Paul's Concept of a Hebrew Deity in Relation to Jesus : insights from the kyrios and theos citations by
In this study, Peter Nagel provides a deeper understanding of Paul's concept of a Hebrew deity by offering a textual-conceptual and linguistic connection between the Hebrew deity of the Old Testament and Jesus as the Christ of the New Testament. He does so by offering a textual-cognitive analysis of the explicit Kyrios and Theos citations within their literary context in the Pauline literature. He also considers the text-critical variants, alternatives, and discrepancies in the entire New Testament where the term Kyrios and Theos are used. This analysis is done against a broad Hebrew and Greek textual-conceptual backdrop by investigating the most prominent biblical Hebrew and Greek manuscript evidence from 300 BCE to 200 CE.
Living Christ : a spiritual reading of the gospels by
In Living Christ, Peter Feldmeier explores the Gospels as the premier revelation of the person, ministry, and salvation of Jesus Christ. Uniting biblical scholarship with a deep spiritual engagement with the Gospels, Feldmeier shows how the biblical word can access the prophetic words and saving work of Jesus to make them one's own. Each Gospel provides a unique interpretation of Christ and a distinctive expression of Christian discipleship. Feldmeier takes the reader slowly through each text so that they may richly engage the truths witnessed by the evangelists and become opportunities for interior transformation. Drawing on traditional and modern commentaries, as well as his own reflections, Feldmeier shows how the Gospels are essential in their own ways in coming to an intimate relationship with Christ and an authentic appropriation of biblical discipleship.
Jesus the Oracle : reading Mark in Roman Egypt by
In Jesus the Oracle, Annelies Gisela Moeser reads Jesus's journey from Capernaum to Jerusalem in Mark's gospel through the cultural context of second/third century Roman Egypt. Moeser provides a rich description of the Egyptian practice of oracles, including processional oracles, to build a model with which to read Mark. This prism brings attention to descriptions of Jesus's supernatural knowledge and wisdom, such as in the story of the Rich Man (Mk 10:17-22). In contrast to Clement of Alexandria's homily on the Rich Man which counseled detachment from possessions, this reading from a non-elite perspective considers Jesus's advice to be more radical. This model of processional oracles highlights the importance of access to the divine, including by non-elite crowds, by persons with disabilities (e.g., in comparing Bartimaeus [Mk 10:46-52] with Gemellus Horion of Karanis [a town in Egypt]), and by children. Traditional Egyptian religion upheld the existing sociopolitical regime. However, Jesus's procession and proclamation of the basileia (reign) of G*d subverts the Roman world order and that of their local, elite allies.
The Bible and Comics : women, power and representation in graphic narratives by
This interdisciplinary volume seeks to trace the diverse ways in which stories of biblical women have been reimagined in and as comic books. Feminist biblical scholarship has previously addressed the tradition that relegates female biblical characters to secondary roles, merely enabling the male characters to attain their own goals. Using examples from both secular and religious comic Bibles, and comic Bibles aimed at children and older audiences, Zanne Domoney-Lyttle now fully considers contemporary remediations of biblical narratives to the same degree. Remediating ancient, biblical text into modern, graphical comic books affects the reception of the text in several ways. This book aims to investigate how the production, format, and function of comic Bibles encourages the depiction of biblical characters from a contemporary perspective, while also showing some fidelity to the text. By presenting a focused analysis on women in the Bible, wider issues concerning popular-cultural retellings of the Bible in general begin to surface, including matters concerning reception history, the space between art and literature inhabited by biblical comics, and issues of translation and interpretations within contemporary remediations.
Wisdom from the Witch of Endor : four rules for living by 
Story, Ritual, Prophecy, Wisdom: reading and teaching the Bible today by
"An invitation to reading and teaching the Bible as a life-giving, sacred text as well as a historical artifact"-- Provided by publisher."Discover how studying the Bible can renew your church community. How do we teach the Bible in a way that makes a real difference in our students' lives and our communities? Too often, biblical introductions treat Scripture as a mere historical artifact. Mark W. Hamilton and Samjung Kang-Hamilton combine their decades of experience in theological and religious education to devise a new way to teach Scripture that brings out its life-giving qualities. The authors show how Scripture has four modes: story, ritual, prophecy, and wisdom. With an eye toward spiritual formation, the authors explore examples of each of the four genres within the Bible and show how they address real needs in the life of the church today. They also recommend how to incorporate contemporary tools like digital media alongside art, music, and other practices to draw wisdom from Scripture. Combining multicultural sensitivity with ecumenical spirit, this guidebook is ideal for educators and pastors seeking to renew their own Christian communities through biblical education"--
An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible by
"An introductory textbook on biblical origins and interpretation"-- Provided by publisher."A comprehensive and orthodox guide to biblical origins and interpretation How did we get the Bible? How do we interpret it? And what does it mean for our lives today? Michael B. Shepherd introduces undergraduates and seminarians to these crucial questions in this reliable and thorough new textbook. Shepherd covers textual criticism, formation of the canon, and history of translation, all while remaining committed to Scripture's ultimate purpose-inviting us to salvation through Jesus Christ. Showing how the Bible directs its own interpretation, Shepherd encourages learners to listen to the Word of God, rather than twisting it to fit their own ends. His section-by-section treatment of the Bible encourages students to view the Bible as cohesive, while remaining sensitive to its diverse genres. Thorough and accessible, this textbook goes beyond typical historical introductions to spiritually form students learning to understand Scripture. An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible is the serious, evangelical introduction your students need and will reference for years to come"-- Provided by publisher.
Paul's Letter to the Romans : theological essays by
A collection of essays presented during the Consultation on Paul's Letter to the Romans at four annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022).This volume features contributions from top evangelical Pauline scholars, addresses contested theological matters in the letter to the Romans, and can serve as a textbook.Each of the four editors has written a recent major commentary on Romans (Moo, NICNT; Schnabel, HTA; Schreiner, BECNT; Thielman, ZECNT). Contributors include the editors, along with Robert Yarbrough, Mark Seifrid, Robert Gagnon, Patrick Schreiner, Christopher Bruno, Brian Rosner, Kevin McFadden, Benjamin Gladd, Charles Quarles, Ben Dunson, Kyle Wells, Michael Bird, Joshua Greever, Benjamin Merkle, Ardel Caneday, Sigurd Grindheim, A. Andrew Das, Jeffrey Weima, Mateus de Campos, and M. Sydney Park.
