Is the creation story in Genesis nothing more than a botched version of a Babylonian myth? Is 'free will' illusory? Are the Jesuits really educated men? In these three classic essays "The Forgery of the Old Testament", "The Myth of Immortality" and "Lies of Religious Literature" Joseph McCabe (1867-1955), ex-priest and the 'world's greatest scholar', exposes the inconsistencies, absurdities, and outright mendacity that lie behind the most revered texts and 'truths' of Christianity. With forcefulness, clarity, and often biting humor, McCabe attacks two millennia of Christian tradition which, he says, must withdraw before the weapons of science and reason.

In this book, W. Dow Edgerton reviews narratives from the Bible, the Talmud, Greek mythology, and modern fiction in order to provide a better understanding of the nature and work of interpretation. Disclosed are rich, complex, and compelling possibilities for imagining the work of interpretation and what it means to do that work in a time when so much is needed and so much is possible.

The Literary Currents in Biblical Interpretation series explores current trends within the discipline of biblical interpretation by dealing with the literary qualities of the Bible: the play of its language, the coherence of its final form, and the relationships between text and readers. Biblical interpreters are being challenged to take responsibility for the theological, social, and ethical implications of their readings. This series encourages original readings that breach the confines of traditional biblical criticism.

One of the world's leading feminist theologians demonstrates how reading the Bible can be spiritually and politically empowering for women. Schussler Fiorenza challenges us to destroy the dominant models of biblical interpretations that have held some people in subordination and to construct m"

The comprehensive introductions from Westermann's great three-volume commentary on Genesis are now presented in a convenient form for both students and scholars. Three major parts--primeval events, the patriarchal story, and the Joseph story--include historical discussion, theological reflection, and detailed bibliographies. The result is an authoritative introduction to the composition, interpretation, and theology of the first book of the Hebrew Bible.

From the author of the best-selling book THE GLASGOW GOSPEL, comes the Good News in Scots this time. The well known story of Jesus of Nazareth is re-enacted in the 'gutsy vernacular' of the Scots tongue-delightful and dramatic, it 'demands to be aired publicly, or read aloud around the family fire .... ' The Herald

The English translation of the three-volume Exegetisches W rterbuch zum Neuen Testament, this monumental work by an ecumenical group of scholars is first of all a complete English dictionary of New Testament Greek. Going beyond that, however EDNT also serves as a guide to the usage of every New Testament word in its various contexts, and it makes a significant contribution to New Testament exegesis and theology. EDNT's thorough, lengthy discussions of more significant words and its grouping of words related by root and meaning (with alphabetical cross-references) distinguish it from simpler Greek-English lexicons. Advancing the discussion of the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, EDNT summarizes more recent treatments of numerous questions in New Testament study and takes into consideration newer viewpoints of linguistics.

"Conventionally the book of Micah has been seen as a collection of otherwise unconnected pericopes. This study is a challenge to that conventional wisdom. Utilizing the methods of literary criticism, it demonstrates the coherence of Micah and provides a precise description of the specific literary features by which that coherence is expressed. Because the book of Micah is demonstrably a unified work, a proper interpretation requires discerning the meaning both of each pericope and the relationship extant between those units."

"The Study of the Old Testament Psalter has undergone great changes during the twentieth century in an effort to recover a fuller awareness of their original setting and purpose . . . Bellinger's book admirably fulfils the task of exploring the many insights of modern scholarship on the psalms in order to clarify the faith to which they bear witness. It does this by showing the real-life situations which occasioned the formulation of prayers of complaint and praise, opening up a warm sense of the humanity and faith which they nurtured. Readers will find a great richness of scholarship here set out in vigorous and exciting language to make plain that the psalter retains a powerful challenge for the present day. These psalms explore the whole range of human experience and provide a vehicle by which faith can become articulate and sharply focused, even when faced with pain and doubt. The sheer honesty of these prayers challenges contemporary complacency."--Ronald E. Clements, professor of Old Testament studies, King's College, University of London
"Bellinger has created an excellent primer for the Psalms. . . . I like his use of examples in each section and his references in each chapter to what has gone before."--Victor Matthews, professor of religious studies, Southwest Missouri State University

"The New Testament" is an accesible review of the literary and historical problems of the books of the New Testament, and a brief study of their theological content. Part One deals with the history of the New Testament text and discusses basic documents, families of texts, and the history of the printed text. Part Two furnishes brief introductions to the twenty-seven New Testament books, covering authorship, literary structure, and religious content. Part three deals with the formation of the New Testament canon.

