From Adam to Armageddon Survey of the Bible

by White, J. Benton; Wilson, Walter T.

• ISBN13: 9780534527297
• ISBN10: 0534527299
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-08-02
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Provides a concise and clear introduction to Bible study and analysis that incorporates a religious studies perspective.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Prelude
Approaches to the Bible	xv
The Bible as History, Religious Document, and Scripture	xv
Course Goals	xvi
Historic Outline and Biblical Order	xvii
Preparing for the Study
The Bible's Meaning	1	(1)
Preconditions for the Bible's Origin	2	(1)
Scholarly Study of the Bible	3	(1)
Historical Development	4	(3)
The Order of the Books	7	(2)
The Arena Out of Which the Bible Arose	9	(5)
Study Questions	12	(1)
Suggested Readings	13	(1)
``In the Beginning...''
The Book of Genesis	14	(7)
Were There Matriarchs as Well?	21	(1)
Moses and the Pentateuch	21	(6)
Questions Raised by the Exodus Story	27	(1)
The Eyes of Faith	27	(2)
A Priestly Manual: Leviticus	29	(3)
Study Questions	30	(1)
Suggested Readings	30	(2)
Shaping the Future: Becoming a Nation
The Nature of the History	32	(2)
Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan	34	(1)
The Era of the Judges	35	(1)
Samuel: The Transitional Figure	36	(1)
Saul: The First King	37	(1)
David: A Dilemma	37	(2)
Solomon: In All His Glory	39	(1)
The Division of the Land	39	(1)
The Story of Israel	40	(3)
Judah: The Apple of Yahweh's Eye	43	(3)
An Overview of the Deuteronomic History	46	(3)
Study Questions	47	(1)
Suggested Readings	48	(1)
The Prophets
A Prophet Defined	49	(1)
The Tradition of the Prophets	50	(2)
Stages of Prophetic Development	52	(13)
Conclusions about the Prophetic Tradition	65	(2)
Study Questions	66	(1)
Suggested Readings	66	(1)
From National to World Religion
The Shaping of Surviving Judaism	67	(3)
The Exilic Prophets	70	(8)
The Chronicler	78	(4)
Study Questions	80	(1)
Suggested Readings	81	(1)
The Late Hebrew Bible Period
A Rationale for Our Study	82	(3)
The Wisdom Tradition	85	(2)
The Literature of Wisdom	87	(13)
Study Questions	98	(1)
Suggested Readings	99	(1)
Interlude: The Apocrypha
Definition and History	100	(6)
Study Questions	105	(1)
Suggested Readings	105	(1)
Christianity: A Sect Within Judaism
Postexilic Judaism	106	(3)
Diversity Within Judaism	109	(2)
The Birth of Christianity	111	(7)
Study Questions	116	(1)
Suggested Readings	116	(2)
The Letters of Paul
The Importance of Paul	118	(4)
Seven Letters of Paul	122	(9)
Later Pauline or DeuteroPauline?	131	(4)
1 and 2 Timothy, Titus: The Pastoral Epistles	135	(3)
Paul and Women	138	(2)
Study Questions	139	(1)
Suggested Readings	139	(1)
The Synoptic Gospels: Stories About Jesus
The Gospels Defined	140	(1)
The Occasion for the Gospels	141	(1)
The Interrelationship of the Gospels	142	(3)
Mark	145	(3)
Matthew	148	(4)
Luke	152	(5)
The Gospel Within the Gospels	157	(2)
Acts	159	(3)
Study Questions	160	(1)
Suggested Readings	161	(1)
Other Letters and a Sermon
The Catholic Epistles	162	(1)
James	162	(2)
1 Peter	164	(1)
2 Peter	165	(1)
Jude	166	(1)
A Sermon: Hebrews	166	(3)
Study Questions	168	(1)
Suggested Readings	168	(1)
In the Name of John
Common Elements	169	(1)
Traditions About John	169	(1)
The Gospel of John	170	(7)
The Letters of John	177	(1)
Revelation	178	(7)
Study Questions	183	(1)
Suggested Readings	183	(2)
Postlude
The Forming of the Jewish and Christian Canons	185	(2)
The Standards of Canonicity	187	(1)
Pseudepigrapha and New Testament Apocrypha	188	(2)
The Transmission of the Bible Through the Centuries	190	(3)
Conclusion	193	(2)
Study Questions	193	(1)
Suggested Readings	193	(2)
Glossary	195	(18)
Index	213