Method, Context, and Meaning in New Testament Studies by 
Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Corinthians : Paul, stoicism, and spiritual hierarchy by
"Timothy A. Brookins argues that Paul addresses a church conflict inspired by Stoicism in 1 Corinthians 1-4"-- Provided by publisher."A bold new reading of 1 Corinthians in light of Greco-Roman philosophy. The First Letter to the Corinthians begins with an admonishment of the church over their internal division and reliance on human wisdom. What exactly occasioned Paul's advice has perennially troubled New Testament scholars. Many scholars have asserted that Paul disapproved of the Corinthians' infatuation with rhetoric. Yet careful exegesis of the epistle problematizes this consensus. Timothy A. Brookins unsettles common assumptions about the Corinthian conflict in this innovative monograph. His close reading of 1 Corinthians 1-4 presents evidence that the Corinthian problem had roots in Stoicism. The wisdom Paul alludes to is not sophistry, but a Stoic-inspired understanding of natural hierarchy, in which the wise put themselves above believers they considered spiritually underdeveloped. Moreover, Paul's followers saw themselves as a philosophical school in rivalry with other Christians, engendering divisions in the church. Combining scriptural exegesis and investigation of Greco-Roman philosophical culture, Brookins reconstructs the social sphere of Corinth that Paul addresses in his letter. His masterful analysis provides much needed clarity on the context of a major epistle and on Pauline theology more broadly"-- Provided by publisher.
Trauma Talks in the Hebrew Bible: speech act theory and trauma hermeneutics by
If one of the many ways out of trauma's impact is through words, then why not use a theory closely attached to words and their impact alongside current trauma theories in understanding historical narratives? In Trauma Talks in the Hebrew Bible: Speech Act Theory and Trauma Hermeneutics, Alexiana Fry utilizes a diverse methodology of speech act theory and trauma hermeneutics to argue for a more fluid and holistic approach in re-interpreting narratives in the Hebrew Bible. Examining a more dissociative "objective" manner in reading, each chapter asks the question of "what about our own bodies?" Purposely provoking attunement with oneself to embrace "empathic unsettlement," the book refuses to give any semblance of finality. Through the many types of performative utterances and traumas both individual and collective--Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Ecclesiastes, and Hosea--Fry investigates the varied layers that constitute their many meanings. The reader is invited into an awareness and openness that is the human experience in biblical studies.
Paul and Imperial Divine Honors: Christ, Caesar, and the Gospel by
How did the imperial cult affect Christians in the Roman Empire? "Jesus is lord, not Caesar." Many scholars and preachers attribute mistreatment of early Christians by Roman authorities to this fundamental confessional conflict. But this mantra relies on a reductive understanding of the imperial cult. D. Clint Burnett examines copious evidence--literary, epigraphic, numismatic, and archaeological--to more accurately reconstruct Christian engagement with imperial divine honors. Outdated narratives often treat imperial divine honors as uniform and centralized, focusing on the city of Rome. Instead, Burnett examines divine honors in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth. While all three cities incorporated imperial cultic activity in their social, religious, economic, and political life, the purposes and contours of the practice varied based on the city's unique history. For instance, Thessalonica paid divine honors to living Julio-Claudians as tribute for their status as a free city in the empire--and Christian resistance to the practice was seen as a threat to that independence. Ultimately, Burnett argues that early Christianity was not specifically antigovernment but more broadly countercultural, and that responses to this stance ranged from conflict to apathy. Burnett's compelling argument challenges common assumptions about the first Christians' place in the Roman Empire. This fresh account will benefit Christians seeking to understand their faith's place in public life today-- Provided by publisher.
The Book of Micah (The New International commentary on the Old Testament) by
What is the balance between judgment and hope? Micah spoke powerfully to the people of Judah millennia ago. His prophecy has the same power to change the minds and hearts of Christians today. As a volume of the New International Commentary on the Old Testament, James D. Nogalski's fresh commentary on Micah is academically serious and pastorally relevant. Based on Nogalski's original translation of the Hebrew text, this commentary takes seriously the historical and theological contexts of the book of Micah. The thorough introduction considers the book's literary form, its composition, and its function in the canon, especially within the Book of the Twelve. Ample notes point readers to the most relevant, up-to-date critical scholarship. Nogalski explicates Micah's major themes, including fidelity to Yahweh, abuses of power, and the intriguing juxtaposition of judgment and hope for God's people. Combining scholarly rigor with an evangelical point of view, The Book of Micah serves as the perfect companion for scholars, students, and pastors seeking to understand this essential prophet.
What Are They Saying about the Book of Jonah? by
Aimed at a general audience, this book provides an overview of how biblical scholars have addressed important issues related to the biblical book of Jonah. Moving far beyond 'the story about that guy and the whale,' this work leads readers to appreciate how complex a work Jonah is and the unique contribution it makes to biblical literature. Endorsements "Both erudite and readable, this book masterfully synthesizes recent scholarship on Jonah via a close reading, a survey of the book's mysteries, and a review of its reception across time." --James D. Nogalski, professor of Hebrew Bible, W. Marshall and Lulie Craig Professor of Bible, Baylor University "These scholars combine their expertise with clear and engaging prose, perfect for the undergraduate classroom or Bible study groups. I especially appreciate their discussions of the Jonah traditions in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam." --Corrine L. Carvalho, professor of theology, University of St. Thomas "This well-researched and easily accessible book manages not only to condense the major redaction-critical, literary, and reception-historical theories pertaining to the book of Jonah but also to offer new and exciting insights." --Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer, professor in Old Testament exegesis, ALT School of Theology, Sweden Rhiannon Graybillis Marcus M. and Carole M. Weinstein and Gilbert M. and Fannie S. Rosenthal Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Richmond. John Kaltneris Virginia Ballou McGehee Professor of Muslim-Christian Relations at Rhodes College. Steven L. McKenzieis professor of religious studies and the Spence L. Wilson Senior Research Fellow at Rhodes College. +
The SBL Study Bible : New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books by
A thoroughly revised edition of The HarperCollins Study Bible, one of the leading study bibles used in undergraduate and graduate courses, the first study bible offering the full text of the New Revised Standard Version--Updated Edition. Supported by the largest and most respected academic association of Bible scholars, The Society of Biblical Literature, The SBL Study Bible is the landmark general reference Bible that offers the full text of the New Revised Standard Version. Now, this completely revised edition reflects the changes in the updated NRSV, incorporating: The latest scholarship and findings New diagrams, charts, and maps covering all the key time periods and regions of biblical events Comprehensive, accessible introductions to every book of the Bible with commentary and notes on each page Hundreds of new articles, charts, and images explaining key words, concepts, people, historical events, and historical context.
