Introduction to the Bible, An: A Journey Into Three Worlds

by Hauer, Christian E.; Young, William A.

• ISBN13: 9780130316783
• ISBN10: 0130316784
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This popular book maintains its exploration of the literary, historical, and contemporary worlds of the Bible. Uses a "three worlds" approach that distinguishes: the literary world (worlds) of the Bible -- the book itself, the historical world out of which the Bible emerged and through which it came to us, and the contemporary world in which we read and try to understand the Bible. In addition, the book discusses the continuing impact of the Bible -- in religion, politics, art, literature, and music.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations of the Books of the Bible	xxi
Foreword	xxiii
Preface	xxv
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
The Three Worlds of the Bible: An Orientation	1	(34)
An Orientation to the Literary World	3	(5)
The Jewish and the Christian Bibles	3	(1)
Overview of the Tanak	4	(3)
Overview of the New Testament	7	(1)
An Orientation to the Historical World	8	(20)
Introduction	8	(1)
Canonization	9	(1)
Textual History	10	(1)
Translation of the Bible into English	11	(3)
Interpretation	14	(5)
Geography of the Ancient Near East and Israel	19	(3)
History of the Ancient Near East	22	(4)
History of Ancient Israel	26	(2)
An Orientation to the Contemporary World	28	(3)
The Problem: Journeying Into the First Two Worlds	31	(1)
Summary	32	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	33	(2)
Preparing for the Journey: An Orientation to the Methods of Biblical Study	35	(26)
Intrinsic Study: Journeying into the Literary World	37	(10)
Introduction	37	(10)
Extrinsic Study: Entering the Historical World	47	(7)
Literary History	47	(2)
The Empirical Historical Method	49	(1)
Revisionism	50	(1)
Archaeology	51	(3)
Uses of the Text: Traveling Into the Contemporary World	54	(4)
Summary	58	(1)
Questions for Discussion and Reflection	59	(2)
PART TWO: THE TORAH
Origins: The Book of Genesis	61	(24)
Prehistory: Cosmic Origins (Genesis 1-2)	62	(5)
The Literary World: Balance in Genesis 1-2	62	(2)
The Historical World: Creation Accounts of the Ancient Near East	64	(3)
Prehistory: Communal Origins (Genesis 3-11)	67	(5)
The Literary World: Separation in Genesis 3-11	67	(4)
The Historical World: Setting the Stage for History	71	(1)
Origins of the People of God (Genesis 12-50)	72	(9)
The Literary World: Promise and Journey in the Ancestor Legends	72	(6)
The Historical World: The Ancestors in History	78	(3)
Summary	81	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	82	(3)
Covenant: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy	85	(17)
Let my People go (Exodus 1-18)	86	(6)
The Literary World: Pharaoh a God?	86	(1)
The Historical World: The Exodus in History	87	(5)
You Shall be my People, and I Shall be Your God (Exodus 19-50, Leviticus, Numbers)	92	(4)
The Literary World: Covenant and Law	92	(3)
The Historical World: Law in the Ancient Near East	95	(1)
A Look Back, A Look Ahead (Deuteronomy)	96	(3)
The Literary World: The Farewell Address of Moses	96	(2)
The Historical World: The Lawbook in the Temple	98	(1)
Summary	99	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	99	(3)
PART THREE: PROPHETS
The Nation Israel: Joshua, Judges, First and Second Samuel, First and Second Kings (The Former Prophets)	102	(30)
The Occupation of Canaan (Joshua and Judges)	103	(6)
The Literary World: Balance in Joshua 1-12 and Judges 1-2	103	(1)
The Historical World: How Did the Israelites Occupy Canaan?	104	(5)
From Tribes to State (Judges, Samuel)	109	(4)
The Literary World: A Cycle of Legends about Heroes	109	(3)
The Historical World	112	(1)
From State to Empire: the United Kingdom (Second Samuel, First Kings 1-11)	113	(9)
The Literary World: David and Solomon	113	(3)
The Historical World	116	(6)
From Empire to Exile: the Divided Kingdom (First Kings 12-22, Second Kings)	122	(8)
The Literary World: The Patterning of History in Kings	122	(3)
The Historical World	125	(5)
Summary	130	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	130	(2)
Covenant Advocates: The Prophets o f Ancient Israel (The Latter Prophets)	132	(28)
Prophecy as a Social Phenomenon	133	(4)
The Prophets and Their Times	137	(3)
The Origins of Prophecy	137	(1)
Elijah and Elisha	138	(1)
The Latter Prophets	139	(1)
Prophetic Speech and Prophetic Literature	140	(3)
Prophetic Themes: Covenant, Judgment, Redemption	143	(1)
The Prophetic Books	144	(13)
The Isaiah Anthology	145	(3)
Jeremiah	148	(2)
Ezekiel	150	(1)
The Scroll of the Twelve	151	(6)
Summary	157	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	158	(2)
PART FOUR: THE WRITINGS
Israel's Sacred Songs: Psalms, Song of Songs, and Lamentations (The Writings I)	160	(17)
A People's Poetry: the Book of Psalms	161	(9)
Introduction	161	(1)
The Literary World: The Psalms as Poems	161	(6)
The Historical World: The Psalms in Israel's Worship	167	(3)
The Megilloth	170	(1)
The Song of Songs	170	(3)
The Literary World: An Anthology of Love Poems	171	(1)
The Historical World: Authorship and Original Function	172	(1)
Lamentations	173	(2)
The Literary World: An Anthology of Laments	173	(1)
The Historical World: Original Setting	174	(1)
