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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > The Bible > Bible readings or selections
Richard Nelson examines the books of Kings and treats the text
as theological literature, emphasizing the literary impact of this
important part of the Old Testament canon. Nelson recognizes King's
as a useful though uncritical source of historical information, its
purpose to transform the beliefs of its first readers, to get them
to re-evaluate their identity before God.
Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is
a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the
church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching
needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major
contribution to scholarship and ministry.
Lo and Behold! is for everyone who has ever wondered what makes the
Bible one of the world's greatest and most enduring works of
literary genius. From the first awe-inspiring story of creation to
the extraordinary antics of the book of Jonah, this volume offers
an intriguing journey through some of the Bible's most significant
and memorable narratives. Trevor Dennis entertains as well as
enlightens, and enables the reader to experience the richness of
texture and depth of meaning that lie beneath the surface of our
English translations.
In a methodological discussion of this issue, the contributors
cover a range of topics, from ancient poltics to modern ideology.
The entity known as 'the Exile' has had an extremely forceful
influence in Old Testament scholarship, both as an event and as a
symbol. But was there an 'Exile'? And if so, how did it fit into
the pattern of population deportations that characterized the
imperial strategies of the ancient Near East? In a major
methodological discussion of this issue, the contributors to this
symposium of the European Seminar in Historical Methodology cover a
range of topics, from ancient politics to modern ideology. In
probing the meaning and implication of 'Exile' they also reflect a
spectrum of opinions and conclusions. As with Volume 1 of this
series, the editor has provided an introduction and concluding
reflections.
Following Christ is a dynamic venture in faith. God may call his
people to step into the unknown, but he travels with them on their
way. This collection of daily readings, activities and prayers
provides a valuable resource for the journey. Nick Aiken highlights
the discoveries and liberating truths which await the traveller.
Here are the essentials for survival: learning to let go, how to be
spiritually equipped, how to deal with the excess baggage we carry,
and how we can embrace our ultimate destination - the place where
God's love enfolds and fulfils us. As we move on towards a glorious
future, we can also experience God's presence in the strains and
stresses of everyday life. Deeply practical and profound, this
guidebook addresses the needs of both seasoned Christians and new
disciples who have just started out on their journey with Jesus.
Every commentary on the Book of Psalms has had to face the issue
that many of these prayers commemorate and celebrate wrath and
vengeance. What is needed is not ingenious exegetical
rationalization of ancient texts, but the kind of transformation
into a work of piety and art that is provided here.Addressed are
the needs of a world seeking to counter individual and societal
injustices by a global peace born of personal peace through prayer
and practice. In short, here is the Book of Psalms recast in the
light of the continuing revelation and evolution of the authentic
religious spirit of the scriptures.
It has long been recognized that the Greek of the Lukan infancy
narrative (chapters 1-2) displays numerous Semitic features.
Although the majority of recent scholarship assumes that such
features stem from an imitation of the Septuagint (imitation
theory), the issue has not been settled satisfactorily. Others
argue that Luke probably relied on a written source for the infancy
narrative--or at least for some parts of it--and that this source
material was composed in imitation of the Septuagint. Luke was not,
however, merely the reviser or compiler of his source; rather, he
rewrote the source employing his own style and language for his own
purpose.
Here, Chang-Wook Jung examines the arguments most commonly put
forward by both sides and considers their merits.
The Gospel of Thomas is one of the most debated early Christian
writings. Discovered as a Coptic translation in the Nag Hammadi
Library, its date, message and relation to the canonical gospels
have been the subject of much divisive argument. This book offers
new perspectives on the gospel and demonstrates the various ways in
which it sheds light on the ideological and social history of early
Christianity.Expert scholars go to the heart of current issues in
Thomasine studies, such as the role of oral and written traditions
in the composition of the gospel, Thomas' relationship with the
Gospel of John and with Gnostic and ascetic tendencies in early
Christianity, the gospel's attitude to women followers of Jesus and
to Jewish ritual practices.>
Advent is a special time in the Christian year. In our troubled
world, which is also a world of extraordinary possibility and
creativity, we need such times more than ever. Times to renew our
soul so that our lives may express a deeper compassion and a more
joy-filled awareness. Traditionally in the days of Advent there has
been an emphasis on the coming of Light - that Light which
illumines all our journeys and brings healing to the nations. May
these readings enlarge your hope, and bring you to Christmas
morning with Christ's light steadily illumining your path.
