Interpreting the Old Testament: A Practical Guide

by Daniel J Harrington S.J., PH.D.

Overview

This introduction to Old Testament exegesis responds to the directives of the Second Vatican Council that instructs biblical interpreters to investigate the meaning the sacred writers intended to express. Thus it acquaints readers with an introduction to the methods commonly used in biblical scholarship today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814652367
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	06/01/1981
Series:	Old Testament Message , #1
Pages:	162
Product dimensions:	5.42(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, PhD, (1940-2014), was professor of New Testament at Boston College and the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Massachusetts. He wrote numerous scholarly works, including What Are We Hoping For? New Testament Images, The Gospel of Mark, Jesus Ben Sira of Jerusalem: A Biblical Guide to Living Wisely, and The Letter to the Hebrews, all published by Liturgical Press. He served as editor of New Testament Abstracts from 1972 until his death.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction   9
 1.  BASIC LITERARY CRITICISM   11
       A. The Old Testament as Literature   11
       B. Literary Analysis   14
       C. Examples of Literary Criticism   17
 2.  HISTORICAL CRITICISM   27
       A. Israel's History   27
       B. Escape from Egypt   31
 3.  ARCHAEOLOGY AND PARALLELS FROM ANTIQUITY   41
       A. Archaeology   41
       B. Ancient Texts   45
 4.  WORDS and MOTIFS   53
       A. The Covenant Motif   53
       B. Covenant Texts   62
 5.  FORM CRITICISM   69
       A. Form Criticism in General   69
       B. Narrative Forms   70
       C. Legal Forms   74
       D. Psalms   75
       E. Wisdom Forms   77
       F. Prophetic Forms   78 
 6.  SOURCE CRITICISM AND REDACTION CRITICISM   83
       A. Their Relationship   83
       B. Source Criticism   84
       C. Redaction Criticism   88
 7.  TEXTUAL CRITICISM   97
       A. Principles of Textual Criticism   97
       B. Examples of Textual Criticism   104
 8.  RECENT ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS   109
       A. Seven New Versions   109
       B. Comparing the Translations   113
 9.  THE OLD TESTAMENT IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP   121
       A. Actualization   121
       B. Examples of Old Testament Preaching   125
10.  THE OLD TESTAMENT IN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY   135
      A. The Problems of Old Testament Theology   135
      B. God's Relationship with His People   139
      C. The Authority of the Old Testament   143
POSTSCRIPT: NEW METHODS   147
      A. Canonical Criticism   147
      B. Social Sciences   153
Appendix: Questions in Exegesis   159