well as solid commentaries on Leviticus (1979) and Numbers (1981). The bibliography at the end of this volume lists seventeen other books that Wenham has either authored, coauthored, or edited, along with eighty-seven articles and essays written by him...The book is loosely organized around "reading the law" in honor of Wenham's research interest in the Pentateuch. Its eighteen essays deal with aspects of the law in the Pentateuch, the Prophets, and the Writings, though some in the latter categories are at best loosely connected to the theme of law...All in all this is a worthy set of essays collected in honor of a very worthy scholar." -Joe. M. Sprinkle, Stone-Campbell Journal 11, Fall 2008Table of Contents1. Reading the Pentateuch: Pentateuchal criticism, narrative readings, rhetorical-critical readings; 2. Reading the Law: the law codes in historical and/or literary context, anthropological readings, the law in relation to prophets, wisdom, worship; 3. Reading the Bible ethically: e.g. ethics of marriage, war.

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Book SynopsisProvides a "round-table" discussion that examines the thesis that the study of prophetic literature (ie, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve) and the history of Israel are best undertaken in interaction with one another. This book focuses on questions about the usefulness of prophetic texts for reconstructing Israel's history.Trade Review"The book provides a fascinating kaleidoscope of different methods, and the result is, as could be expected, polyvalent. The many different methods and ways of looking at the issue of extracting historical information from the prophetic writings provide valuable insight into epistemology. As such, it is well worth reading." -Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer, Review of Biblical Literature, November 2008Table of ContentsFront Matter Brad E. Kelle and Megan Bishop Moore, Editorial Preface Part One: The Prophets: History as Worldview and Context; J. Gordon McConville, "'How Shall Jacob Stand? He is So Small': The Prophetic Word and the Re-creation of Israel"; Ehud Ben Zvi, "De-historization and Historization in Prophetic Books"; Sara Mandell, "Insiders, Outsiders, and the World of the Prophets"; Carol A. Newsom, "The Book of Daniel and Apocalyptic Historiography"; Brad E. Kelle, "The Prophet as Rhetorical Orator? Earlier Analogies and New Metaphors for Ancient Israelite Prophets"; Yehoshua Gitay, "Biblical Rhetoric: Reconsidered," Abstract TBA; Part Two: The Prophets: Texts, Contexts, and History; J. J. M. Roberts, "Isaiah's Oracles on Egypt and Cush in Their Historical Setting"; Philip Davies, "The Politics of the Servant"; Marvin Sweeney, "The Royal Oracle In Ezekiel 37:15-28: Ezekiel's Reflection On Josiah's Reform"; Julie Galambush, "The Not-so-secret Identity of Gog"; Alice W. Hunt; Stuart A. Irvine, "Relating Prophetic Texts and History: Examples from Hosea"; Peggy Day; Susan Haddox, "May His Soldiers Become Women: The Play of Gender in Hosea and its Political Implications"; Gene Tucker, "Amos in Historical Context"; Marc Zvi Brettler, "Redaction, History, and Redaction-History of Amos in Recent Scholarship"; Bob Becking, "Zechariah 4 and Early Post-Exilic History"; Part Three: The Prophets: Historical Method and Reception J. Maxwell Miller; Megan Bishop Moore, "The Prophets - Israel's Earliest Historians?"; Jeffrey K. Kuan, "Problems and Issues in Interpreting the Neo-Assyrian Eponym Chronicles and Their Implications for the Study of Prophetic Literature."; Brent A. Strawn, "Herodotus' History 2.141 and the Deliverance of Jerusalem: On Parallels, Sources, and Histories of Ancient Israel"; Oded Borowski, "The Biblical mzrq - What Is It?"; David Petersen, "The Ambiguous Role of Moses as Prophet"; Martin J. Buss, "The Place of Hebrew Prophets in Macrohistory" A Select Bibliography of John H. Hayes (Kelle and Moore); End Matter.

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Book SynopsisApplies horror theory to the book of "Jeremiah" and considers the nature of biblical horror and the objects that provoke horror, as well as the ways texts like "Jeremiah" work to elicit horror from their audience.Trade Review...a fresh perspective on the prophetic oracles in the book of Jeremiah... * Expository Times, December 2009 *The volume's interdisciplinary nature, which does not neglect possible theological implications, will benefit both students and scholars, especially those interested in the rhetorical study of the prophets and/or the use of postmodernist literary theory. * Religious Studies Review *A helpful analogy...K.'s very close reading of Jeremiah 6 has much to commend it. * Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, June 2009 *Table of ContentsIntroduction; The Horror; Shock and Shame: The Language of Horror; Shock and Shame: The Images of Horror.; The Horrible; Monstrous God; Monstrous Israel.; A Strategy of Terror: The Rhetoric of Horror in Jeremiah 6.; Fear and Faith: Monsters and Theology in the Book of Jeremiah as a monster?