Designed to help students actively engage with the Old Testament,
this title contains questions to encourage further thought.
This is the fourth title in a major series of text books for
students. Subjects covered include, for every prophet, a discussion
of the date, who the prophet spoke to, how the critics have
interpreted it, how it relates to history and to other prophets,
its structure and outline. Each chapter includes exercises and
essay topics at levels 1 and 2 to fully involve the students.
'Gordon McConville has written a highly readable introduction to
the Hebrew prophets that locates them in their ancient historical
setting, opens up the prophetic texts in the light of the most
recent scholarship, and brings out their relevance for modern
living. It fulfils superbly its aim of making the prophets
accessible to the student reader' Professor Robert P. Gordon,
University of Cambridge.
The problem of oral tradition is well known, for without some
theory of this medium no history of Jesus would be possible. This
study examines Mark 4.1-34 in the light of three distinctive models
of orality: Rudolf Bultmann's form-critical method, B.
Gerhardsson's 'Memory and Manuscript' theory and the recent
contribution of W. Kelber. The form-critically separate units in
the test (allegory, parables and aphorisms) are examined on the
basis of their attestation in various documents (Mark, Q, Thomas)
to determine whether independent versions of these sayings can be
identified and what they tell us about the oral phase and Jesus.
This analysis suggests that the criteria for authenticity of
'distinctiveness' and 'multiple attestation' need to be re-examined
in light of the folkloric understanding of orality.
Margaret Davies takes up the insights of reader-response criticism
to explore how the conventions and strategies of the Gospel of
Matthew draw the reader into the world that the text creates. There
is a recognition also of the text's significance as authoritative
scripture for modern Christians, and the bias that this gives to
any interpretative strategy. This is a reprint of the 1993 edition.
Creative imitation (Gk., mimesis; Lt., imitatio) was the primary
literary convention of the ancient world of the first century CE.
The first part of the book demonstrates that it was the principal
means by which classical authors, such as Virgil, Seneca, Plutarch,
and Livy, composed their works. An examination of the use of
sources in both Jewish and Christian Sacred Scriptures in the light
of this convention provides a new and fruitful approach to
scripture scholarship. The Book of Tobit and Paul's First Letter to
the Corinthians (1 Cor 8-10) are examined to demonstrate this
thesis. This sets the context for an examination of Matthew's use
of Mark as a literary source in the light of Graeco-Roman literary
conventions in part two of the book. Such a use is entirely
plausible when one considers that, "penned in Greek, probably to
Diaspora audiences, the canonical gospels reflect Greco-Roman
rather than strictly Palestinian Jewish literary conventions." Both
the way in which Matthew incorporates his Markan source into his
text, and the function and effect of this source in its new
Matthean context are examined. This methodology provides compelling
evidence that Matthew's use of Mark as a source was toward the
Judaization of his Gospel.
'The followers of Jesus are to be different,' writes John Stott,
'different from both the nominal church and the secular world,
different from both the religious and the irreligious. The Sermon
on the Mount is the most complete delineation anywhere in the New
Testament of the Christian counter-culture. Here is a Christian
value-system, ethical, standard, religious devotion, attitude to
money, ambition, lifestyle and network of relationships - all of
which are totally at variance with those in the non-Christian
world. And this Christian counter-culture is the life of the
Kingdom of God, a fully human life indeed but lived out under the
divine rule.' In his careful exposition of the Sermon on the Mount,
John Stott accurately expounds the biblical text and relates it to
life today. Above all, the author says, he wants to let Christ
speak this sermon again, this time to the modern world.
This multifaceted volume artfully blends the functions of an
introduction and a commentary. Without overwhelming the student
with details, it discusses a wide range of issues that are
important for the interpretation of Isaiah. The book consists of
three parts. In the first part, Herbert Wolf discusses the more
traditional introductory questions: the world of Isaiah, the
theories of multiple authorship, the structure of Isaiah, and
Isaiah's poetry. The second part is a detailed
paragraph-by-paragraph analysis of the prophecy itself. The last
part of the book discusses Isaiah's christological and
eschatological emphases. Detailed footnotes and an extensive
bibliography facilitate further study.
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