Table of Contents
Illustrations and Boxes xiii
Timeline xix
Preface to the First Edition xxix
Preface to the Second Edition xxxiii
Preface to the Third Edition xxxv
Part 1 What is the Bible, And How Did it Come About?
1 The Bible: A Gradually Emerging Collection 3
The Bible: A Collection 4
The Emergence of the Canon 4
The Canon of the Hebrew Bible 5
The Christian Canon 11
Conclusion 16
2 From Then to Now: The Transmission of the Bible 19
Textual Criticism 19
Translations 25
Conclusion 30
3 Inspiration: The Claim That God Speaks in a Text 33
Two Translations of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 34
The History of the Concept 35
Other Ways of Thinking about Inspiration 41
Conclusion 44
Part 2 What is the Story of the Hebrew Bible?
4 The Pentateuch, Part 1 : Genesis 49
Authorship 49
Varieties of Genres 53
The Narratives of Genesis 1-11 55
Two Creation Stories 56
The Fall 60
After the Fall 62
The Flood 62
Origins and Babel 65
Israel's Ancestors 67
Conclusion 75
5 The Pentateuch, Part 2: Exodus through Deuteronomy 79
Exodus: Deliverance and the Beginning of the Nation 80
Leviticus: Ritual Purity and the Holiness Code 90
Numbers: In the Wilderness 95
Deuteronomy: Restating the Law 99
Conclusion 101
6 The Israelites Tell Their Story: Interpretations of National Disasters 105
The Scope and Purpose of the Deuteronomistic History 106
Joshua: The Invasion 106
Judges: The Quest for Continuing Dominance 111
Ruth: A Tale of Loyalty and Love 116
1-2 Samuel: The Monarchy Begins 117
1-2 Kings: The Story of Two Kingdoms 123
1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah: A Priestly Outlook on the Kingdoms and Return from Exile 133
Conclusion 136
7 "Thus Says the Lord": Israel's Prophetic Tradition 141
The Classical Prophets 142
Amos: Justice and Judgment 142
Hosea: The Faithfulness of God 145
Micah: What the Lord Requires 146
Part 3 What Is The Story Of The New Testament?
Isaiah: Justice, Judgment, and Restoration 148
Jeremiah: Looming Judgment and Future Restoration 152
Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah 155
Ezekiel: God Is Present 157
Postexilic Prophets 161
Daniel: Persecution and Radical Newness 167
Conclusion 169
8 An Alternative Worldview: Israel's Wisdom Literature and Esther 175
The Literary Type 175
Job: A Problem without Resolution 177
Proverbs: Advice for the Good Life 180
Ecclesiastes: All Is Vanity 182
Esther: Veiled Providence and the Origin of a Feast 182
Conclusion 186
9 Israel's Response to God: The Psalms and the Song of Solomon 189
The Psalms: Poetry of Praise and Lament 190
Song of Solomon: "Love Is Stronger Than Death" 194
Conclusion 194
10 Between the Testaments: From Alexander the Great to the Time of Jesus 197
Alexander the Great and Hellenization 198
The Move toward Jewish Independence 203
Roman Domination of Palestine 207
Parties within First-Century Judaism 212
Conclusion 221
11 The Apocrypha: Religious Writings of the Second-Temple Period 225
Tobit 226
Judith 227
The Greek Version of Esther 229
Wisdom of Solomon 230
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 232
Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah 233
Additions to Daniel 235
1 Maccabees 237
2 Maccabees 238
Part 3 What is the Story of the New Testament?
12 The Gospels: Their Composition and Nature 245
The Origin and Nature of the Gospels 246
The Search for a Historical Jesus 248
The Synoptic Gospels and John 251
Analysis and Faith 254
Conclusion 255
13 Four Views of One Jesus: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John 259
Mark: The Coming Reign of God 259
Matthew: Messiah and Interpreter of the Law 268
Luke: Compassion and Justice 276
John: Incarnational Christology 287
Conclusion 295
14 The Story Continues: The Acts of the Apostles 299
Luke's Telling of the Story 299
The Growth of the Church and the Admission of Gentiles 303
Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles 305
Conclusion 313
15 The Pauline Letters: Apostolic Advice to Early Churches 315
Letters: A Context-Specific Genre 316
1 Thessalonians 319
1 Corinthians 324
2 Corinthians 331
Galatians 334
Philippians 337
Philemon 340
Romans 342
Conclusion 348
16 The Disputed Pauline Letters: Continuing Advice in Paul's Name 353
2 Thessalonians 355
Colossians 357
Ephesians 359
1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (the Pastoral Epistles) 362
Conclusion 366
17 Hebrews and the General Epistles: Messages for Broader Audiences 369
Hebrews 370
James 373
1 Peter 375
2 Peter 377
Jude 379
1 John 381
2 John 383
3 John 384
Conclusion 385
18 Revelation: John's Apocalyptic Vision 389
The Apocalyptic Genre 389
The Book of Revelation 396
Conclusion 408
Epilogue: The Bible Today 413
Appendix: Alternative Reading Strategies 417
Glossary 421
Index 443