De vita Mosis, I : an introduction with text, translation, and notes by 
Retrieving the Spiritual Teaching of Jesus by
This volume directs attention to the teaching of Jesus; it introduces the question of how the imagination has to work in order to retrieve the teaching of Jesus and apply it to actual life in our day. Teachers and preachers are engaged in this work all the time, but upon examination it involves a process that bears reflection. We live in a world that is so different from the world in which Jesus taught that many ask about its practicability relative to our complex everyday lives. The volume turns to three authors who work at this, have thought through present-day theory of interpretation, and respond to basic questions that explain the adjustments that allow us to apply Jesus' teaching to our dilemmas with interpretation that remain faithful to the content that he proposed. Sandra Schneiders turns to modern hermeneutics, the theory of interpretation, and explains what is going on in the human mind that allows us to say that present-day interpretation, while different from Jesus because our "worlds" are different, corresponds to what Jesus communicated in the past relative to his world. William Spohn pushes the same idea further to concrete examples of how analogy, sameness and difference together, both binds the imagination to Jesus and frees us to see new relevance for Jesus' actual teaching. And Lisa Sowle Cahill takes the spirit of the other two into the social order to show how Jesus' teaching has a real relevance for the highly complex societies in which we live today. The logics of these three authors offer models for what is going on in all of the Past Light on Present Life volumes as they represent different historical periods and distinct themes in Western Christian spirituality.
Oneself in Another: participation and personhood in Pauline theology by
Oneself in Another explores the Pauline themes of redemption and transformation through Christ's participation in human history and life. The essays range from careful exegetical and historical analysis to interdisciplinary engagements with issues in theology, global events, and medical ethics. Throughout, they focus on human experience, questions about how people change, and God's gracious initiative liberating human agency.
Awake in Gethsemane : Bonhoeffer and the witness of Christian lament by
'Throughout the Psalms we witness David cry out for deliverance in seasons of anguish and grief, seeking refuge and strength from the Lord. Likewise, Jesus petitioned God in the garden of Gethsemane for strength in a time of dire need. The cries from both David and Jesus to God reflect the forgotten spiritual discipline of lament. Lament is not sorrow without ultimate hope--that is despair. Rather, lament is trust in God despite, and even by way of, the experience of hopelessness. -- 'In Awake in Gethsemane Tim Judson envisions the place and meaning of lament for the Christian community through close engagement with the life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. After documenting the historical decline and current lack of lament within much of the Western Church, Judson offers a threefold approach to the subject, arguing that a basis for lament is necessarily located in theology, ethics, and liturgy interdependently. This relationship frames the critical work carried out alongside Bonhoeffer, interpreting lament through his Christology, ecclesiology, and biblical exegesis. A constructive lamentology emerges, aimed to facilitate the church's engagement with some critical contemporary issues. -- 'Judson presents lament as a faithful aspect of the truly human life which, in and through Christ, is for and with others. Lament is a means by which disciples stay "awake with Christ in Gethsemane" in a wounded world where sin, suffering, and sorrow abide. Such an outlook challenges prevalent ideological horizons and common presuppositions about lament which preclude or distort this crucial spiritual discipline. Hence, Judson opens new imaginative possibilities for construing lament positively and creatively, witnessing to the reality that faithful freedom is embodied perfectly by the lamenting Jesus himself, who, by way of his own lament, is the salvation of the world.
Called to discipleship : reflections on the Gospel of Mark by
Drawing on Jesus's example in the Gospel of Mark, this book offers an in-depth exploration of the nature of discipleship. A tool to help readers draw close to Jesus, it presents discipleship as a way of life centred on the journey back to God - a journey that integrates the quest for salvation, wholeness, and human fulfilment. Ultimately, the invitation to discipleship is an invitation to live in obedience to God and commitment to our fellow human beings, as Christ calls his followers not only to their own transformation but to participate in the transformation of others. At a time when secular culture is rediscovering the benefits of discipleship, this book invites readers into a powerful experience of identity formation based on the values of Christ and his kingdom.
The Restoration of God's Dwelling and Kingdom: a biblical theology by
The church in Africa is thriving, both numerically and in its boldness and fervour. Yet the challenge of African folk Christianity - a Christianity shaped more by traditional beliefs than the Bible - continues to loom large, and there remains an acute need for life and faith to be biblically informed. In this introduction to biblical theology, Prof. Peter Nyende draws from nearly two decades of experience teaching the next generation of African church leaders. Maintaining the vital importance of a holistic understanding of Scripture and its unified nature, he presents the central story of both Old and New Testaments as the restoration of God's dwelling and kingdom in the world. He traces this narrative through its many stages of development - creation and fall, God's covenants with Israel, exile - to its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus, the church and the new Jerusalem. Though written with pastors and theological students in mind, this book is accessible to any who desire to increase their biblical literacy and partner more fully with the work of God and his kingdom.
The Lord by Wisdom Founded the Earth: creation and covenant in Old Testament theology by
In Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a woman who is with God at the creation of the world, delighting in what God has made. In Job, God appears in theophany and describes the wonders of the earth and heavens. There are thus revealed detailed descriptions of God's work in creation in the wisdom literature. Key themes that emerge from these passages are the foundation of the earth, its division from the heavens and the waters, God's provision of all of nature as well as human and animal life, God's relationship to the world, and the ethics and morality of our human response are key themes that emerge. There is also a wealth of covenant language that includes creation and links up with wisdom texts as well. This is epitomized in Noah's covenant with God and the sign of the rainbow. In The Lord by Wisdom Founded the Earth, Katharine J. Dell illuminates the Old Testament theological themes of creation and covenant, interpreting them through the lens of wisdom. Dell shifts attention from the Genesis accounts of creation to allow for a fresh reading from texts in Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. She subsequently assesses Genesis and certain "creation" Psalms for similarities and differences. This approach allows the creation theme to be prioritized in new ways and then brought into dialogue with covenant ideas, leading to a reconsideration of Genesis 9, with its profound image of the rainbow as a sign within creation of the covenant between God and the world, and various prophetic texts-passages wherein the close symbiosis of covenant with creation has been overlooked. Furthermore, a "cosmic covenant" emerges over time, a covenant of peace that will characterize the eschatological age, as found in some later prophetic literature. Dell contends that wisdom literature is often misrepresented for its lack of reference to covenant, demonstrating key relations through intertextual parallels from the Psalms and Deuteronomy. The figure of Wisdom in Proverbs 3 and 8, in the emphases on relationship and communication, anticipates the ultimate merging of themes of Wisdom, creation, covenant, and Torah in later apocryphal texts. Likewise, Dell also suggests that Solomon emerges as the canonical figurehead of wisdom's "covenant" with humanity and the world.
