PART ONE: Introduction
Chapter 1 The Three Worlds of the Bible: An Orientation
Introduction
Why Study the Bible?
What Are the “Three Worlds” of
the Bible?
An Orientation to The Literary World
The Jewish and the Christian Bibles
Overview of the Tanak
Overview of the New Testament
Central Themes of the Bible
An Orientation to The Historical World
Introduction
Canonization
Textual History
History of the Translation of the Bible into English
History of the Interpretation of the Bible
Geography of the Ancient Near East and Israel
History of the Ancient Near East
History of Ancient Israel
An Orientation to the Contemporary World
The Problem: Journeying Into the First Two Worlds
Summary
The Contemporary World
Case Study
A Discussion among Friends
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Chapter 2 Preparing for the Journey: An Orientation to the Methods of Biblical Study
Intrinsic Study: Journeying into the Literary World
Introduction
Extrinsic Study: Entering the Historical World
Literary History
The Empirical Historical Method
Revisionism
Archaeology
Additional Sources
Uses of the Text: Traveling into the Contemporary World
Summary
The Contemporary World
The Three Worlds of Psalm
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
PART TWO: The Torah
Chapter 3 Origins: The Book of Genesis
Prehistory: Cosmic Origins (Genesis 1—2)
The Literary World: Balance in Genesis 1—2
The Historical World: Creation Accounts of the Ancient Near East
Prehistory: Communal Origins (Genesis 3—11)
The Literary World: Separation in Genesis 3—11
The Historical World: Setting the Stage for History
The Literary World: Promise and Journey in the Ancestor Legends
Origins of the People of God (Genesis 12—50)
The Historical World: The Ancestors in History
Summary
The Contemporary World
A Conversation with a Professor
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Chapter 4 Covenant: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
Let My People Go (Exodus 1—18)
The Literary World: Pharaoh a God?
The Historical World: The Exodus in History
You Shall Be My People, and I Shall Be Your God (Exodus 19—50, Leviticus, Numbers)
The Literary World: Covenant and Law
The Historical World: Law in the Ancient Near East
A Look Back, a Look Ahead (Deuteronomy)
The Literary World: The Farewell Address of Moses
The Historical World: The Lawbook in the Temple
Summary
The Contemporary World
Can Holy Land Be Shared?
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
PART THREE: Prophets
Chapter 5 The Nation Israel: Joshua, Judges, First and Second Samuel, First and Second Kings (The Former Prophets)
The Occupation of Canaan (Joshua and Judges)
The Literary World: Balance in Joshua 1—12 and Judges 1—2
The Historical World: How Did the Israelites Occupy Canaan?
From Tribes to State (Judges, Samuel)
The Literary World: A Cycle of Legends about Heroes
The Historical World
From State to Empire: The United Kingdom (Second Samuel, First Kings 1—11)
The Literary World: David and Solomon
The Historical World
From Empire to Exile: The Divided Kingdom (First Kings 12—22, Second Kings)
The Literary World: The Patterning of History in Kings
The Historical World
Summary
The Contemporary World
The War on Terrorism
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Chapter 6 Covenant Advocates: The Prophets of Ancient Israel (The Latter Prophets)
Prophecy as a Social Phenomenon
The Prophets And Their Times
The Origins of Prophecy
Elijah and Elisha
The Latter Prophets
Prophetic Speech and Prophetic Literature
Prophetic Themes: Covenant, Judgment, Redemption
The Prophetic Books
The Isaiah Anthology
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
The Scroll of the Twelve
Summary
The Contemporary World
What Would the Prophets Say?
The Prophet As National Security Advisor
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
PART FOUR: The Writings
Chapter 7 Israel’s Sacred Songs: Psalms, Song of Songs, and Lamentations (The Writings I)
A People’s Poetry: The Book Of Psalms
Introduction
The Literary World: The Psalms as Poems
The Historical World: The Psalms in Israel’s Worship
The Megilloth
The Song of Songs
The Literary World: An Anthology of Love Poems
Lamentations
The Historical World: Authorship and Original Function
The Literary World: An Anthology of Laments
The Historical World: Original Setting
Summary
The Contemporary World
Settings for Biblical Songs
Royal Songs
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Chapter 8 The Way of Wisdom: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes (The Writings II)
The Literary World
Proverbs: The Blessings of Wisdom
Job: The Limits of Wisdom
Ecclesiastes: The Futility of Wisdom
The Wisdom Movement in Israel and the Ancient Near East
Summary
The Contemporary World
What Is the Meaning of Life?
