In the month of June, 1995, the Society for the Promotion of Eriugenian Studies held its ninth International Colloquium at Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve. The Colloquium was devoted to Eriugena's hermeneutics and his interpretation of the Bible. The feature of Biblical hermeneutics is of main interest for a thinker like Eriugena. For him the source and the end of all truth is the understanding of Sacred Scripture. To unravel this inconcussa auctoritas diuinae Scripturae all hermeneutical skills have to be brought into play, in order to give rise to a true spiritual understanding of the Bible.

This volume contains the contributions presented at the Colloquium, which shed light on numerous aspects of Eriugena's hermeneutics of Scripture. Without imposing too rigid a classification, the contributions to this book can be listed under four headings. The first two studies present large-scale tableaux, establishing the context within which Eriugena undertook his biblical studies. In a second group of articles, attention is paid more directly to the specifically Eriugenian method of understanding Sacred Scripture. The theoretical aspects of Eriugena's exegesis, as established in the second part, are adapted in the third, in which Eriugena's interpretation of particular Biblical texts is investigated. The fourth and last heading, then, would contain studies in the range and method of Eriugena's exegesis, with particular attention to manuscript sources, and to new texts to be included into the opera of John Scottus.

In a cluttered and confusing world, there's value in getting back to basics. The first eleven chapters of Genesis offer foundational truths on faith, sin, and relationships--both with God and others. This study guide provides a panoramic view of the beginning of life, while exploring God's basic values for His people. Wiersbe Bible Studies deliver practical, in-depth guides to selected books of the Bible. Featuring insights from Wiersbe's "Be Basic" commentary, this eight-week study features engaging questions and practical applications that will help you connect God's word with your life.

Rediscover this powerful collection of praise, prayer, and worship Our God is extraordinary. A loving Savior. A caring Comforter. A tenderhearted Father. The One who has pursued our hearts at any cost. The book of Psalms celebrates the love story between creation and its Creator. It's a story that shares the remarkable attributes of God, and our joyous response to all that He is. This study guide explores the book of Psalms, a collection that continues to be the definitive devotional, prayer book, and hymnal for every believer. The Wiersbe Bible Studies Series explores timeless wisdom found in God's word. Based on Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe's popular "BE" series, each study provides topical, relevant insights from selected books of the Bible. Designed for small groups, this eight-week study features selected commentaries from BE Worshipful and BE Exultant , engaging questions, and practical applications, all designed to help you connect God's word with your life.

Introduces literary, historical, and theological issues of Luke and Acts.

Biblical texts create worlds of meaning, and invite readers to enter them. When readers enter such textual worlds, which are often strange and complex, they are confronted with theological claims. With this in mind, the purpose of the Interpreting Biblical Texts series is to help serious readers in their experience of reading and interpreting by providing guides for their journeys into textual worlds. The controlling perspective is expressed in the operative word of the title--interpreting. The primary focus of the series is not so much on the world behind the texts or out of which the texts have arisen as on the worlds created by the texts in their engagement with readers.
In keeping with the goals of the series, this volume provides an introductory guide to readers of the New Testament books of Luke and Acts. It focuses on both the synchronic and diachronic dimensions of the literature in an effort to acquaint readers with literary, historical, and theological issues that will facilitate interpretation of these important books.

F. Scott Spencer is Professor of New Testament at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.

Discourse related to sex excites passion and debate, partly because sexuality is a central aspect of what it means to be human. Following up on his recent book on sexuality in the Septuagint, William Loader here explores what the Christian Gospels and related writings have to say about sexuality, how they reflect the faith and social values of their day, and what impact they've had on our own.

"Sexuality and the Jesus Tradition is thorough in its investigation and compelling in its analyses. Loader examines all of the passages that convey views about sexuality in the Gospels and other first-century literature, including the "Gospel of Thomas, and the influence in Paul of the Jesus tradition. Among the interesting topics covered are attitudes concerning lust, perspectives on marriage and divorce, and views about celibacy. Loader shows how, despite the passing of two thousand years and massive social change, these ancient texts contain common issues that we still grapple with today.