Summary	175	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	176	(1)
The Way of Wisdom: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes (The Writings II)	177	(20)
The Literary World	178	(14)
Proverbs: The Blessings of Wisdom	178	(4)
Job: The Limits of Wisdom	182	(7)
Ecclesiastes: The Futility of Wisdom	189	(3)
The Wisdom Movement in Israel and the Ancient Near East	192	(2)
Summary	194	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	195	(2)
The Rest of the Writings: Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel	197	(17)
The Historical World: After the Exile	198	(5)
Cyrus and the Fall of Babylon	198	(2)
The Return	200	(1)
The Temple	201	(1)
Nehemiah: The Wall	201	(1)
The Torah	201	(1)
The Hellenistic Age	202	(1)
The Literary World: The Chronicler's History (Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah)	203	(1)
Two Short Stories: Ruth and Esther	204	(3)
The Book of Ruth: A Woman of Valor	204	(2)
The Book of Esther: A Dream Fulfilled	206	(1)
The Horizon of History: The Birth of Apocalyptic (Daniel)	207	(5)
Introduction: Apocalyptic Literature and Movements	207	(3)
The Book of Daniel	210	(2)
Summary	212	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	212	(2)
PART FIVE: AFTER THE TANAK
Jewish Life and Literature (200 B.C.E.-100 C.E.)	214	(27)
The Historical World: Varieties of Classical Judaism	215	(18)
The Maccabean Period	215	(6)
The New Order	221	(2)
The Pharisees	223	(3)
The Sadducees	226	(1)
The Essenes	226	(1)
Covenanters	227	(3)
The Zealots	230	(1)
The Samaritans	230	(1)
Common Judaism	231	(1)
The People of the Land	231	(1)
Hellenistic Judaism	231	(1)
The Nazareans	232	(1)
Conclusion	232	(1)
The Literary World	233	(6)
The Deuterocanon	234	(1)
The Larger Apocrypha	235	(1)
The Dead Sea Scrolls	236	(1)
Rabbinic Literature	237	(2)
Summary	239	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	239	(2)
PART SIX: THE GOSPELS
The Proclaimer: Jesus of Nazareth	241	(23)
Evidence Outside the Gospels	244	(3)
The Gospels as Sources: Where did Jesus ``Fit''?	247	(8)
The Historical Fit	249	(1)
The Ideological Fit	250	(3)
The Sociological Fit	253	(2)
Jesus and the Titles Attributed to him	255	(6)
Messiah	255	(3)
Son of God	258	(1)
Son of Man	259	(1)
Lord	260	(1)
Conclusion	261	(1)
Summary	262	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	263	(1)
The Proclaimer Becomes the Proclaimed: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John	264	(29)
The Growth of the Gospels	265	(3)
What a Gospel Is	265	(1)
The Synoptic Problem	265	(3)
The Literary Worlds of the Gospels	268	(17)
Mark: The Secret Revealed through Suffering	268	(4)
Matthew: A Higher Righteousness	272	(4)
Luke: Good News for All	276	(3)
John: The Journey of Jesus	279	(6)
The Historical Settings of the Gospels	285	(4)
Mark	285	(1)
Matthew	286	(1)
Luke	287	(1)
John	287	(2)
Summary	289	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	290	(3)
PART SEVEN: THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
The Birth of Christianity: The Acts of the Apostles	293	(18)
The Unity of Luke-Acts	294	(1)
The Acts as Literature	295	(4)
The Earliest Church	299	(9)
The Jerusalem Church	301	(1)
Gentile Converts	302	(1)
Persecution	303	(1)
Leadership	304	(1)
A Time Whose Idea Had Come	305	(3)
Summary	308	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	309	(2)
PART EIGHT: LETTEIZS
Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles: The Letters of Paul	311	(26)
The Quest for the ``Historical'' Paul	313	(5)
Paul and Judaism	313	(2)
Paul, the Apostle	315	(3)
Letters as Literature	318	(2)
Themes in the Letters of Paul	320	(1)
The Letters of Paul in Context	321	(13)
First Thessalonians: Like a Thief in the Night	322	(1)
Second Thessalonians: Stand Firm	323	(1)
First Corinthians: Unity in the Spirit	324	(1)
Second Corinthians: From Bitterness to Joy	325	(1)
Galatians: ``The Gospel Which Was Preached by Me''	326	(1)
Romans: The Power of God for the Salvation of All	327	(3)
Philippians: My Joy Complete	330	(1)
Philemon: No Longer a Slave	331	(1)
Colossians: Christ Is All in All	331	(2)
Ephesians: He Is Our Peace	333	(1)
Summary	334	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	334	(3)
The Growing Church: The Pastoral and General Epistles, Hebrews, and the Revelation to John	337	(27)
Toward a Postapostolic Church (70-150 C.E.)	338	(6)
Internal Changes	338	(2)
The Church and Judaism	340	(1)
The Church and Rome	341	(2)
The Outcome	343	(1)
The Pastoral Epistles: Be Strong in the Faith	344	(2)
First Timothy	344	(1)
Second Timothy	345	(1)
Titus	345	(1)
The Letter to the Hebrews: Christ as High Priest and Mediator of a New Convenant	346	(2)
The General (Catholic) Epistles: for the Whole Church (James; First Peter; Jude; Second Peter; First, Second, and Third John)	348	(6)
The Letter of James	349	(1)
First Peter	350	(1)
Jude	351	(1)
Second Peter	351	(1)
First John	352	(1)
Second John	353	(1)
Third John	353	(1)
The Revelation to John: What Must Happen Soon	354	(5)
The New Testament Apocrypha	359	(2)
Gospels	359	(1)
Other Works	360	(1)
Summary	361	(1)
The Contemporary World: Questions for Discussion and Reflection	362	(2)
PART NINE: CONCLLISION
Journey On!	364	(11)
Glossary	375	(16)
Annotated Bibliography	391	(24)
Index	415