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Chapter 9 The Rest of the Writings: Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel
The Historical World: After the Exile
Cyrus and the Fall of Babylon
The Return
The Temple
Nehemiah: The Wall
The Torah
The Hellenistic Age
The Literary World: The Chronicler’S History (Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah)
Two Short Stories: Ruth and Esther
The Book of Ruth: A Woman of Valor
The Book of Esther: A Dream Fulfilled
The Horizon of History: The Birth of Apocalyptic (Daniel)
Introduction: Apocalyptic Literature and Movements
The Book of Daniel
Summary
The Contemporary World
The Left Behind Series
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
PART FIVE: After the Tanak
Chapter 10 Jewish Life and Literature (200 B.C.E - 100 C.E.)
The Historical World: Varieties of Classical Judaism
The Maccabean Period
The New Order
The Pharisees
The Sadducees
The Essenes
Covenanters
The Zealots
The Samaritans
Common Judaism
The People of the Land
Hellenistic Judaism
The Nazareans
Conclusion
The Literary World
The Deuterocanon
The Larger Apocrypha
The Dead Sea Scrolls
Rabbinic Literature
Summary
The Contemporary World
The Contemporary Religious Spectrum
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
PART SIX: The Gospels
Chapter 11 The Proclaimer: Jesus of Nazereth
Evidence Outside The Gospels
The Gospels as Sources: Where Did Jesus “Fit”?
The Historical Fit
The Ideological Fit
The Sociological Fit
Jesus and the Titles Attributed to Him
Messiah
Son of God
Son of Man
Lord
Conclusion
Summary
The Contemporary World
Jesus of History and Christ of Faith
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Chapter 12 The Proclaimer Becomes the Proclaimed: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John
The Growth Of The Gospels
Gospel as a Literary Genre
The Synoptic Problem
The Literary Worlds Of the Gospels
Mark: The Secret Revealed through Suffering
Matthew: A Higher Righteousness
Luke: Good News for All
John: The Journey of Jesus
The Historical World: The Settings of the Gospels
Mark
Matthew
Luke
John
Summary
The Contemporary World
Is There Only One Jesus?
An Exercise in Oral Tradition
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
PART SEVEN: The Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 13 The Birth of Christianity: The Acts of the Apostles
The Unity of Luke-Acts
The Literary World: Acts of the Apostles as Literature
The Historical World: The Earliest Church
The Jerusalem Church
Gentile Converts
Persecution
Leadership
A Time Whose Idea Had Come
Summary
The Contemporary World
What Would Christianity Look Like?
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
PART EIGHT: Letters
Chapter 14 Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles: The Letters of Paul
The Quest for the “Historical” Paul
Paul and Judaism
Paul, the Apostle
The Literary World: Letters as Literature
Themes in The Letters of Paul
The Historical World: The Letters of Paul in Context
First Thessalonians: Like a Thief in the Night
Second Thessalonians: Stand Firm
First Corinthians: Unity in the Spirit
Second Corinthians: From Bitterness to Joy
Galatians: “The Gospel Which Was Preached by Me”
Romans: The Power of God for the Salvation of All
Philippians: My Joy Complete
Philemon: No Longer a Slave
Colossians: Christ Is All in All
Ephesians: He Is Our Peace
Summary
The Contemporary World
The Selection of a Gay Bishop and Ordination of Women
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
Chapter 15 The Growing Church: The Pastoral and General Epistles, Hebrews, and the Revelation to John
The Historical World: Toward a Postapostolic Church (70—150 C.E.)
Internal Changes
The Church and Judaism
The Church and Rome
The Outcome
The Literary World: The Pastoral Epistles–Be Strong in the Faith
First Timothy
Second Timothy
Titus
The Literary World: The Letter to the Hebrews–Christ as High Priest and Mediator of a New Covenant
The Literary World: The General (Catholic) Epistles–for the Whole Church (James; First Peter; Jude; Second Peter; First, Second, and Third John)
The Letter of James
First Peter
Jude
Second Peter
First John
Second John
Third John
The Literary World: The Revelation to John–What must Happen Soon
The New Testament Apocrypha
Gospels
Other Works
Summary
The Contemporary World
Has the Journey Been Worthwhile?
Questions for Discussion and Reflection
PART NINE: Conclusion
Chapter 16 Journey On!
The Bible in Contemporary Religions
The Bible in Western Law and Government
The Bible and the Environmental Crisis
The Bible and Indigenous Cultures
The Bible in Western Art, Music, and Literature
The Bible and Popular Culture
The Bible and American Civil Religion
Conclusion
Annotated Bibliography
Glossary
Index