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Book SynopsisOffers an introduction to feminist and gender-critical perspectives on the New Testament and other early Christian writings. This book sets out the methodology and hermeneutical issues and gives examples of how gender-critical exegesis affects the reading of texts.Trade Review‘Caroline Vander Stichele and Todd Penner are arguably the most creative and learned intellectual partnership in contemporary New Testament and Christian origins scholarship. Both are rightly known for their wide-ranging knowledge of critical theory, Christian origins scholarship and ancient sources. Contextualizing Gender in Early Christian Discourse is a predictably impressive addition to their published work but this time with a more introductory focus. In addition to functioning as a first-class introductory text, this book moves beyond standard introductions to the New Testament and Christian origins in that it offers readers valuable summaries of prominent thinkers (e.g. Foucault, Butler, Said, Bhabha), interwoven with their influence and potential applications in the study of the New Testament and Christian origins. There is a common and not unfair complaint that works grounded in contemporary critical theory can have a tendency to be near-impossible to understand for those outside the discourse. These authors, however, could not legitimately be accused of such a thing. Their book is clearly written, neatly laid out and full of valuable and creative examples from sources ancient and modern, both famous and not-so-famous. Not only does Contextualizing Gender in Early Christian Discourse deserve to be on the bibliography for New Testament and/or Christian origins courses, it would make a perfect entry point for more experienced scholars unfamiliar or out-of-touch with contemporary ideological criticism and critical theory. As the book contains plenty of original insights, seasoned ideological critics will also discover a thing or two. While we could all learn from the chapters in this book, the chapter on ‘Gender and the Modern Interpreter' really ought to be read by all scholars in the guild, no matter what their favoured approaches may be, because it constitutes an accurate, incisive, morally-charged, and potentially revolutionary critique of the academic discipline of biblical studies.' - James Crossley, Department of Biblical Studies, University of Sheffield, UK -- James Crossley‘In this very accessible, well-written and engaging book, the authors address early Christianity as discourse and locate gender as a core dynamic in that discourse by drawing on an impressive range of feminist theory. The book is a highly successful attempt to conceptualise Early Christian studies as part of a broader Humanities curriculum. They see as the vital issue of our time to reestablish critical-thinking engagement in our classrooms and institutions, and they contribute massively towards that goal.' - Jorunn Økland, Centre for Gender Research, University of Oslo, Norway. -- Jorunn Økland‘As two of the more accomplished and compelling editors, organizers, collaborators and thinkers (in their own right), Caroline Vander Stichele and Todd Penner have done it again. In getting us to "think beyond Thecla," their intersectional and boundary-crossing approach moves beyond biblical studies to grapple with some of the more important figures in the humanities (including Foucault, Butler, and Said among many others). Like so many manifestations and constructions of gender, their argument is complicated, yet accessible and insistently relevant. Such matters are important to learn and think about—something I aspire to do with students and colleagues alike... with, through, and beyond this book!' - Joseph Marchal, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA -- Joseph Marchal‘Navigating the intersections of biblical, ancient, and gender studies can often put the student of early Christian literature in a space reminiscent of a circus hall of mirrors. In this short and stunning book, Caroline Vander Stichele and Todd Penner offer rare theoretical and methodological clarity and transparency, as well as substantial resources for renegotiating, and reconfiguring, such difficult terrain without relying on easy assumptions about ancient or modern texts, contexts, and histories of interpretation. Contextualizing Gender in Early Christian Discourse is not only an eagerly anticipated contribution to professional gender-critical conversations in the field—it is also an eminently teachable book that engages students and teachers about shared material, and our shared enterprise, as learners and scholars in the world today. Incisive and accessible, concerned with the past and forward-thinking, collaboratively written, politically transparent: this book represents a powerful dedication to imagining what can be possible, and invites readers to similarly commit to such imagination.' - Davina C. Lopez, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, USA -- Davina C. Lopez"This gender-critical approach introduced in this volume seeks to situate the NT and early Christian writings in the broader context of