The English translation of the three-volume Exegetisches W rterbuch zum Neuen Testament, this monumental work by an ecumenical group of scholars is first of all a complete English dictionary of New Testament Greek. Going beyond that, however EDNT also serves as a guide to the usage of every New Testament word in its various contexts, and it makes a significant contribution to New Testament exegesis and theology. EDNT's thorough, lengthy discussions of more significant words and its grouping of words related by root and meaning (with alphabetical cross-references) distinguish it from simpler Greek-English lexicons. Advancing the discussion of the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, EDNT summarizes more recent treatments of numerous questions in New Testament study and takes into consideration newer viewpoints of linguistics.

Originally published at the turn of the century, this classic work by a French priest and historian attempts to understand the role of Catholic dogma in a world undergoing wide-ranging changes in science, social science, historical analysis, and cultural study. His inquiries, and those of other priests and scholars, ignited a controversy within the Catholic church that culminated in Pope Pius X's intervention in 1907 with his encyclical condemning these so-called 'Modernist' views. Not since the tumult of Martin Luther's Reformation has the church undergone such internal conflict.The Modernists questioned the inerrancy of Scripture and its use as historical evidence, the historicity and divinity of Jesus, the authority of church doctrine, and other dogmas of the Catholic faith. Their efforts to embrace the separation of church and state, to assure freedom of individual conscience, and to reconcile Christians with non-Christians and non-believers were viewed by the Vatican and the Holy See to destroy the Catholic church from within. For his efforts on behalf of free religious inquiry, Loisy was forced to leave his teaching post, "The Gospel and the Church" was censured and placed on the Vatican's Index of Forbidden Books, and in 1908 Loisy was formally excommunicated. This volume includes the text of Loisy's controversial work plus two valuable additions: an informative introduction by famed biblical scholar R. Joseph Hoffmann that places the book in its proper historical context, and the complete text of the papal encyclical condemning the Modernist movement.

This relatively brief, nontechnical introduction to the Old Testament captures the dramatic development of the ancient Israelite and early Jewish religious traditions, emphasizing the importance of narrative and memory. By focusing on the Moses-Sinai and David-Zion stories and on three major crises in the history of Jerusalem--the capture of the city by David in the 10th century BCE, its destruction by Babylon in 587 BCE, and its destruction by Rome in 70 CE--Humphreys helps students appreciate the complex interplay between the religious traditions and the political, social, economic, military, and cultural factors that influenced these traditions.

Bede's commentary on the Book of Acts is one of his earliest exegetical works (usually dated between 709 and 710) and one of his most popular and influential. None of the Latin Fathers of the Church had written a commentary on this book, and those which existed in Greek were unlikely to have been known in the West. Bede became the authority on Acts for countless subsequent students of Scripture. The breadth of Bede's mind, the diversity of his interests, and the thoroughness of his research are all mirrored in this work. Allegory is freely interspersed with practical commentary, textual analysis with mystical interpretation. Far from being a quaint relic of outdated exegesis, the commentary can be of practical use to modern Christians who read it in the spirit in which it was written: meditation on the workings of God.

These eighty-six sermons are among the most famous and most beautiful examples of medieval scriptural exegesis. In them the modern reader can catch a glimpse of the genius an entire generation found irresistible.

Volumes available singly or as a set.

James Efird has put together a simple and direct introduction to the Old Testament. "The Old Testament Writings" emphasizes the faith dimension of the Old Testament. The literary, critical, and historical problems of the Olde Testament are discussed but only to provide help in understanding the faith of the Bible. This very enjoyable and readable book offers a step-by-step approach to comprehending the Old Testament. Highly informative. Designed for the lay reader, the Bible student, seminary introductory, courses, and church schools.

This is a complementary text to Efird's "The New Testament Writings." Both volumes offer a comprehensive understanding of the Bible. A valuable set of resources for education, growth, and faith.

"The Layman's Guide to the New Testament" is an honest, objective approach to all the books of the New Testament. Written in a style that is at once scholarly and readable, this book is a valuable resource for study and reference.

A concise, practical study of the tabernacle, the offerings, and the priesthood in which every major facet of the tabernacle is discussed.