The Bible as Literature An Introduction

by Gabel, John B.; Wheeler, Charles B.

• ISBN13: 9780195059335
• ISBN10: 0195059336
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1990-03-22
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

As in the widely popular First Edition, Gabel and Wheeler approach the Bible from a literary/historical perspective and study the work as a body of writing produced by real people who intended to convey messages to a real audience. Avoiding assessments of the Bible's truth or authority, the book maintains a rigorously objective tone as it discusses such major issues as the forms and strategies of biblical writing, the actual historical and physical settings of that writing, the process of canon formation, the sources of the Pentateuch, and the nature of such literary biblical genres as prophecy, apocalypse, and gospel. Each chapter is an independent yet related essay, and the Second Edition adds an entirely new section on writing in Biblical times. In addition, the reading lists that follow the chapters have been completely updated to reflect the most recent scholarship. The result is an easy-to-use, exciting presentation of the art of the Bible that is accessible to readers of all kinds.

Author Biography

John Gabel and Charles Wheeler are Emeritus Professors of English at The Ohio State University. Anthony York is Estelle Hunt Associate Professor of Biblical Literature at the University of Cincinnati.

Table of Contents

To the Reader	p. ix
The Bible as Literature	p. 1
Literary Forms and Strategies in the Bible	p. 14
Ancient Near Eastern Literature and the Bible	p. 40
The Bible and History	p. 59
The Physical Setting of the Bible	p. 70
The Formation of the Canon	p. 87
The Composition of the Pentateuch	p. 101
The Prophetic Writings	p. 116
The Wisdom Literature	p. 129
The Apocalyptic Literature	p. 146
Judaism in the Intertestamental Period	p. 162
The Hellenistic Background of the New Testament	p. 179
Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha: The Outside Books	p. 196
The Gospels	p. 213
Acts and the Letters	p. 233
The Text of the Bible	p. 256
Translating the Bible	p. 269
The Religious Use and Interpretation of the Bible	p. 292
The Name of Israel's God	p. 313
Writing in Biblical Times	p. 317
Palestine in the Intertestamental Period	p. 325
Review Questions	p. 333
Glossary of Literary Terms	p. 345
Index	p. 351
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