ancient literary and religious traditions, to focus on discourse as a constituent aspect of identity formation, to foster an appreciation for gender issues, to continue to value a historical approach, to stress the role of ideology in the formation of the worlds of the text as well as ancient and modern readers, and to highlight the colonizing nature of empire. After a ten-page introduction, it introduces a gender-critical approach, contextualizes gender in the Greco-Roman world, discusses boundaries and bodies in early Christian discourse, reflects on gender and the modern interpreter, and considers reading (for) gender. Vander Stichele, university docent in religious studies at the University of Amsterdam, and Penner, professor of religious studies at Austin College in Sherman, TX, conclude that thinking beyond Thecla entails giving serious consideration to the structures and mechanisms of boundary-crossing, which is one of the critical components of their gender-critical approach." -New Testament Abstracts, Vol. 54This book is highly recommended for students, but will also be of interest to more established scholars seeking to apply ideology-critical approaches to ancient texts. -- Journal for the Study of The New Testament, Volume 33 Number 5 ‘Students of all ages and occupations will benefit form Vander Stichele and Penner's clear, concise prose and their frequent summaries and reviews of important, current scholarship...Those who desire a greater understanding of the gender-critical approach and who appreciate Foucault's thought will find this book a useful tool with which to explore early Christian discourses and our own world.' —Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology'Contextualising Gender in Early Christian Discourse is a comprehensive survey of early Christian discourse of gender in scripture. The book draws on a remarkable range of feminist theory, briefly considering the history of the New Testament interpretation, its role in the Christian canon, and its major theologies related to a gender-critical approach. The purpose of Contextualising Gender is to analyze different aspects of the representation of gender, sex, and sexuality in early Christian texts, with attention to their historical and contemporary significance.' - Igal German, Wycliffe College (Toronto School of Theology), Cananda -- Igal German * Theological Book Review *Table of Contents1.Gender: Old and New; 2.Canon in Context; 3.Methods and Meaning; 4.In Our Image; 5.Gender-Critical Readings.

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Book SynopsisArgues that, in the Gospel of Mark, Gentiles are recipients of Jesus' compassion and are typically depicted as desperate individuals who exhibit faith and understanding. This work shows how the theological reversal gains clarity when the narrative shifts to Jerusalem.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction, Assumptions, and Starting Points; Chapter 2. The First Journey into Gentile Territory; Chapter 3. The Third Journey into Gentile Territory; Chapter 4. The Fourth Journey into Gentile Territory; Chapter 5. The Final Encounter with Gentiles; Chapter 6. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisOur understanding of the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Israelites has changed considerably. This title includes essays that draw together specialists in the field to explain, illustrate and analyze religious diversity in Ancient Israel.Trade ReviewThe past generation of scholars saw the shift from unified notions of biblical theology to diverse developmental models based on the rise of monotheism towards the end of the biblical period. Now another, perhaps more relevant, shift is becoming apparent: a movement from ideas of unity to those of pluralism and diversity within the religion practiced by ancient Israelites and Judahites. Edited by two prominent scholars, this book brings together all the existing scholarly perspectives on such diversity, and adds some new ones. This remarkable volume represents the eye of the storm in current biblical scholarship. -- Bernhard Lang, University of Paderborn, Germany.Books about "the religion of ancient Israel" are not always clear as to whether their subject matter is what people in those times and places were actually doing and thinking (a further degree of difficulty) in the religious sphere of their lives, or rather what certain religious elites - priests, prophets, law scribes - thought they ought to be doing and thinking. As its title suggests, the present volume is quite clear on that point. Its contributors present a wide range of religious practices diversified geographically (north, south), topographically (household, village, city, temple, royal court), and sociologically (peasant culture, professional groups, cultic personnel), in the process illuminating many fascinating by-ways of scholarship. The editors and contributors are to be congratulated on putting together a composite image of religion in practice under the rubric of religious diversity. This is a book not to be missed. -- Joseph Blenkinsopp, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA.It has long been a