In this resourceful and illuminating exploration of the biblical virtues, Benjamin W. Farley examines both the Old and the New Testament and applies their teachings on moral character to the Christian life today.

This second volume of studies by members of the SBL Seminar on Ancient Myths and Modern Theories of Christian Origins reassesses the agenda of modern scholarship on Paul and the Corinthians. The contributors challenge the theory of religion assumed in most New Testament scholarship and adopt a different set of theoretical and historical terms for redescribing the beginnings of the Christian religion. They propose explanations of the relationship between Paul and the recipients of 1 Corinthians; the place of Paul s Christ-myth for his gospel; the reasons for a disinterest in and rejection of Paul s gospel and/or for the reception and attraction of it; and the disjunction between Paul s collective representation of the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians and the Corinthians own engagement with Paul in mythmaking and social formation, including mutual (mis)translation and (mis)appropriation of the other s discourse and practices. The contributors are Ron Cameron and Merrill P. Miller, Jonathan Z. Smith, Burton L. Mack, William E. Arnal, Stanley K. Stowers, Richard S. Ascough, and John S. Kloppenborg.

This text-critical study of the Apostolos (all of the New Testament apart from the Gospels) of the fourth-century Greek father Athanasius of Alexandria has two aims in view: one analytical and one methodological. An initial review of Athanasius s life and writings and a survey of the Alexandrian text-type precede an analysis of Athanasius s text to determine its classification within the major New Testament text-types, and particularly its suspected Alexandrian character. The book also compares the results of methods traditionally used on the texts of the fathers with the use of an alternative and advanced method, multivariate analysis. Unlike quantitative and group profile analyses, multivariate analysis utilizes not just a single dimension but the full dimensionality of the source data.

"Mark as Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel," originally published in 1982 and extensively revised in 1999, was a turning point in Gospel studies, both for the contribution it made to Markan scholarship and for the methodological insights that it advanced. This volume celebrates "Mark as Story" and offers critique, engagement, and exploration of the new hermeneutical vistas that emerged in the wake of this pioneering study. In these essays, leading international Markan scholars discuss various texts and themes in the Second Gospel, reflect upon the rise of narrative criticism, and offer a glimpse at future trends in Gospels research. The contributors are Christopher W. Skinner; Mark Allan Powell; Elizabeth Struthers Malbon; Stephen D. Moore; Francis J. Moloney, S.D.B.; Thomas E. Boomershine; R. Alan Culpepper; Morna D. Hooker; Kelly R. Iverson; Holly E. Hearon; Robert M. Fowler; and David Rhoads, Joanna Dewey, and Donald Michie.

Written by leading experts on Aquinas's theology, the essays in Reading John with St. Thomas Aquinas bear common witness to a central theological conviction: the tasks of biblical exegesis and speculative theology, though distinct, indwell and inform each other. As the first book-length study of the full breadth of Aquinas's Commentary on the Gospel of John, this work illuminates the way in which thinking systematically or speculatively about revelation flows from questions raised within biblical exegesis itself.
Like any medieval biblical commentator, Aquinas attempts to understand a biblical text not only in itself but also by appealing to parallel interpretive texts drawn from throughout the Bible as well as the accumulated insights of the Church Fathers. This method enables him to penetrate deeply into the thought of the Bible, recognizing that the biblical authors, speaking from within the context of Israel and the Church, raise questions that are theological and that belong to coherent speculative theological frameworks. The result is, in large part, a speculative theological commentary that is not imposed on the biblical texts but emerges from it.
The essays in Reading John with St. Thomas Aquinas seek to illumine the necessary conjunction of the inspired words of Scripture, exegetical commentary, and theological analysis. The volume is both a study of Aquinas's thought and an attempt to foster contemporary exegetical approaches that emphasize the need to interpret Scripture speculatively, through the historical lens of tradition.
Michael Dauphinais is Associate Academic Dean and Assistant Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University. Matthew Levering is AssociateProfessor of Theology at Ave Maria University and author of Christ's Fulfillment of Torah and Temple: Salvation According to St. Thomas Aquinas and Scripture and Metaphysics: Aquinas and the Renewal of Trinitarian Theology. They are coeditors of the English edition of Nova et Vetera and coauthors of Holy People, Holy Land: A Theological Introduction to the Bible.