Jerusalem As Contested Space in Ezekiel : exilic encounters with emotions, space, and identity politics by 
Scripture and Literature : a David Jasper anthology by
For some, the Bible and literature are at odds. The Bible, it is argued, is not properly literature but a piece of outmoded fiction that ought not to be studied or taken seriously. However, the relationship of the Bible with literature as well as its continuing cultural impact cannot be overlooked. The Bible is an ever-fruitful source for creativity that has contributed to all the great achievements of Western thought, writing, and artistry for the last two millennia. With Scripture and Literature, David Jasper has compiled forty years of his writings on the relationship between the Bible, literature, and art. These writings are interdisciplinary in nature and are not the work of a specialist in biblical scholarship. Rather, while acknowledging the Bible as a sacred text in more than one religious tradition, they recognize the Bible as literature in conversation with other literary works and traditions as well as the visual arts. During the forty years which these essays span, enormous changes have taken place in our world. Postmodernism has come and gone; issues in feminism and gender are now acutely, and properly, with us; and the world has become much more of a global village, despite its many divisions. On the other hand, and at the same time, it is remarkable how little has changed, and the reader will find that some older pieces remain relevant and necessary today. Parts of the book deal broadly with questions of translation, rhetoric, war, and evil, while others focus on specific writers and artists, from J. M. W. Turner to the English novelist Jim Crace. Yet behind Scripture and Literature lies a lifetime of careful thought and teaching of the Bible and literature. In the end, Jasper synthesizes his work, offering some reflections on pedagogy and the changes that have occurred from the 1980s up to the present day.
The Pastoral Epistles by
In the church tradition three letters, now known as the Pastoral Epistles, are attributed to the apostle Paul. They are unlike any other letters by Paul. They are written to two of his closest companions, Timothy and Titus, and they instruct those two leaders how to lead gathered Christians in Ephesus and in Crete. The letters contain plenty of instruction for how church leaders at that time, and in those places, were to function. In this commentary, Scot McKnight seeks to explain the major themes of the Pastoral Epistles - church order, false teaching, and failing Christians - and their foundational vision for how Christians could make a good impression in public life. These three brief letters express a view of how Christians were to live in the Roman empire in a way that does not offend public sensibilities. They prescribe a way of public behavior best translated as 'civilized religion.'
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai : a handbook on the Greek text by
In Habbakuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai, Joshua Harper provides a foundational examination of the Greek texts of these books. The analysis is distinguished by the detailed yet comprehensive attention paid to the texts. Harper?s exposition is a convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, engages important text-critical debates, and addresses questions relating to the Greek text that are frequently overlooked by standard commentaries. Beyond serving as a succinct and accessible analytic key, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai also reflects recent advances in scholarship on Greek grammar and linguistics and is informed by current discussions within Septuagint studies. These handbooks prove themselves indispensable tools for anyone committed to a deep reading of the Greek text of the Septuagint.
The Gospel of Peace: a Commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke from the Perspective of Nonviolence by
In this original and inspiring new commentary Father John Dear walks us through every line of the three synoptic Gospels, pointing out Jesus' practice and teachings of nonviolence each step of the way. As Dear shows us, Jesus is-like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. -nonviolent to the core, a disarming, healing presence toward those in need. This Jesus is also a revolutionary disrupter of the unjust status quo and a political threat to the ruling authorities. Those authorities succeed in killing him, only to push Jesus to the heights of nonviolence through his death and resurrection. This original commentary brings a fresh new approach to the Gospels for all those who preach or engage in social ministries. It is sure to inspire everyone in this time of permanent warfare, gun violence, racism, poverty, and climate change.
Receptions of Paul During the First Two Centuries : exploration of the Jewish matrix of early Christianity by
Receptions of Paul during the First Two Centuries: Exploration of the Jewish Matrix of Early Christianity examines the historical context of Paul and the way Paul's Jewish heritage was received. Contributors take into consideration the aftermath of the Jewish War and its impact on the development of the Jesus movement and early Christian-Jewish relations in the following period. The chapters come to the conclusion that after the Jewish War, the reception of the authentic Paul was transformed more and more into the tradition about Paul, based and established by the second and third generations of Jesus-believing Gentiles, which perceived Paul as a convert from what is labeled "Judaism" (Ἰουδαϊσμός) to the complete opposite of it, "Christianity" (Χριστιανισμός).
They Suffered under Pontius Pilate: Jewish anti-Roman resistance and the crosses at Golgotha by
Although, according to the Christian Gospels, three men were crucified ca. 30 CE outside Jerusalem under the prefect Pontius Pilate, both popular wisdom and mainstream scholarship focus solely on the fate of a single man. The story is indeed told, once and again, as if only Jesus of Nazareth had been the target of Roman repression, as if only his suffering were worthy of attention, and as if the other men crucified at Golgotha had nothing to do with him. The present book forcefully argues that, from an epistemological and even an ethical perspective, this is an odd and worrying state of affairs: the prevailing approach entails one-sided oversight of significant information, betrays a strong bias, and prevents us from grasping the meaning of the episode, thus making no sense from the standpoint of ancient historians. The event which requires being elucidated is not Jesus' crucifixion, but the whole episode of the execution by the Roman authorities of at least three men. Who were the other men crucified at Golgotha? Were they actually unconnected to the self-styled "king of the Jews", as the evangelists want us to believe? Why did the Roman prefect crucify all of them together, in the same place at the same time? And why are we told that Jesus' cross was placed in the middle of the others? Taking seriously into account the extent of the implausible elements in the Passion accounts, the collective nature of the crucifixion, and the politics of Roman Palestine, They Suffered under Pontius Pilate: Jewish Anti-Roman Resistance and the Crosses at Golgotha provides fresh and consistent answers to these and many other pressing questions, offering a genuinely historical reconstruction. The conclusions obtained challenge many well-rooted assumptions, unveil Jesus' story as a collective enterprise, have far-reaching implications for the history of Judaism under the Principate, and compel us to critically rethink the beginnings of Christianity.