commonplace to assume development within the religion of ancient Israel -- as is evidenced by the many chronologically-based histories of Israelite religion that were produced during the late nineteenth century and throughout the twentieth century. Development, moreover, could be taken to imply diversity, through the defining of differences between Israelite religious thought of the monarchical period, say, and of the postexilic era. But the authors of Religious Diversity in Ancient Israel and Judah bring a far more sophisticated and far more exciting paradigm of difference to bear in their work, both by moving beyond scholars' traditional focus on developments in the religious thought of Israel's theological elites in order to concentrate instead on Israelite religion as it was actually lived and practiced among the population at large, and also by taking seriously differences in the ancient Israelites' religious life and practice that were manifest concurrently during any given time within ancient Israelite history - due, say, to differences in geographical location or due to differences in social context within the same geographical region (so that, for example, Israelite religion as it was practiced in urban venues is contrasted profitably to the religious expressions that characterized rural settlements, and religion as it was practiced in the Judahite royal palace is equally profitably contrasted to the religion of the commoner's household). The result is a richly textured description of Israel's "micro-religions" that represents, moreover, the state of the art, as older narratives of theological evolution are left behind in favor of a multivalent and carefully nuanced account of the manifold variations that characterized Israelite and Judahite religious life at every moment during these two polities' existence.' -- Susan Ackerman, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USAThe editors of this volume have brought together an international team of scholars who have already published landmark contributions to the issue of diversies of relegion in ancient Israel. Here they give pedagogical presentations of their specialist insights into matters of importance to all students of the Hebrew Bible. -- Tryggve Mettinger, Lund University, SwedenIn this timely volume, leading Old Testament/Hebrew Bible scholars from various countries and traditions address key aspects of the religious pluriformity of ancient Israel and Judah. They present a wide readership with fine essays on the highly diverse religious culture(s) of the 'land of the Bible', based on methodologically sound, critical explorations of the relevant biblical texts and ancient artefacts. This collection is an excellent contribution to the current lively debate on the religious history of Israel and Judah, providing its readers with significant, provocative insights and much food for thought. -- Joachim Schaper, Chair in Hebrew, Old Testament and Early Jewish Studies, Divinity and Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen, UK.This is a splendid collection of essays whose publication is greatly to be welcomed. Its contributors are scholars who are well qualified to tackle aspects of the religious life of ancient Israel and Judah. The volume reveals something of the extent to which the Hebrew Bible's presentation of religion has been influenced by the Deuteronomists and what they wanted to portray, and demonstrates not only that there was diversity but that such diversity cannot simply be summed up as the difference between 'official' and 'popular', or 'urban' and 'rural'. A feature of the volume as a whole is that it offers a constructive balance between (biblical) textual and archaeological evidence, acknowledging that both have their contributions to make while both have their interpretational problems. Perhaps understandably the emphasis is on religious practices rather than beliefs but, in a telling phrase in the book's postscript, Barton reminds us that the authors of the Hebrew Bible "...were already in the business of thinking about Yahweh as well as worshipping him" (p.373). -- Adrian Curtis, The University of Manchester, UK.The essayists who contributed to this volume tell lively tales in an engaging style. * The Good Book Stall, September 2010 *Reviewed in SAPIENS- Revista de Historia, Patrimonio e Arqueologia, no. 5Mentioned in the Church TimesTable of ContentsCh. 1: Introduction; John Barton (University of Oxford); Ch. 2: Living between heaven and the underworld; Susan Niditch (Amherst College, Massachusetts); Ch. 3: 'Official' religion and 'popular' religion; Francesca Stavrakopoulou (University of Exeter); Ch. 4: 'Israelite' religion and 'Canaanite' religion; Mark S. Smith (New York University); Ch. 5: Royal religion in Judah and Israel; Nick Wyatt (Emeritus Professor, University of Edinburgh); Ch. 6: Temple worship beyond Jerusalem and Samaria; Diana Edelman (University of Sheffield); Ch. 7: Urban religion and rural religion; Philip Davies (University of Sheffield); Ch. 8: Domestic religion; Carol Meyers (Duke University); Ch. 9: Personal piety; Rainer Albertz (Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat, Munster).

