The Bible As It Was

The Bible As It Was

Author: James L. Kugel

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 700

ISBN-13: 9780674069411

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Leading us chapter by chapter through the Hebrew Bible’s most important stories—from the Creation and the Tree of Knowledge through the Exodus from Egypt and the journey to the Promised Land—Kugel shows how a group of anonymous ancient interpreters radically transformed the Bible and made it into the book that has come down to us today.


Traditions of the Bible

Traditions of the Bible

Author: James L. KUGEL

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2009-06-30

Total Pages: 1078

ISBN-13: 0674039769

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From the creation and the tree of knowledge through the Exodus from Egypt and the journey to the promised land; James Kugel shows us how the earliest interpreters of the scriptures radically transformed the Bible.


The Bible as Book

The Bible as Book

Author: Paul Henry Saenger

Publisher: London : The British Library

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13:

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This second volume in the series deals with the effects of early printing on the text, format and use of the Bible, and investigates the unique features of various editions of 15th-century printed Bible as well as the social, political and technological circumstances under which they were produced.


How to Read the Bible

How to Read the Bible

Author: James L. Kugel

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2012-05-01

Total Pages: 850

ISBN-13: 1451689098

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James Kugel’s essential introduction and companion to the Bible combines modern scholarship with the wisdom of ancient interpreters for the entire Hebrew Bible. As soon as it appeared, How to Read the Bible was recognized as a masterwork, “awesome, thrilling” (The New York Times), “wonderfully interesting, extremely well presented” (The Washington Post), and “a tour de force...a stunning narrative” (Publishers Weekly). Now, this classic remains the clearest, most inviting and readable guide to the Hebrew Bible around—and a profound meditation on the effect that modern biblical scholarship has had on traditional belief. Moving chapter by chapter, Harvard professor James Kugel covers the Bible’s most significant stories—the Creation of the world, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and his wives, Moses and the exodus, David’s mighty kingdom, plus the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the other prophets, and on to the Babylonian conquest and the eventual return to Zion. Throughout, Kugel contrasts the way modern scholars understand these events with the way Christians and Jews have traditionally understood them. The latter is not, Kugel shows, a naïve reading; rather, it is the product of a school of sophisticated interpreters who flourished toward the end of the biblical period. These highly ideological readers sought to put their own spin on texts that had been around for centuries, utterly transforming them in the process. Their interpretations became what the Bible meant for centuries and centuries—until modern scholarship came along. The question that this book ultimately asks is: What now? As one reviewer wrote, Kugel’s answer provides “a contemporary model of how to read Sacred Scripture amidst the oppositional pulls of modern scholarship and tradition.”


The Book of God

The Book of God

Author: Gabriel Josipovici

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 1990-01-01

Total Pages: 376

ISBN-13: 9780300048650

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Is the Bible one book or a collection of writings? If it is a book, does it stand as a coherent piece of literature? Building on the recently renewed interest in biblical narrative associated with Erich Auerbach, Northrop Frye, and Robert Alter, Gabriel Josipovici here sets out to answer these and other equally fascinating questions. Developing his argument through close textual analysis, Josipovici draws on his deep knowledge and appreciation of medieval and modern art and literature and on his personal understanding of the possibilities of narrative. His beautifully written book not only lifts literary-biblical criticism to a new level but also makes the Bible accessible to our secular age. "This is a book to be grateful for: thoughtful, deeply felt, and beautifully written."--David Lodge, Independent "Full of such insights, which deserve and need to be pondered by both literary critics and Biblical scholars of the traditional sort."--John Barton, London Review of Books " His book is easy, intimate and direct, partly because he has digested all his learning, partly because his dissatisfaction with his predecessors' solutions never belittles them, and partly because his own readings are those of a cultivated contemporary who, though respectful, is not awestruck. Whatever he turns to, he illuminates."--The New Yorker "His urbane style, shrewd discernment, subtle humor, and above all, his passion for words lead us to listen in fresh ways."-- Walter Brueggemann, Theology Today "As 'A Response to the Bible, ' The Book of God is fresh and energetic, scattering insights in all directions, making original and unexpected connections between the Bible and such modern authors as Proust, casting new light upon such questions as the Bible's place in Western culture, the nature of its authority, the unity and discontinuities of the text, and the need for a perspective that at once transcends and unites historical-theological and aesthetic interpretation."--Northrop Frye