"Plato s "Parmenides" and Its Heritage" presents in two volumes ground-breaking results in the history of interpretation of Plato s "Parmenides," the culmination of six years of international collaboration by the SBL Annual Meeting seminar, Rethinking Plato s Parmenides and Its Platonic, Gnostic and Patristic Reception (2001 2007). The theme of Volume 1 is the dissolution of firm boundaries for thinking about the tradition of Parmenides interpretation from the Old Academy through Middle Platonism and Gnosticism. The volume suggests a radically different interpretation of the history of thought from Plato to Proclus than is customary by arguing against Proclus s generally accepted view that there was no metaphysical interpretation of the Parmenides before Plotinus in the third century C.E. Instead, this volume traces such metaphysical interpretations, first, to Speusippus and the early Platonic Academy; second, to the Platonism of the first and second centuries C.E. in figures like Moderatus and Numenius; third, to the emergence of an exegetical tradition that read Aristotle s categories in relation to the Parmenides; and, fourth, to important Middle Platonic figures and texts. The contributors to Volume 1 are Kevin Corrigan, Gerald Bechtle, Luc Brisson, John Dillon, Thomas Szlez k, Zlatko Ple e, Noel Hubler, John D. Turner, Johanna Brankaer, Volker Henning Drecoll, and Alain Lernould.

The Bible is hardly the first text that comes to mind when the general public considers gender, sex, and violence, yet within its first four chapters the Bible includes the creation of the first couple, thus gender designation; procreation, thus sex; and violence via the first murder. "Pregnant Passion presents essays excavating some of the biblical stories that explore the dynamics, intersection, and relatedness of gender, human sexuality, and violence in the Bible, with themes spanning the realms of feasts and famines, betrayal and bloodshed, seduction and sensuality, power and politics, virtue and violence.
Contributors include Randall C. Bailey, Valerie C. Cooper, Nicole Duran, Barbara Green, Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara A. Holmes, Susan E. Hylen, Hyun Chul Paul Kim, Mignon R. Jacobs, Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan, Madeline McClenney-Sadler, M. Fulgence Nyengele, Mary Donovan Turner, and Susan R. Holmes Winfield.
Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)

The long-held view that the Persian period in Israel (known as Yehud) was a historically derivative era that engendered little theological or literary innovation has been replaced in recent decades by an appreciation for the importance of the Persian period for understanding Israel's literature, religion, and sense of identity. A new image of Yehud is emerging that has shifted the focus from viewing the postexilic period as a staging ground for early Judaism or Christianity to dealing with Yehud on its own terms, as a Persian colony with a diverse population. Taken together, the thirteen chapters in this volume represent a range of studies that touch on a variety of textual and historical problems to advance the conversation about the significance of the Persian period and especially its formative influence on biblical literature. Contributors include Richard Bautch, Jon L. Berquist, Zipporah G. Glass, Alice W. Hunt, David Janzen, John Kessler, Melody D. Knowles, Jennifer L. Koosed, Herbert R. Marbury, Christine Mitchell, Julia M. O'Brien, Donald C. Polaski, Jean-Pierre Ruiz, Brent A. Strawn, and Christine Roy Yoder. Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)

This collection investigates the phenomenon of religious experience in early Judaism and early Christianity. The essays consider such diverse phenomena as scribal inspiration, possession, illness, ascent, theurgy, and spiritual transformation wrought by reading, and recognize that the texts are reflective of the lived experiences of ancient religious peoples, which they understood to be encounters with the divine. Contributors use a variety of methodologies, including medical anthropology, neurobiology, and ritual and performance studies, to move the investigation beyond traditional historical and literary methodologies and conclusions to illuminate the importance of experience in constructions of ancient religion.

