An Introduction to the Bible, 8th edition
Published by Pearson (June 24, 2011) © 2012
- Christian E. Hauer
- William A. Young Westminster College
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A Literary, Historical, and Contemporary Perspective of the Bible
Introduction to the Bible approaches the Bible by considering it from three different viewpoints: literary, historical, and contemporary. This unique approach underscores the dynamics of each view and the methods scholars have developed to study them.
Additionally, the authors are especially careful to distinguish the historical and literary 'viewpoints' for students new to the discipline; encouraging them to consider and discuss the contemporary significance of the Bible.
Teaching and Learning Experience
Improve Critical Thinking - Introduction to the Bible provides an analysis of the role of the Bible in contemporary American culture; stimulates students' awareness of Biblical thought through suggested readings related to contemporary ethical issues; shows the relevance of religious thought; and helps students examine their assumptions, discern hidden values, evaluate evidence, assess their conclusions, and more!
Engage Students - Introduction to the Bible encourages thoughtful discussion and reflection of contents — including biblical controversies — through chapter summaries, case studies, maps and charts.
Support Instructors - Teaching your course just got easier! You can create a Customized Text or use our Instructor’s Manual, or PowerPoint Presentation Slides. Plus, Introduction to the Bible provides an annotated list of movies and documentary films related to the Bible, and information on how to obtain them for classroom use.
A LITERARY, HISTORICAL, AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE OF THE BIBLE
- The “three worlds” (literary, historical, and contemporary) approach to studying the Bible provide a helpful framework for organizing the course, and draws on the most recent trends in biblical scholarship. It gives introductory students a clear, easy-to-grasp framework for studying the Bible.
IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING
Introduction to the Bible:
- Provides an analysis of the role of the Bible in contemporary American culture—e.g., it discusses recent controversies over interpretation of the Bible by modern artists (p. 337-339), and the growing influence of the Bible in American popular culture, including television (p. 340-342).
- Stimulates students' awareness of the ways in which the Bible is influencing their lives.
- Includes suggested readings from the Bible and discussion questions related to contemporary ethical issues, such as homosexuality (p. 303-304).
- Shows the relevance of religious thought for vexing moral issues.
ENGAGE STUDENTS
Introduction to the Bible:
- Encourages thoughtful reflection and discussion on some of the most important and provocative questions in relation to the Bible and contemporary concerns though questions for discussion and reflection and chapter summaries (ex. p. 69).
- Provides realistic and engaging reflection and discussion on how the Bible is understood in the twenty-first century via through-provoking case studies. (ex. p. 94)
- Helps students visualize the lands and sites to which the Bible refers through maps and charts that show major periods, events, leaders, types of literature, etc (ex. p. 181-182).
- Engages students with biblical controversies of which they may not be aware.
SUPPORT INSTRUCTORS
- Introduction to the Bible provides an annotated list of movies and documentary films related to the Bible, and information on how to obtain them for classroom use (p. 356-361).
- Instructor’s Manual with Tests (020505174X): For each chapter in the text, this resource provides a detailed outline, list of objectives, discussion questions, and suggested readings. In addition, test questions in multiple-choice, true/ false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer formats are available for each chapter; the answers are page-referenced to the text. For easy access, this manual is available at www.pearsonhighered.com/irc.
- PowerPoint Presentation Slides for Introduction to the Bible, 8/e (0205051758): These PowerPoint slides help you convey anthropology principles in a clear and engaging way. For easy access, they are available at www.pearsonhighered.com/irc.
Found in this section:
1. Overview of Changes2. Chapter-by-Chapter Changes
1. Overview of changes
A LITERARY, HISTORICAL, AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE OF THE BIBLE
Introduction to the Bible includes new:- Discussions of recent developments in biblical scholarship — e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls (p. 210), archaeology and the Bible, Noah's flood, and the historical Jesus (p. 218)— ensure that readers are kept abreast of current research and scholarship.
- Clarifying comments and insights throughout are based on contemporary research — e.g., the recent work of the controversial “Jesus Seminar” on the life and sayings of Jesus Ch. 11 (p. 217); a discussion of the role of the Bible in the modern environmental crisis (p. 335), and the concern about the future of Native American and other indigenous cultures Ch. 16 (p. 337).