Theosis and Forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew by
In this book, Kangil Kim reads the Matthean teaching of forgiveness through the framework of theosis. Kim argues that theosis provides a theological lens that brings into sharper focus the meaning of forgiveness, especially with respect to the dynamics of heaven and earth and of God and the human in Matthew's Gospel. Forgiveness as an embodied way of life is more than following Jesus and imitating what Jesus does but one of theosis, the extension of God's own power working itself out through Jesus in our lives.
Ethics in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond (2024) by
In Ethics in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond, Susan Niditch takes soundings among those who have recently approached ethics in the Hebrew Scriptures, their methodological interests, their goals, and their definitions of "ethics" itself. By means of close exegesis of specific passages from the Hebrew Bible and a discussion of the interpretation and application of these ancient texts by post-biblical Jewish writers and other creative contributors from outside the Jewish tradition, this volume explores topics in religious ethics, social justice, political ethics, economic ethics, issues in ecology, gender and sexuality, killing and dying, and reproductive ethics. Certain goals inform all chapters: interest in tracing recurring themes concerning the definition of the good, and the various ways in which Jewish thinkers rely on the more ancient material, interpret, and appropriate it; the links between areas in ethics, for example, between gender and reproductive ethics or war-views and attitudes to political ethics and environmental ethics. Niditch carves out specific biblical texts and themes in order to explore them in depth with special interest in the meanings and messages that emerge from ancient Israelite writers' varied treatments of issues in ethics. Ethics in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond provides a thoughtful discussion of biblical composers' treatment of ethical issues and an engaging overview of the ways in which these texts have been appropriated, in particular by Jewish contributors. This volume serves to challenge readers' own assumptions about biblical ethics, the applicability and the various meanings and messages that might be derived from engagement with key biblical texts.
The Gospel of the son of God : Psalm 2 and Mark's narrative Christology by
Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary, 2020., Revised for publication.
Vindicating Vengeance and Violence? : commentary approaches to cursing Psalms and their relevance for Liturgy by
Psalms that seem to vindicate vengeance and violence are generally omitted from liturgy, as exemplified in most breviaries used by worshipping communities around the world. Although seldom read, the so-called cursing psalms are known to many as their imprecatory passages pose challenges for readers who wish to use the entire Book of Psalms as their book of prayer. Because passages that call for vengeance and violence are present throughout the psalm collection and often "intertwined with the most exquisite things," as noted by C. S. Lewis, both liturgists and laypeople need to find substantial hermeneutical strategies that can help answer what to make of imprecatory passages. But despite the ample exegetical advice made available through commentary literature, past and present, worshippers are stuck at a point of convergence between exegetical support and liturgical rejection. Through the process of metacommentary on Psalms 58, 109, 137, and 139, Elisabet Nord identifies three popular and generic hermeneutical approaches often applied to cursing psalms, including the tacit preconceived notions of these prominent approaches. The latter helps to uncover the liturgical relevance--and sometimes lack thereof--of scholarly advice on how to interpret and navigate psalms calling for vengeance and violence as prayers.
Paul and Time : life in the temporality of Christ by
How did Paul understand time? Standard interpretations are that Paul modified his inherited Jewish apocalyptic sequential two-age temporality. Paul solved the conundrum of Christ's resurrection occurring without the resurrection of the righteous by asserting that the ages are not sequential but rather that they overlap. Believers live in already-not yet temporality. In this groundbreaking book, Ann Jervis instead proposes that Paul thought not in terms of two ages but in terms of life in this age or life in Christ. Humans apart from Christ live in this age, whereas believers live entirely in the temporality of Christ. Christ's temporality, like God's, is time in which change occurs--at least between Christ and God and creation. Their temporality is tensed, but the tenses are nonsequential. The past is in their present, as is the future. However, this is not a changeless now but a now in which change occurs (though not in the way that human chronological time perceives change). Those joined to Christ live Christ's temporality while also living chronological time. In clear writing, Jervis engages both philosophical and traditional biblical understandings of time. Her inquiry is motivated and informed by the long-standing recognition of the centrality of union with Christ for Paul. Jervis points out that union with Christ has significant temporal implications. Living Christ's time transforms believers' suffering, sinning, and physical dying. While in the present evil age these are instruments purposed for destruction, in Christ they are transformed in service of God's life. Living Christ's time also changes the significance of the eschaton. It is less important to those in Christ than it is for creation, for those joined to the One over whom death has no dominion are already released from bondage to corruption. Scholars and students will profit from this lively contribution to Pauline studies, which offers big-picture proposals based on detailed work with Paul's letters. The book includes a foreword by John Barclay. -- Provided by publisher.
Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament by
Southwestern Journal of Theology 2023 Book of the Year With the torrent of publications on the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament, the time is ripe for a dictionary dedicated to this incredibly rich yet diverse field. This companion volume to the well-received Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (CNTUOT) brings together leading evangelical biblical scholars to explore and explain the many facets of how the New Testament writers appropriated the Old Testament. This definitive resource covers a range of interpretive topics and includes summary articles on each biblical book and numerous themes. It also unpacks concepts mentioned in the CNTUOT, demonstrates how the Old Testament uses the Old Testament, and addresses a wide range of biblical-theological, hermeneutical, and exegetical topics. This handy reference book is for all serious students of the Bible as they study how and why Old Testament texts reappear and are reappropriated throughout the Bible.
Intergroup Conflict, Recategorization, and Identity Construction in Acts: breaking the cycle of slander, labeling, and violence by
Hyun Ho Park employs social identity to create the first thorough analysis via such methodology of Acts 21:17-23:35, which contains one of the fiercest intergroup conflicts in Acts. Park's assessment allows his readers to rethink, reevaluate, and reimagine Jewish-Christian relations; teaches them how to respond to the vicious cycle of slander, labeling, and violence permeating contemporary public and private spheres; and presents a new hermeneutical cycle and describes how readers may apply it to their own sociopolitical contexts. After surveying previous studies of the text, Park first analyses Paul's welcome, questioning, and arrest, and how slandering and labeling make Paul an outsider. Park then describes how, through defending his Jewish identity and the Way, Paul nuances his public image and re-categorizes himself and the Way as part of the people of God. When Paul identifies himself as a Roman and later a Pharisee, Park examines Luke's ambivalent attitude toward Rome and the Pharisees, and assesses how Paul escapes dangerous situations by claiming different social identities at different times. Finally, he discloses the vicious cycle of slander, labeling, and violence not only against the Way but also against the Jews and challenges the discursive process of identity construction through intergroup conflict with an out-group, especially the proximate "Other." Furthermore, he demonstrates how the relevance of such scholarship is not limited to Lukan studies or even biblical studies in general; the frequent use of slander, labeling, and violence in the politics of the United States and other polarized countries around the globe demands new ways of looking at intergroup relations, and Park's argument meets the needs of those seeking a new perspective on contemporary political discord.