Judaism and Christianity are both religions of history and remembrance and rely on calendars and accurate chronologies to recall and reenact the signal events in their histories. The import of dividing the day and night, of knowing the moment of Sabbath and Lord's Day, of properly timing Passover and Easter cannot be overstated. Throughout the history of both religions, these issues were central to worship and practice of religion and had far-reaching effects from messianism to prophecy. But their very centrality meant they were issues of controversy and debate. Roger Beckwith looks carefully at the Jewish and Christian records concerning calendar and chronology, compares, contrasts, and challenges rival solutions to these complex questions. His breath of research -- from the ancient Near East to Qumran, from Josephus and Philo to the Maccabean writings, and from the points of view of Paul and Jesus to the Fathers of the church -- and his focus on the more controversial issues of dating make Calendar and Chronology an essential book for any serious scholar of history, liturgy, worship, and interpretation.

The books of Ezra-Nehemiah and 1 Esdras tell the story of the Judean return from exile in Babylon, of rebuilding the temple, and of creating a new community in Zion. For scholars and students trying to understand the Second Temple period, there are no other contemporary narratives available, giving these books prime importance. In "Was 1 Esdras First?" world-renowned scholars fully discuss, without arriving at a consensus, the relationship between Ezra-Nehemiah and 1 Esdras. In addition, they delve into these books dates and methods of composition, the sources used, their respective historical and social milieus, their original languages, and their authority and status in antiquity. This collection adds to our understanding of the history of Second Temple Judah, the formation of early Judaism, and the processes by which biblical books were composed. The contributors are Lisbeth S. Fried, Deirdre N. Fulton and Gary N. Knoppers, Lester L. Grabbe, Adrian Schenker, Bob Becking, Kristin De Troyer, Juha Pakkala, Zipora Talshir, James C. VanderKam, Jacob L. Wright, Sebastian Gr tz, Paul B. Harvey Jr., Sylvie Honigman, Sara Japhet, Ralph W. Klein, and H. G. M. Williamson.

This collection of essays by respected scholars represents the state of the art of textual criticism as applied to the New Testament. Addressing core topics such as the causes and forms of variation, contamination and coherence, and the goals and the canons of textual criticism, it presents a first-class overview of traditional and innovative methodologies as they are applied to reconstructing the initial wording of the New Testament writings. In this context, the new Coherence-Based Genealogical Method (CBGM) is introduced and discussed extensively. Integrating established approaches and procedures, the CBGM features a new category of external evidence: genealogical coherence of witnesses.

The essays in this volume develop the highly suggestive insights and theory of James C. Scott-especially those related to patterns of domination and subordination, the role of religion in supporting or opposing the powerful, and the "arts of resistance" by the subordinated-to tackle key issues in the interpretation of Jesus and Paul. All the contributors implicitly or explicitly assume a stance sympathetic with subordinated peoples of the past and present. While all pursue primarily critical literary, historical, and social analysis on New Testament texts in historical contexts, some also examine illuminating historical or contemporary comparative materials. In addition, some even find Scott useful in critical self-examination of scholarly motives, stances, and approaches in relation to texts and their uses. The contributors are Allen Dwight Callahan, Warren Carter, Neil Elliott, Susan M. Elliott, Erik Heen, William R. Herzog II, Richard A. Horsley, Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, and Gerald West. Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org).

Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)

Your youth will go on a scavenger hunt through the Bible and read it in its entirety over six 12-week legs. How many times have you wished your youth knew more of the Bible? Sure, they can give you a rundown of the some familiar stories; but when was the last time they looked at the Bible as a scavenger-hunt, digging and searching for new discoveries to open up their faith? The Amazing Bible Race was created with that in mind. Teams will work together to solve weekly challenges, encourage one another, and build community as you all race toward this goal. The Amazing Bible Race is less like a sprint and more like a marathon, building knowledge, endurance, and faith with every chapter read. Groups accrue points and at the end of the official Race the top ten point getters receive $500 toward a mission organization of their choice or towards their youth missions program. The Amazing Bible Race is a 6-volume scavenger hunt through the Bible for youth groups. The race has six legs through different sections of the Bible and promises excitement and new discoveries as youth live into the sacred stories. Each leg includes a daily reader for every runner and a CD-Rom leader's guide with everything a "race director" needs, including website registration. Runners will be assigned to teams and will support one another in the daily readings and work together to complete "Weekly Challenges," "Fast Forwards," and "Hurdles." The program includes a web component, with both administration and publicity features. Administration tools help youth workers manage the race, coordinate weekly challenge turn-in, send e-mail reminders, and tally points. Publicity tools help build excitement, allow teams to check their standings against other youth groups, upload photos of teams "running" the race; and it allows teams to challenge another youth group for a one-on-one race. Teams get points for daily reading, completing the Weekly Challenge, accomplishing any Fast Forwards, and jumping over any Hurdles. Points are turned in and tallied on the website. Race directors are encouraged to celebrate the "finish line" of each leg with a party and a recognition of the winning team. The six legs of the race are Leg 1 Law: Genesis Deuteronomy Leg 2 History: Joshua Esther Leg 3 Wisdom: Job Song of Solomon Leg 4 Prophets: Isaiah Malachai Leg 5 Gospel and the Early Church: Matthew Acts Leg 6 Letters and Prophecy: Romans Revelation
Check out the race at www.amazingbiblerace.com. "

This volume celebrates the discovery of "The Dead Sea Scrolls", their contents, the community that wrote and preserved them, and new scientific issues that arise from Scrolls studies. The essays, in four sections, explore the origins and text of scripture, the interpretation of scripture in Second Temple Judaism, the identity and practices of the movement associated with Qumran and the Scrolls, and the extensive contributions of Canadian projects and scholarship. Eight color plates are included in the volume. The contributors are Eileen Schuller, Jason Kalmon and Jaqueline S. du Toit, Jean Duhaime, Andrew B. Perrin, Benjamin H. Parker, Peter W. Flint and Kyung S. Baek, Eugene Ulrich, Manuel Jinbachian, Martin G. Abegg Jr., Emanuel Tov, Steve Mason, Daniel K. Falk, Wayne McCready, Ian W. Scott, Chad Martin Stauber, Ted M. Erho, Robert David with the collaboration of Eric Bellavance, Francis Daoust, Marie-France Dion, Dorothy M. Peters, Hindy Najman, C. J. Patrick Davis, Lorenzo DiTommaso, Cecilia Wassen, and Craig A. Evans.

The essays in "Bible Trouble" all engage queer theories for purposes of biblical interpretation, a rare effort to date within biblical scholarship. The title phrase "Bible Trouble" plays on "Judith Butler's Gender Trouble", gesturing toward a primary text for contemporary queer theory. The essays consider, among others, the Lazarus story, the Ethiopian eunuch, "gender trouble" in "Judges 4 and 5", the "Song of Songs", and an unorthodox coupling of the books of Samuel and the film "Paris Is Burning". This volume "troubles" not only the boundaries between biblical scholarship and queer theory but also the boundaries between different frameworks currently used in the analysis of biblical literature, including sexuality, gender, race, class, history, and literature. The contributors are Ellen T. Armour, Michael Joseph Brown, Sean D. Burke, Heidi Epstein, Deryn Guest, Jione Havea, Teresa J. Hornsby, Lynn R. Huber, S. Tamar Kamionkowski, Joseph A. Marchal, Jeremy Punt, Erin Runions, Ken Stone, Gillian Townsley, Jay Twomey, and Manuel Villalobos.