Edition DescriptionRevised edition
Table Of ContentChapter 1 The Bible: An Overview Chapter 2 The Process of Formation: How the Bible Came to Be Written, Transmitted, Canonized, and Translated Part One The Hebrew Bible: Tanak, or Old Testament Photo Essay - Mesopotamia: Fountainhead of Biblical Tradition Chapter 3 The Ancient Near East: The Environment that Produced the Bible Chapter 4 The God of Israel: An Evolving Portrait Chapter 5 The Torah: Five Books of Divine Teaching Photo Essay - Archaeology of the Bible Chapter 6 The Prophets (Nevi'im) I: The Story of Israel: From Promised Land to Exile Chapter 7 The Prophets (Nevi'im) II: Individual Spokespersons for God Photo Essay - Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon Chapter 8 The Writings (Kethuvim): Books of Poetry, Wisdom, Short Fiction, Apocalyptic Visions, and Sacred History Chapter 9 Books of the Second Canon: The Apocrypha Chapter 10 Between the Two Testaments: Greek Culture and the Growth of Multiple Judaisms Part II The New Testament Photo Essay - Archaeological Sites and Artifacts Associated with Jesus' Life Chapter 11 Books of the New Testament: An Overview Chapter 12 The Gospels: Four Portraits of Jesus Photo Essay - Diverse Portraits of Jesus Chapter 13 The Continuing Quest for the Historical Jesus Chapter 14 An Account of Christian Origins and the Pauline Letters Photo Essay - Paul and His World Chapter 15 General Letters and a Vision of End Time Chapter 16 Interpreting the Judeo-Christian Bible in a Changed World Glossary Index
SynopsisThis best-selling nonsectarian guide is designed for students undertaking their first systematic study of the Bible. It is the only single-volume introductory textbook that places each book of the Old Testament, Apocrypha, and the New Testament fully in its historical and cultural context. Understanding the Bible acquaints readers with the content as well as the major themes of each biblical book, and familiarizes them with the goals and methods of important scholarship.
LC Classification NumberBS475.3.H32 2006