- Coverage of the importance of interpretation of the Bible in the contemporary world is highlighted with discussion of the ongoing controversy surrounding same-sex marriage and the dispute as to whether Islam and the Qur’an (Koran) are compatible with religions based on the Bible (p. 331-332).
- Revised and updated content on the descriptions of the Pharisees and the relationship between the Essenes and the community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls (p. 210); as well as within its Bibliography.
- Important Developments in archaeological research related to the Bible are discussed, such as whether archaeology helps answer the question, “Did God have a wife?” and the continuing controversy over the “James Ossuary,” an ancient burial box alleged to contain the bones of a brother of Jesus (p. 219-221).
- Several topics related to the study of Jesus and the New Testament gospels (p. 215-238) are given new attention, among them the importance of understanding Jesus of Nazareth as a first-century Jew, the meanings of the titles associated with Jesus, and the stereotypes of Judaism found in recent biblical scholarship.
IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING
- New! Examples enhance discussion of the impact of the Bible in contemporary American culture, including; the dispute regarding the teaching of Intelligent Design alongside the theory of Evolution, and various perspectives on the Bible and climate change.
ENGAGE STUDENTS
- New! Illustrations and maps throughout the 8th edition provide engaging pedagogical aids for instructors and students.
- New! Efforts to encourage the study of the Bible and its influence on Western culture in public schools, with interpretations of the Bible in the blockbuster movie Avatar (2009) and the hit animated series “The Simpsons.”
SUPPORT INSTRUCTORS
- Updated! The list of movie and documentary films related to the Bible, as well as a list of Internet gateway sites for serious study of the Bible.
- New! Create a Custom Text: For enrollments of at least 25, create your own textbook by combining chapters from best-selling Pearson textbooks and/or reading selections in the sequence you want. To begin building your custom text, visit www.pearsoncustomlibrary.com. You may also work with a dedicated Pearson Custom editor to create your ideal text–publishing your own original content or mixing and matching Pearson content. Contact your Pearson Publisher’s Representative to get started
2. Chapter-by-Chapter Changes
Chapters 1 & 2
Chapter 1: The Three Worlds of the Bible: An Orientation
- New! Introduction citing of the Bible on American culture in recent years.
Chapter 2: Preparing for the Journey: An Orientation to the Methods of Biblical Study
- Restructured! The discussion of methods appropriate to studying the literary, historical, worlds of the Bible.
- Reviewed! The latest developments in the controversy surrounding the “James Ossurary”.
- Discussed! The theories of the origins of the alphabets of the languages in which the Bible was originally written and whether “God had a wife”.
Chapter 10: Jewish Life and Literature (200 B.C.E - 100 C.E.)
- Clarified! The interpretation of the relationship between the Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
- Updated! The description of the Pharisees.
Chapter 11: Jesus of Nazereth
- Enhanced! The discussion of the importance of understanding Jesus of Nazareth as a first-century Jew.
- Developed! The discussion of the ideological context of Jesus and the titles applied to Jesus in the gospels
- New! A brief summary of the life of Jesus based on our sifting of the available historical evidence.
Chapter 12: The Four Gospels: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John
- Clarified! The dominant hypothesis developed to resolve the “synoptic problem”
Chapter 16: Journey On!
- More Examples! Of the impact of the Bible on Western law and government by adding discussions of the ongoing dispute regarding the teaching of “Intelligent Design” alongside the theory of Evolution in public classrooms.
- Added! A discussion of the Biblical Literacy Project, a group that is seeking to foster and encourage the study of the Bible and its influence on Western culture in public schools.
- Analyzed! The interpretations of the Bible in the blockbuster move Avatar (2009) and the hit animated series “The Simpsons”, in order to demonstrate the influence of the Bible in twenty-first century popular culture.
Brief Contents
PART ONE: Introduction
- Chapter 1 The Three Worlds of the Bible: An Orientation
- Chapter 2 Preparing for the Journey: An Orientation to the Methods of Biblical Study
PART TWO: The Torah
- Chapter 3 Origins: The Book of Genesis
- Chapter 4 Covenant: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
PART THREE: Prophets
- Chapter 5 The Nation Israel: Joshua, Judges, First and Second Samuel, First and Second Kings (The Former Prophets)
- Chapter 6 Covenant Advocates: The Prophets of Ancient Israel (The Latter Prophets)
PART FOUR: The Writings
- Chapter 7 Israel’s Sacred Songs: Psalms, Song of Songs, and Lamentations (The Writings I)
- Chapter 8 The Way of Wisdom: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes (The Writings II)
- Chapter 9 The Rest of the Writings: Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel
PART FIVE: After the Tanak
- Chapter 10 Jewish Life and Literature (200 B.C.E - 100 C.E.)