Enjoy the latest articles by Luther Sem's own Faculty, from Word & World, most recent issues, accessed via Luther Library's subscription to ATLA -Religion Database. Here are a few recent (Bible-related) articles from Winter 2024 issue, "Mary, the Mother of God":
And from Luther Sem's Digital Commons, check out Mary Jane Haemig's "Martin Luther on Praying the Psalms" (2023).
Also found in the ATLA Database: Journal of Biblical Literature and the Lutheran Quarterly
Finally, here's a sampling of several full-text Bible-related journal articles from the most recent ATLA search. Articles are from some of the following: Jewish Bible Quarterly , Concordia Theological Quarterly , Old Testament Essays, Journal of Theological Interpretation , The Christian Century , Journal of Latin American Theology: ATLA full-text articles--a sampling
Five Biblical Portraits by
Nobel Peace Prize-winner Elie Wiesel brings ancient religious leaders to literary life, framing his commentary with pressing and enduring questions as a survivor and witness to the Holocaust. Five Biblical Portraits represents an old-new approach to Jewish textual commentary. This sequel to Elie Wiesel's Messengers of God continues the work done in that volume of bringing religious figures to life and studying their place both in the text and in our lives. Wiesel reflects on his own life as well as the tragedy of the Holocaust as he discusses each figure and adds personal framing and insight into the religious study. Through sensitive readings of the scriptures as well as the Talmudic and Hasidic sources, Wiesel illuminates Joshua, Elijah, Saul, Jeremiah, and Jonah. He seeks not simple answers but fully complex responses to the crucial questions of human suffering as he examines each religious figure in turn. Originally published in 1981, this new edition of Five Biblical Portraits includes a new text design, cover, and an introduction by Ariel Burger, which examines how Wiesel's post-Holocaust Midrash teaches us not only how to read the Bible but also how to read the world.
Paul and the Resurrection of Israel : Jews, former gentiles, Israelites by
The gospel promoted by Paul has for many generations stirred passionate debate. That gospel proclaimed equal salvific access to Jews and gentiles alike. But on what basis? In making sense of such a remarkable step forward in religious history, Jason Staples reexamines texts that have proven thoroughly resistant to easy comprehension. He traces Paul's inclusive theology to a hidden strand of thinking in the earlier story of Israel. Postexilic southern Judah, he argues, did not simply appropriate the identity of the fallen northern kingdom of Israel. Instead, Judah maintained a notion of 'Israel' as referring both to the north and the ongoing reality of a broad, pan-Israelite sensibility to which the descendants of both ancient kingdoms belonged. Paul's concomitant belief was that northern Israel's exile meant assimilation among the nations - effectively a people's death - and that its restoration paradoxically required gentile inclusion to resurrect a greater 'Israel' from the dead.
Galatians : freedom in the new age by
Dr. Jeon's treatment of Galatians is a balanced and accessible commentary that traces the flow of the apostle's argument from the beginning to the end of Galatians. Dialoguing with some of the best commentators, peppered with pastoral insights, and written in a clear manner, this brief work will be an invaluable help for all who want a deeper grasp of both the message and structure of this letter.
Dreams and Visions in the Bible and Related Literature by
This book explores images in dream and vision reports in biblical and related literature through a variety of methodologies informed by rhetoric, critical theory, trauma studies, the analysis of space and society, and the history of emotions. Contributors explore the hermeneutics of readership, the relationship between reading and intertextuality, and the interplay of affect and emotion within dreams and visions in religious texts. Contributors are Richard J. Bautch, Genevive Dibley, Roy Fisher, Gina Hens-Piazza, Joseph McDonald, Deborah Thompson Prince, Jean-François Racine, Andrea Spatafora, and Rodney A. Werline.
Exegetical Epistles, Volume 1 by
The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers series of the 19th century rendered into English many of Jerome's treatises and letters while bypassing his biblical commentaries as well as some of his most important exegetical letters. This omission, which was not helpful to scholarship, was probably due to the great length of these works. Although the problem was partly remedied by some new English translations of the 20th century, the present volume and its forthcoming continuation (Exegetical Epistles, Volume 2) fill a significant lacuna by translating into English the Scriptural exegesis that Jerome conveyed in his relatively unknown epistles, many of which were composed in response to queries he had received from various correspondents. Many of these letters are presented here for the first time in English. Based on the Hilberg edition, this volume contains new translations, introduced and annotated, of Jerome's Epistles 18-21, 25-30, 34-37, 42, 53, 55-56, 59, 64-65, 72-74, and 78. The second volume, to appear in Spring 2024, will offer nine more epistles. Together, these two volumes will present two newly translated letters from the famous exchange with Augustine over the meaning of Galatians 2:11-14 (Ep. 56 in volume 1 and Ep. 112 in volume 2). Overall, this collection hopes to serve as a useful introduction to Jerome's approach to the interpretation of both the Old and the New Testament. Some letters focus on the historical meaning of Pauline and Gospel texts, while others contain allegorical expositions of Old Testament passages. Jerome's competence as a Hebrew scholar will become evident to the reader of these volumes as well as his thorough acquaintance with the antecedent Greek and Latin Christian exegetical traditions.
Innovation in Persian Period Judah: royal and temple ideology in its ancient Near East setting by
The essays in this volume, which has emerged from the Persian Period Seminar of the Society of Biblical Literature, explore biblical and comparative evidence to show how the Iron Age institutions of monarchy and temple shifted in both form and function in the Persian period. The weight given to the Davidic monarchy and Jerusalem temple in the historiography of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament invites a new examination of attitudes towards the same in Achaemenid Yehud in comparative perspective. The essays uncover new attitudes relating to the monarchy and cultic site as well as the influence, but also rejection of, Persian ideas and contribute to scholarly interest in the extent of Persian influence on the literature of ancient/biblical Israel. As such, the volume participates in, lays the groundwork for, and also shapes discussions of Persian period Yehud and its literature.