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Book SynopsisReflects on the kinds of appeal to the Bible that have been made in environmental ethics and ecotheoloogy. This title engages with biblical texts with a view towards exploring their contribution to an ecological ethics, and explores the kind of hermeneutic necessary for such engagement to be fruitful for contemporary theology and ethics.Trade Review‘This wonderful volume demonstrates the rich exegesis of Scripture and the Christian theological tradition, drawing upon a wide range of texts from varied yet complementary angles. Further, it offers perhaps the best small collection of resources I know for reworking and developing a Christian theology of the created order for our own critical time. This book of intelligent and highly engaging essays should be widely known and used in multiple teaching settings within the academy and the church.' - Ellen F. Davis, A. R. Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical Theology, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC, USA. -- Ellen F. Davis‘This is an excellent book and one that is much needed. There is no issue more urgent for contemporary theology, as it comes to terms with the demands of the ecological crisis, than carefully thinking through its approach to the interpretation of biblical texts. /Ecological Hermeneutics/ makes an indispensable contribution. The contributors bring a great deal of learning and some wonderful insights from their specialist disciplines, and communicate a strong sense of commitment to both the good of the Earth community and the integrity of biblical faith.' - Denis Edwards, Catholic Theological College, Australia -- Denis Edwards‘At present, issues in ecological ethics confront us urgently at both global and personal levels. Over recent decades they have raised myriads of questions for theology and more recently for biblical interpretation. Ecological Hermeneutics, a collection of essays emerging from an AHRC funded project at the University of Exeter, makes an important new contribution to the search for adequate ways to interpret biblical texts and theological traditions ecologically. The volume is framed by the essays of Horrell and Conradie each of whom engage very explicitly the search for a viable ecological hermeneutic and both indicating a preference for a doctrinally-based perspective. The essays within that frame demonstrate the rich variety of approaches and engagement with text and tradition that constitute emerging ecological hermeneutics. For those coming new to this area of scholarship, the collection of essays will provide a challenging introduction and for those who are more deeply engaged with the topic, it will broaden their participation in this important field of inquiry.' - Elaine Wainwright, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. -- Elaine Wainwright‘Ecological Hermeneutics is a well crafted set of essays that derive from a three year project at the University of Exeter... The editorial quality is high, and the four editors have clearly worked well as a team. The volume displays an evenness in style across the 20 contributions that clearly didn't happen by accident.' -- The Church TimesEcological Hermeneutics is an important book on an important subject... a unique and useful contribution to the growing literature on ecology and the Bible... By bringing together highly competent essays in the fields of biblical exegesis, the history of interpretation, and theology, the editors offer us an invaluable set of resources for the ongoing task of reshaping Christian thought in light of the environmental crisis. -- The Review of Biblical LiteratureThis multi-disciplinary collection is ambitious but successful, and will prove stimulating reading for readers with some experience in academic theology and exegesis, who are interested in bringing the bible to bear on ecological issues. -- Expository TimesEcological Hermeneutics is a well-crafted set of essays that derive from a three-year project at the University of Exeter... The editorial quality is high, and the four editors have clearly worked well as a team. The volume displays an evenness in style across the 20 contributions which clearly didn't happen by accident. -- Church TimesTwenty leading scholars reflect critically on the kinds of appeals to the Bible that have been made in environmental ethics and ecotheology; engage biblical texts with a view towards exploring their contribution to an ecological ethics; and explore the kind of hermeneutic necessary for such engagement to be fruitful for contemporary theology and ethics. -- InterpretationThis valuable collection of essays arose from seminars convened by Exeter’s project on Uses of the Bible in Environmental Ethics ... The book’s introduction by David Horrell sets out strategies for ecological hermeneutics that are ‘coherent (and in dialogue) with a scripturally shaped Christian orthodoxy’ through learning critically from the history of interpretation while acknowledging that ‘ethical appropriation is necessarily a constructive endeavour’ (pp. 8-9). This multidisciplinary collection of essays is a substantial contribution to that endeavour and will be helpful to those interested in theological approaches to environmental ethics. * Studies in Christian Ethics *Table of ContentsIntroduction (The Editors); Section 1: Biblical perspectives; Section 2: Insights from the history of interpretation; Section 3: Contemporary hermeneutical possibilities; Epilogue (The Editors); Indexes.

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Book SynopsisAnalyses texts on social justice in the Old Testament and argues that despite their ideological character they may still assist in shaping a Christian theological approach to social and global injustice. This book offers reflections on the value of the Old Testament as a resource in the struggle for justice.Trade Review"'A splendid contribution to a very major issue, a most interesting and thought-provoking study' Richard Coggins, formerly Senior Lecturer in Old Testament Studies, King's College London, UK '[A] marvellous combination of reading everything, being open to the most radical of ideas, but keeping a cool head, a critical spirit, and a desire to discover things in the OT of theological and ethical value.' John Goldingay, David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, California, USA"Table of ContentsPreface; Preface to the First Edition; 1. Texts and Contexts; 2. The Ancient Social Context; 3. Oppression and the Prophets; 4. Justice and the Patron; 5. Justice and the King; 6. Justice and the People; 7. The God of Justice; 8. The Old Testament: A Resource in the Struggle for Justice.