The Bible for Grown-Ups

The Bible for Grown-Ups

Author: Simon Loveday

Publisher: Icon Books

Published: 2016-08-04

Total Pages: 310

ISBN-13: 1785781324

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'Loveday's case is that the mantle of historical truth and divine authority has placed upon the Bible an intolerable weight, crushing it as a creative work of immense imaginative and inspirational power. His argument is both fascinating and persuasive.' Matthew Parris The Bible for Grown-Ups neither requires, nor rejects, belief. It sets out to help intelligent adults make sense of the Bible – a book that is too large to swallow whole, yet too important in our history and culture to spit out. Why do the creation stories in Genesis contradict each other? Did the Exodus really happen? Was King David a historical figure? Why is Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus so different from Luke's? Why was St Paul so rude about St Peter? Every Biblical author wrote for their own time, and their own audience. In short, nothing in the Bible is quite what it seems. Literary critic Simon Loveday's book – a labour of love that has taken over a decade to write – is a thrilling read, for Christians and anyone else, which will overturn everything you thought you knew about the Good Book.


The Book of God

The Book of God

Author: Walter Wangerin Jr.

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2010-08-03

Total Pages: 613

ISBN-13: 0310871557

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Experience the Bible as a singular, powerful story and prepare to be swept away by Scripture as never before! Wangerin's "Bible storybook for adults" features brilliant settings, dramatized scenes, and added dialogue—all gleaned from extensive research. The Book of God reads like a novel, dramatizing the sweep of biblical events, bringing to life the men and women of this ancient book in vivid detail and dialogue. From Abraham wandering in the desert to Jesus teaching the multitudes on a Judean hillside, this award-winning bestseller follows the biblical story from start to finish. Priests and kings, apostles and prophets, common folk and charismatic leaders—individual stories offer glimpses into an unfolding revelation that reaches across the centuries to touch us today. The Book of God: Follows the biblical story in chronological order Filled with carefully researched cultural and historical background Includes biblical events viewed through the eyes of minor characters Master storyteller Walter Wangerin Jr. shares the story of the Bible from beginning to end as you've never read it before, retold with exciting detail and passionate energy. Experience the Bible in a beautiful new way!


A History of the Bible

A History of the Bible

Author: John Barton

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2020-08-04

Total Pages: 642

ISBN-13: 0143111205

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A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy Scripture," a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture.


Making Senses Out of Scripture

Making Senses Out of Scripture

Author: Mark Shea

Publisher: TAN Books

Published:

Total Pages: 269

ISBN-13: 1505108438

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Reading the Bible in a way that is as old as Scripture itself, award-winning author Mark P. Shea takes us on a “fly-over” of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation. He shows you how to explore the literal, allegorical, moral, and analogical sense of Scripture. Whether you have been studying Scripture for years, or are encountering it for the very first time,Making Senses Out of Scripture is an invaluable tool that it will help you see biblical revelation afresh, as Christians have done for 2000 years.


The Bible Answer Book: Volume 2

The Bible Answer Book: Volume 2

Author: Hank Hanegraaff

Publisher: HarperChristian + ORM

Published: 2007-03-04

Total Pages: 195

ISBN-13: 1418577952

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The Bible Answer Book Volume 1 covered 81 of the top questions that Hank Hangegraaff, the Bible Answer Man, has answered in his ministry. Now he's coming back in Volume II with more questions and answers. Selected from among the thousands of topics he's addressed over the years, topics include family, faith, fear, sin, salvation, and many more issues vital to better understanding God. Each question is approached in Hanegraaff's scholarly, concise, yet easy-to-understand style, and he even suggests additional sources for readers who want to explore the topics further.