PART SIX: The Gospels
- Chapter 11 Jesus of Nazereth
- Chapter 12 The Four Gospels: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John 261
PART SEVEN: The Acts of the Apostles
- Chapter 13 The Birth of Christianity: The Acts of the Apostles
PART EIGHT: Letters
- Chapter 14 Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles—The Letters of Paul
- Chapter 15 The Growing Church: The Pastoral and General Epistles, Hebrews, and the Revelation to John
PART NINE: Conclusion
- Chapter 16 Journey On!
In This Section:
I. Author Bio
II. Author Letter
I. Author Bio
William A. Young
is Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where he taught for thirty-five years and also served as college chaplain. He is a graduate of the University of Tulsa (B.A. in Political Science and History), McCormick Theological Seminar (M.Div.) and the University of Iowa (Ph. D. in Hebrew Bible). His courses have included introductory offerings on the Bible and the world's religions and seminars on topics such as Spiritual Ecology; Perceptions of Death; Native American Spirituality; New Religious Movements; Religion and Politics; and Psalms, Wisdom Literature, and the Deuterocanon. He has also lectured and offered a variety of workshops in other academic and non-academic settings. Prof. Young is the author of a number of books in addition to An Introduction to the Bible: A Journey into Three Worlds. They include The World's Religions: Worldviews and Contemporary Issues (also published by Pearson); Quest for Harmony: Native American Spiritual Traditions; A Comprehensive History of the London Church and Parish of St. Mary, the Virgin, Aldermanbury (co-authored with Christian E. Hauer); and the forthcoming "Head Held High": The Life, Baseball Career, and Legacy of John Tortes "Chief" Meyers. Prof. Young welcomes comments or questions from readers. He can be reached at bill.young@westminster-mo.edu.II. Author Letter
Dear Colleague,
We are gratified that our "three worlds" approach to introducing the academic study of the Bible has been so warmly received over the years by instructors and students alike. In the 8th edition of An Introduction to the Bible: A Journey into Three Worlds we maintain the basic structure of the book, but update the discussion in light of the latest developments in scholarship and issues that illustrate the ongoing relevance of the Bible in modern life.
In introducing the Bible from three complementary perspectives, we supplement traditional methods of studying the Bible by emphasizing recent trends in biblical scholarship. After introducing the three worlds (literary, historical, contemporary) and methods of studying them, we engage readers in a discussion of the most important issues in literary and historical analysis of all the books of the Tanak (Hebrew Bible, Old Testament) and the New Testament.
We also include discussion of the history and Jewish literature of the period after the Tanak as well as the early Christian extracanonical writings known as the New Testament Apocrypha. Case studies and questions for discussion and reflection at the end of each chapter provide a lively setting for readers to enter the contemporary world of the Bible.
In response to helpful suggestions from colleagues and students, we have made a number of changes in the 8th edition. We have reorganized and streamlined our introductory chapters to make them more accessible; added a number of new illustrations and maps throughout the book; updated recent developments in archaeology that impact the Bible, such as the ongoing controversy surrounding the James Ossuary; enhanced the discussion of the Pharisees and Essenes; emphasized the importance of placing Jesus of Nazareth in a first-century Jewish context; described some of the ongoing prejudices that hamper research on the historical Jesus; and added a brief overview of the life of Jesus based on our own sifting of the evidence.
In the 8th edition we have also kept readers abreast of the many ways in which interpretation of the Bible is evident in some of the most important issues we face today. In particular, we describe the role of Bible interpretations in the current debates over same-sex marriages, how to respond to climate change, and the compatibility of the Qur’an (Koran) and the Bible. We further illustrate the role of the Bible in popular culture through discussing the hit movie Avatar and the popular animated television series The Simpsons.
This new edition of An Introduction to the Bible: A Journey into Three Worlds marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of the first edition. The responses of colleagues like you around the world, students in our own classes, and students at other schools continue to inspire and challenge us. We invite your questions and comments as you draw on the 8th edition in your teaching.
Best wishes.
Chris Hauer, Jr. & Bill Young
Westminster College & Westminster College
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