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Book SynopsisTimothy G. Gombis is professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, USA.Trade ReviewTim Gombis has painted a picture of the apostle Paul by applying the fresh paint of recent scholarship to a traditional canvas of authorship and history. The results are a careful exposition of important issues that winsomely engages a variety of viewpoints and a book that will orient a new generation of students to the latest scholarly conversations about Paul. -- J.R. Daniel Kirk, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA.Just when scholarly discussion on the Apostle Paul has produced an intricate tangle of debate, Timothy Gombis rescues the non-specialist by providing a delightfully accessible book on Paul. Sifting carefully through the best scholarship, Gombis presents a clear, fresh, and compelling portrait of Paul's theological framework. For those needing a helpful roadmap for locating Paul's life and theology, this is the place to begin. And for those who assume the road is all too familiar, Gombis offers plenty of welcome surprises. -- Justin K. Hardin, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, UK.Seminal reading for teachers and students in post-sixteen education... I also commend the volume to Christian and inter-faith groups. * Theological Book Review *This short work succeeds in giving a succinct overview of aspects of Pauline thought, unencumbered by complex scholarly apparatus... * Journal for the Study of The New Testament, Volume 33 Number 5 *This is a solid and useful introduction. * The Bible Today *There is much that is helpful in Gombis's overview of the letters, and his insistence that they be taken in all their concreteness is appropriate... [Gombis's] highlighting of the role of the Sprit as the vehicle through which Paul's communities experience the reality of the New Age in the present is a helpful corrective to the neglect of this motif in much scholarship. * Review of Biblical Literature *Table of ContentsIntroduction; Paul: Theologian, Missionary, or Pastor?; The Structure of Paul's Thought; Paul and Judaism; Salvation: The Divine/Human Tension; Paul and Women; Politics and Religion; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisFrom the perspective of Paul's letter to the Galatians, this book offers an analysis of the cult of self-castration in its Anatolian cultic context. It argues that Paul attempts to dissuade his audience from being circumcised by identifying circumcision with the enslaving self-castration of the galli and by portraying the Law as a Mountain Mother.Trade Review"'In this fascinating and timely monograph Susan Elliott seeks to understand Paul's letter to the Galatians, and in particular certain problematic metaphors and issues in the local context of Galatia. The sad fact is that, despite the amount of recent work devoted to this letter of Paul, such considerations of its specifically Gentile context have been lacking. Elliott's monograph should be seen as, one hopes, the first of several works trying to redress this imbalance. Her work is thorough, displaying an in-depth knowledge and familiarity not only with recent Pauline scholarship but also with classical scholarship and solid biblical exegesis of previous generations, spanning back well into the first few centuries after the one in which Paul wrote.' Review of Biblical Literature"Table of ContentsIntroduction - Everyone But The Audience; Part 1: Galatian Problems; 1. The Law as a Slave-Concubine Mountain; 2. The Law as an Enslaving Figure: Galatians 3.19-4.11; Part 2: The Central Anatolian Religious Context; 3. A Divine Judicial System; 4. Our Mother, Our Place; 5. Attis and the Mother; 6. The Galli: The Mother's Slaves; Part 3: Paul Persuades His Anatolian Audience to Oppose Circumcision; 7. The Rhetorical Situation Revisited: Circumcision and Castration; 8. Hagar, The Meter Sinaiene: Galatians 4.21-5.1 as a Triple Analogy; 9. The Two Ways and the Unity of Galatians; 10. Flesh and Spirit in Galatians 3.1-5; Epilogue.

