
Studying the Bible: The Tanakh and Early Christian Writings
Gregory Eiselein, Kansas State University
Anna Goins, Kansas State University
Naomi J. Wood, Kansas State University
Copyright Year: 2019
ISBN 13: 9781944548247
Publisher: New Prairie Press
Language: English
Formats Available
Conditions of Use
Attribution-NonCommercial
CC BY-NC
Reviews
This text addresses each of the sections of the Hebrew Bible, the Christian New Testament, and what Protestants refer to as the Apocrypha. An introductory section acquaints readers with issues related to textual research, transmission, and... read more
This text addresses each of the sections of the Hebrew Bible, the Christian New Testament, and what Protestants refer to as the Apocrypha. An introductory section acquaints readers with issues related to textual research, transmission, and translation. The table of contents may be sufficient for readers familiar with this canonical order, but an index might prove helpful for those who know less about how the Bible is put together. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions and a bibliography.
The authors do not claim to be biblical scholars. (Nor would I say that of myself.) That said, much of the material found in this text is consistent with other introductions to the Bible and other works of contemporary biblical scholarship. The authors make considerable use of The New Oxford Annotated Bible, The Oxford Companion to the Bible, and the work of Robert Alter, among others. As a result, the sections often offer a synthesis of the work of others, with these contributors staying safely within the orbit of scholars in the field.
The authors’ reliance on authorities in biblical studies results in a serviceable introduction to how scholars have thought about the Bible, at least over several decades. More recent insights also receive attention, though this work does not claim to provide an exhaustive treatment of the field. The kind of introductory material provided here facilitates readers’ own study without requiring extensive exploration of the study already done by others.
At some points the frequency of references to the works of others may tempt some readers to lay this work aside and to read those introductions on which the authors sometimes rely. Also, some points could be developed more fully, such as the reference to “a chiastically structured series of stories” (54) at the end of 2 Samuel. Still, the accessible style of this book may prove more hospitable to those students who might find other material more daunting.
There are two points at which the need for further editing is especially evident. One is the single sentence asserting that “biblical Hebrew is written without consonants,” (28) the opposite of what is stated elsewhere in the book. The other involves two separate treatments of the Megillot. (92, 100-101) It certainly is understandable that the same topic or text would be given attention more than once. But these two points seem occasions for revision rather than examples of reiteration.
The chapters vary in length, but each has clearly indicated subsections (which are convenient for assigning portions to students).
The book is organized according to sections of the canon, and its chapters are likely to line up well with introductory Bible courses.
The layout of the book is helpful and inviting. Images and tables are somewhat infrequent, but pages are not crowded with text in a way that might discourage readers.
A few errors appear along the way. Perhaps Aaron sometimes was the “bother” of Moses (36), but something else probably was intended. Saul converts or is converted (152), but the current construction is awkward. A chapter citation for the block quote on 158 would be helpful. Also, it seems to be that the work of John Bright regarding the prophet Jeremiah is intended, rather than “Jeremiah Bright” (62).
Readers will find some attention to the role of women in scripture and an emphasis on the prophets’ concern for justice. In addition to particular themes, the book as a whole aims to improve cultural literacy by facilitating serious engagement with an ancient and complex text.
The authors demonstrate a clear regard for the text, inviting readers to an engagement with the text that is emotional as well as intellectual. Their own response to the text communicates to readers taking the text seriously need not prevent one from being delighted or disturbed by it.
Table of Contents
Section I Introduction
- Chapter One The Bible and Literature
- Chapter Two The Composition, Editing, and Transmission of the Bible
Section II The Hebrew Bible
- Chapter Three The Torah
- Chapter Four The Former Prophets
- Chapter Five The Latter Prophets
- Chapter Six The Writings
- Chapter Seven Apocalypse
- Chapter Eight The Apocrypha and Post-Exilic Literature
Section III The Early Christian Writings
- Chapter Nine The Gospels
- Chapter Ten The Acts of the Apostles
- Chapter Eleven The Pauline Letters
- Chapter Twelve The General Letters
About the Book
Studying the Bible: The Tanakh and Early Christian Writings is a university-level, textbook introduction to the study of the Bible, its literary forms, and historical and cultural contexts. This textbook is a companion to the Bible courses taught in the English Department at Kansas State University, in particular ENGL 470 The Bible, though it is available for use in other courses and contexts. This textbook examines the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Tanakh) and the early Christian writings of the New Testament. It is an introduction to the analysis of biblical texts, their histories, and their interpretations. The emphasis throughout this textbook is on the literary qualities of these biblical texts as well as their cultural and historical contexts.
About the Contributors
Authors
Gregory Eiselein, Kansas State University
Anna Goins, Kansas State University
Naomi J. Wood, Kansas State University