Disembodying Narrative: a postcolonial subversion of genesis by
Long believed to bear witness to the beginning of all life, the Bible's first book, Genesis, has been plumbed by a cornucopia of theologies and philosophies for ideas about social organization, human relationships, class, gender and gender roles, marriage, land rights, private property, and so much more. For many readers, assumptions about a divine creator, whose eye is cast upon a favored community, are at the heart of Western societies and politics and reside at the core of many national foundation myths. Yet despite all this, Genesis is not a frequent subject of postcolonial analyses seeking to expose the rootedness of inequalities within dominant social, political, and economic institutions. At times provacative, at others conciliatory, Jeremiah Cataldo explores how postcolonialism's rudeness, anger, and subversiveness are challenges to dominant traditions of interpreting Genesis and how those traditions influence who we are, how we relate to each other, how we read the Bible, and why, despite an increasingly globalized and interconnected world, we passionately cling to what divides us.
The Quest for a Historical Jesus Methodology: Graeco-Roman biographies, the Gospels, and the practice of history by
Throughout the "quest for the historical Jesus," there has been a parallel quest aimed at discovering new and improved methodologies for studying his life. This methodological quest was originally driven by the belief that the Gospels are so unique (even sui generis) among the literary works of their time that such "historical experimentation" (to use Schweitzer's words) is necessary for the task of reconstructing Jesus's life. Although most scholars today characterize the Gospels as a form of Graeco-Roman biography rather than sui generis literature, they nevertheless have continued this quest for new methodologies. This has left historical Jesus studies in a problematic methodological state.In this book, Zolondek argues that if the Gospels are indeed types of Graeco-Roman biographies of Jesus, then no such experimentation is necessary. Rather, historical Jesus scholars should instead be adopting the standard methodological practices that historians and classicists have for decades used to effectively reconstruct the lives of other ancient persons who were also the subjects of Graeco-Roman biographies. After providing examples of three such methodological practices, Zolondek goes on to offer suggestions as to how scholars might apply them to the study of Jesus and, in doing so, end their long-running methodological quest.
The Transfiguration of Christ : an exegetical and theological reading by
This book challenges reductive modern readings of the transfiguration and shows how the mountain scene is not only about Jesus's glory as man but about his glory as God.
Criminalization in Acts of the Apostles: race, rhetoric, and the prosecution of an early Christian movement by
"Acts of the Apostles presents Roman officials and militarized police criminalizing, prosecuting, and incarcerating a movement of Jesus followers. This book brings Acts into conversation with ancient and modern understandings of crime by tending to laws and by exploring how different writers portray the criminalized"-- Provided by publisher.
Luke and the Jewish other : politics of identity in the third gospel by
"Luke and the Jewish Other takes up the debated question of the orientation of Luke towards the Jewish people. Building on recent studies in the social history of early Jewish-Christian relations, it offers an analysis of Luke's portrayal of Jewish and Christian identities that challenges the common assumption that the construction of religious identity in antiquity necessarily depended upon antagonistic relations with others. Taking account of the deep and often divisive difference that belief in Jesus made in Luke's community, the author argues that Luke hoped to bring about both a rapprochement with and the conversion of contemporary Jews. Through this account of identity and alterity in the Gospel of Luke, the book cuts across boundaries of biblical studies, history, theology, and social theory, proposing a way forward for the study of Luke's relation to Judaism and of the "parting of the ways" between Jews and Christians in the early Common Era."--
A Disabled Apostle: impairment and disability in the letters of Paul by 
Death, the End of History, and Beyond : eschatology in the Bible by
"Demonstrates how, in all its diversity, the Scriptures center hope in God's action to bring good out of evil now, in our personal journeys through death, and in visions of resurrection and justice restored"-- Provided by publisher.What happens at the end of our lives and of the course of history? Will God bring about a just and peaceful world? What lies beyond this realm, and what can we know of the beings who dwell there? In Death, the End of History, and Beyond, Greg Carey offers resources for understanding multiple, even conflicting, ways that the Bible imagines these ultimate realities. Carey opens the Scriptures with a breadth of insight that acknowledges its diversity of viewpoints about what lies beyond the veil, centering hope in God's action to bring good out of evil in our lived realities, in our personal journeys through death, and in visions of resurrection and justice restored. An appendix on preaching also invites clergy to help their communities imagine when and how eschatology can inform our lives today.
Marriage in the Bible : what do the texts say? by
Marriage in the Bible: What Do the Texts Say? is an honest engagement with the relevant passages in the two primary Testaments of the Christian Bible. Rather than making the Bible confirm a specific stance on marriage, the author invites her readers to be honest about what these biblical stories, laws, commands, and sayings meant in their original contexts. In doing this, the author engages the conflicting messages about biblical marriage from such figures as Jesus, St. Paul, and St. Augustine. The first part of the book addresses four passages that many people believe defines "biblical marriage" as being intended for procreation, only between a man and a woman, anti-divorce, and holy or sacred. While these passages quoted out of context may be read to mean these things, when read in context the first two are not even talking about marriage, and the latter two assert that wives should be fearfully submissive to their husbands and show Jesus affirming a non-binary gender and non-hetero sex, among other things. The reader then gets a crash course on what marriages in the Bible actually look like, including additional content from Jesus and Paul that is anything but positive about marriage. The final section of the book highlights several of the themes in the Bible that are still alive and well, today, themes that have an impact on relational and social expectations of men and women, though most detrimentally for women. What might be most surprising are the insights in the final chapter, inviting people to take a fresh look at select moments for Jesus and Paul. Marriage in the Bible invites its reader to take these passages and their messages seriously, to consider the ways they influence beliefs and behaviors, and to decide if marriage as it is presented in the Bible is helpful and healthful for people today.
The Letters of John by
"This volume provides a new commentary on the Letters of John, demonstrating how a biblical author uses contemporary rhetoric to persuade his audience to believe and behave as he deems advantageous. It explores Johannine literature, rhetorical analysis, the social world of early Christianity, and hermeneutics"-- Provided by publisher.
Formation of the Bible : the story of the church's canon by
An Updated and Expanded Edition!Comprehensive and accessible, Formation of the Bible: The Story of the Church's Canonis a succinct but detailed account of how the books of the Christian Bible were chosen.Carefully documented and written in sterling prose, Lee Martin McDonald uses a lifetime of scholarship to tell one of history's most remarkable stories--the story of the Judeo-Christian Bible. From the ancient texts of the Pentateuch, to the development of the LXX, to the Dead Sea Scrolls, to the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, McDonald's work educates, enriches, and edifies. Highly recommended.This second edition includes charts with more precise dating, interactions with recent scholarship that elucidates the historical context of the relevant ancient literature, a new chapter on ancient pseudepigrapha in Judaism and early Christianity, and a bibliography bolstered by the addition of new and helpful resources for further study of canon formation.