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Book SynopsisExamines the birth and development of early Christianity up to the end of the second century CE and places early Christianity in its social, cultural, political and economic context. This book provides an English translation of the Gospel of Thomas, which includes the original 'kernel' of the Gospel and the sayings.Trade Review"DeConick's groundbreaking work should now be the starting point for all future work on the Gospel of Thomas." Birger A. Pearson, University of California, Santa Barbara, Religious Studies Review"The commentary, the bulk of the book, is itself very good. Each section, whether a few lines or a few paragraphs, begins with the authors own translation of the Coptic text...The clearly organized and (graphically) well-laid-out sections help the reader move efficiently to points of interest...Opposing viewpoints are given fair space, responses are made, and conclusions are drawn. Fresh insights regarding translational, interpretive, or text-critical issues are not uncommon...when it comes to writing a critical commentary on Thomas, one cannot hope to master it all. Deconick's book is worth having on the shelf because she comes as close as does anybody." —Nicholas Perrin, Bulletin for Biblical Research, 18. -- Nicholas Perrin"There is a wealth of information in this volume and the standard formatting makes it readily accessible. This is a very helpful discussion which will undoubtedly generate much focused and fruitful investigation of this enigmatic text." -- Paul Foster, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh * Expository Times *‘DeConick's approach is an instance of a relatively new paradigm for assessing intertextual relationships that might help scholars avoid some "dead ends" into which a purely literary paradigm sometimes leads... Her large-scale study of the Gospel of Thomas addresses some very important questions, and it is a particular pleasure to see her interpreting the Gospel of Thomas without the label "gnostic." This commentary on the Gospel of Thomas is a valuable tool with many important observations and easy access to related source material and scholarly discussion. Thus, apart from its standing as a scholarly study, it provides a most convenient starting point for further studies on the Gospel of Thomas. One need not agree with all of DeConick's conclusions, but even a more critical reader will be happy to consult this rich yet concise commentary' Stephan Witetschek, University of Cambridge, UK in RBL 05/2008 -- John Painter * Review of Biblical Literature *Table of ContentsPart 1: Translation of the Kernel Gospel of Thomas; Part 2: Translation of the Complete Gospel of Thomas; Part 3: Commentary on the Gospel of Thomas.

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Book SynopsisPostcolonial studies have made significant inroads into biblical studies, giving rise to numerous conference papers, articles, essays and books. This book offers an introduction to postcolonial biblical criticism and probes it from a number of different but interrelated angles to bring it into focus, so that its promise can be better appreciated.Trade Review"'The assemblage of biblical scholars who have contributed to this book is its major strength. These are all well published authors, most of whom have spent decades traversing the theoretical underpinnings of various critical approaches to the Bible - poststructuralism, postmodernism, Marxism, ideological criticism, feminism, and race/ethnicity, before turning to postcolonialism... for many biblical scholars, most of whom may be just beginning to reflect on concepts such as hybridity, mimicry, ambivalence, dislocation, diaspora, colonialism, and the like, this book should find a ready reading audience. The authors have a firm grasp of the issues at stake in interpreting the Bible along postcolonial lines. The book deserves to be read widely and would be especially useful in upper-division undergraduate classes in Bible and in seminary courses dealing with hermeneutical issues.' Jeffrey L Staley, Review of Biblical Literature"Table of Contents1. 'Postcolonial Biblical Criticism: Meanderings and Intersections'; 2. 'Mapping the Postcolonial Optic for Biblical Criticism: Meaning and Scope'. 3. 'Questions of Biblical Ambivalence and Authority under a Tree outside Delhi; or, the Postcolonial and the Postmodern'; 4. 'Gospel Hauntings: The Postcolonial Demons of New Testament Criticism'; 5. 'Margins and (Cutting-) Edges: On the (II) Legitimacy and Intersections of Race, Ethnicity, and (Post) Colonialism'; 6. 'Marx, Postcolonialism, and the Bible'; 7. 'Very Limited Ideological Options'.

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Book SynopsisExamines the subject of Temple and Worship in biblical Israel, ranging from their ancient Near Eastern and archaeological background, through the Old Testament and Late Second Temple Judaism, and up to the New Testament. This work investigates attitudes to the Temple in the Septuagint, Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.Trade Review"The essays, expanded versions of lectures delivered to the Oxford Old Testament Seminar between 2001 and 2003, are of exceptionally high quality. The collection is a must for theological libraries." - Richard J. Clifford, 68, 2006 Catholic Biblical Quarterly"Table of ContentsPart 1. Temples and High Places in Israel and the Canaanite World; 1. Like Deities, Like Temples (Like People), Mark S. Smith, Skirball Professor of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, New York University; 2. Massebot in the Israelite Cult: An Argument for making Implicit Cultic Criteria Explicit, Elizabeth Bloch-Smith, Senior staff member on the Tel Dor excavations (she has been adjunct professor at various American universities); 3. From Gibeon to Gibeah: High Place of the Kingdom, Simcha Shalom Brooks, Freelance scholar working in London (teaches part-time at Birkbeck College, London); Part 2. Temple and Worship in the Old Testament; 4. YHWH's Exalted House - Aspects of the Design and Symbolism of Solomon's Temple, Victor (Avigdor) Hurowitz, Professor of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; 5. The Prophets and the Cult, John Barton, Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford, and Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. 6. Temple and Worship in Isaiah 6, H.G.M. Williamson, Regius Professor of Hebrew, University of Oxford, and Student of Christ Church, Oxford; 7. Temple and Worship in Ezekiel 40-48, Paul Joyce, Fellow and Tutor of St Peter's College, Oxford, and Lecturer in Theology (Old Testament) in the University of Oxford; 8. Divine Reversal and the Role of the Temple in Trito-Isaiah, Jill Middlemas, Liddon Research Fellow in Theology, Keble College, Oxford, and Hebrew Lector, The Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies; 9. Placing (a) God: Central Place Theory in Deuteronomy 12 and Delphi, Anselm Hagedorn, wissenschaftlicher Assistent in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at the Humboldt-Universitat, Berlin; previously Kennicott Hebrew Fellow, Oxford University; 10. Merely a Container? The Ark in Deuteronomy, Ian Wilson, Freelance scholar working in Cambridge. Life member of Clare Hall, Cambridge; 11. Whatever happened to the Ark of the Covenant? John Day, Professor of Old Testament Studies, University of Oxford, and Fellow and Tutor of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford; 12. Ordeals in the Psalms? Philip Johnston, Tutor in Old Testament and Hebrew, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford Wisdom Psalms, Stuart Weeks, Lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew, University of Durham; 13. The Zion Tradition and the Editing of the Hebrew Psalter, Susan Gillingham, Fellow and Tutor of Worcester College, Oxford, and Lecturer in Theology (Old Testament) in the University of Oxford; 14. The Day of Atonement as a Ritual of Validation for the High Priest, Deborah Rooke, Lecturer in Old Testament Studies, King's College, University of London 15. The Temple of David in the Book of Chronicles, John Jarick, Tutor in Old Testament, St Stephen's House, Oxford; Part 3. The Temple in the Late Second Temple Period and the New Testament; 16. Understandings of the Temple Service in the Septuagint Pentateuch, C.T.R. Hayward, Professor of Hebrew, University of Durham; 17. The Temple in the Apocryphal and Pseudepigraphal Literature of the Second and First Centuries BCE, Michael Knibb, Samuel Davidson Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Studies, King's College, University of London; 18. The Ten Temples in the Dead Sea Scrolls, George Brooke, Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis, University of Manchester. 19. New Voices, Ancient Words: The Temple Scroll's Reuse of the Bible, Molly Zahn, Doctoral student in the department of Theology, University of Notre Dame 20. The Temple in First Century CE Judaism, Martin Goodman, Professor of Jewish Studies, University of Oxford, and Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford; 21. The Temple in the New Testament, Christopher Rowland, Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford, and Fellow of The Queen's College, Oxford; 22. The Messianic Man of Peace as Temple Builder: Solomonic Imagery in Ephesians 2.13-22, Larry Kreitzer, Fellow and Tutor in New Testament, Regent's Park College, Oxford, and Research Lecturer in Theology in the University of Oxford.

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Book SynopsisAn examination of all the relevant passages containing the term "Son of Man" in both Matthew and the Parables of Enoch.Trade ReviewNevertheless, I was impressed with the clarity of the exegetical section in handling commentary on the original languages. Walck's contributions lie in his discussion of the relation between the Son of Man material in the Parables and Matthew, which I find convincing, and in his application of narrative criticism and social stratification analysis to the Parables to expand the window of opportunity for its origin. -- David W. Suter, Saint Martin's University * The Catholic Biblical Quarterly *Table of ContentsIntroduction to the Issue Dating, Sources and Social Setting of the Parables of Enoch The Son of Man in the Parables of Enoch The Son of Man in Matthew The Son of Man in Mark, Luke and John Comparison of the Son of Man in Parables of Enoch and in the Christian Gospels Judgement Scenesin the Parables of Enoch, Matthew and other contemporary Literature Conclusions and Trajectory for further Study

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Trade ReviewReview ~International Review of Biblical Studies, vol 51, 2004/05"Overall, this collection represents a compelling example of cultural criticism and makes patent why approaches such as demonstrated here must begin to command a larger amount of our energy as biblical scholars. These essays do not need to argue for the Bible's relevance; they demonstrate it." - RBL, September 2005 * Review of Biblical Literature *

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