Holy Brothers : geography, kinship, and priesthood in ancient Israel by
"Through the lenses of geography, kinship, and priesthood, this book brings into focus varied biblical materials related to Israel's early priesthood. With the tools of Documentarian narrative analysis and literary genealogies, Matthew R. Rasure delves deep into the memories of Aaron and Moses and the invention of their brotherhood"-
Polyamory and Reading the Book of Ruth by
Polyamory and Reading the Book of Ruth is based on a simple premise- what if the Book of Ruth isn't a love story in the vein of modern rom coms, but a different sort of love story? Many people are conditioned to read romance stories as resolving into happily married, dyadic couplings, most often heterosexual. But what if that's not how to read the Book of Ruth? This book identifies a polyamorous hermeneutic and explores how it might be helpful in interpreting the Book of Ruth. Drawing on developments in both feminist and queer biblical studies, Deborah Kahn-Harris offers a close textual reading that focuses in on a triadic basis for examining the relationships in the Book of Ruth. The book closes with a contemporary 'targumic' reimagining of the Book of Ruth that defines more clearly this polyamorous reading.
Biblical Humor and Performance by
What's so humorous about the Bible? Quite a bit, especially if experienced with others! Nine biblical scholars explore their experiences of reading and hearing passages from the Bible and discovering humor that becomes clearer in performance. Each writer found clues in their chosen biblical text that suggested biblical authors expected an audience to respond with laughter. Performers have a powerful role in either bringing out or tamping down humor in the Bible. One audience may be more disposed to respond to humor than another. And each contributor found that experiencing humor changed the interpretation of the biblical passage. From Genesis to Revelation, this study uncovers the Bible's potential for humor.
The Oxford Handbook of Ezekiel by
The current state of scholarship on the book of Ezekiel, one of the three Major Prophets, is robust. Ezekiel, unlike most pre-exilic prophetic collections, contains overt clues that its primary circulation was as a literary text and not a collection of oral speeches. The author was highly educated, the theology of the book is "dim," and its view of humanity is overwhelmingly negative. In The Oxford Handbook of Ezekiel, editor Corrine Carvalho brings together scholars from a diverse range of interpretive perspectives to explore one of the Bible's most debated books. Consisting of twenty-seven essays, the Handbook provides introductions to the major trends in the scholarship of Ezekiel, covering its history, current state, and emerging directions. After an introductory overview of these trends, each essay discusses an important element in the scholarly engagement with the book. Several essays discuss the history of the text (its historical context, redactional layers, text criticism, and use of other Israelite and near eastern traditions). Others focus on key themes in the book (such as temple, priesthood, law, and politics), while still others look at the book's reception history and contextual interpretations (including art, Christian use, gender approaches, postcolonial approaches, and trauma theory). Taken together, these essays demonstrate the vibrancy of Ezekiel research in the twenty-first century.
Abraham: trials of family and faith by
From God's surprising call to Abraham to leave home and family to God's enigmatic commands that he evict one son and sacrifice another, Genesis 12-25 is one of the most dramatic stories of the Old Testament. In an inviting style that showcases his literary discernment, theological sophistication, and passion for the biblical text, Terence E. Fretheim guides readers through the intricacies of the plot. Abraham, called "the father of a multitude" (Gen 17:5), lives up to his name as the patriarch of three major religious traditions. Fretheim examines Abraham's family and assesses the significant roles it plays across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In addition, Fretheim contributes to the increasingly important interreligious dialogue surrounding Abraham by examining the continuing conversation among Muslims, Christians, and Jews about the place of Hagar and Ishmael in Abraham's family. Relating biblical narrative to theological concerns, Fretheim wrestles with such controversial concepts as God's selection of an elect people, the gift of land and other promises, the role of women and outsiders, the character of God, and the suffering of innocents. Throughout the text, Fretheim frames the narrative as rooted in the trials of family and faith that define Abraham as the father of three religions.
Revelation in the Vernacular (2024 EBOOK) by 
Capital punishment in the Pentateuch : why the Bible prescribes ritual killing by 
Preaching the word : contemporary approaches to the Bible for the pulpit by 
The Oxford Handbook of Postcolonial Biblical Criticism by
The Oxford Handbook of Postcolonial Biblical Criticism is a comprehensive treatment of a relatively new form of scholarship-one of the most compelling and contested theories to emerge in recent times, and a topic that actively seeks to expand the ways in which the Bible can be studied,interpreted, and applied. Generally speaking, postcolonialism aims to critique and dismantle hegemonic worldviews and power structures, while giving voice to previously marginalized peoples and systems of thought. This approach, often varied in form, has inevitably engaged with the text andreception of the Bible, a scripture that Western colonizers introduced to-and often imposed upon-their colonial subjects. With a globally diverse list of contributors, the Handbook aims to cover the perspective and context of the authors of the Bible, as well as the modern experiences ofimperialism, resistance, decolonization, and nationalism. Moreover, the volume includes both a theoretical overview and an exploration of how the field intersects with related areas, such as gender studies, race, postmodernism, and liberation theology.
The Oxford Handbook of the Synoptic Gospels by
The Oxford Handbook of the Synoptic Gospels presents essays that push the field beyond the Synoptic Problem and theological themes that ignore the particularities of each Gospel. The first section, "The Problem and Nature of the Synoptics," explores some of the traditional approaches ofliterary dependence, but primarily engages with alternative ways to understand Synoptic relations and the nature of each Gospel. Interesting questions are raised in these essays regarding the tools used to evaluate literary dependence beyond those of traditional source criticism and redactioncriticism (such as performance, orality, rhetoric, ancient publication, literary structures, manuscript variety, and use by non-canonical literature).The second section, "Particular Features in Comparison," treats a variety of historical, literary, and cultural phenomena important to the study of these Gospels (such as gender, violence, power, body, history, sacred space, healing, food, gospel, suffering, sectarianism, itineracy, women, wealth).These essays indirectly reshape traditional theological themes like salvation, Christology, and discipleship, grounding them in the cultural dynamics of the period. The two main sections simultaneously express the current state of the field and push the field forward in unexplored directions.
The Book of Ruth: New international commentary on the Old Testament. by 