Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey
For the more current 3rd edition of this book, see here.
Overview
The bestselling Encountering the Old Testament has become the leading Old Testament survey text. In addition to first-rate scholarship, this textbook boasts focus boxes containing supplemental information, chapter summaries, study questions, an instructor’s manual, and many other helpful features.
With Logos Bible Software, it’s easier than ever to use this valuable resource. The collection integrates seamlessly with your digital library, so you can access Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey from your desktop, tablet, or smartphone. All Scripture references link directly to the text of the Bible, making your study both scripturally sound and rewarding.
Save more when you purchase this book as part of the Baker Encountering the Bible Series(8 vols.)!
Images aren’t included in this resource.
- Focus boxes addressing ethical/theological concerns
- Highlight essays isolating key issues
- Learning objectives and a chapter outline
- End-of-chapter study questions, review questions, and chapter summaries
Top Highlights
“Whereas Exodus ended by emphasizing where to worship God (i.e., the tabernacle), Leviticus deals with how to worship him.” (Page 119)
“First, Saul usurped the priestly role when it served his purposes (13:8–14).” (Page 200)
“One common prophetic theme is covenant obligations.” (Page 347)
“It is vitally important for God’s leaders to live lives of faithful obedience so others can learn from their example. Of course, our ultimate trust should always rest in the Lord, not in earthly leaders.” (Page 201)
“Moses gave the most important expression of the Israelite concept of monotheism: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one’ (6:4). This famous verse is known as the Shema, which is the first Hebrew word of the sentence (šěmaʿ, ‘hear’). The unique way in which Moses states this great truth is more than a simple philosophical expression of the idea that the Israelite God, Yahweh, is the only God in existence. It does mean that. But it also emphasizes the consistency of God.3 He never changes; there is no duplicity in his character. He acts the same today as he did yesterday.” (Page 146)
Arnold and Beyer have produced an exciting new survey of the Old Testament with the college student specifically in mind. They have masterfully designed their work with text and graphics in a way that will not only grip the student’s attention but will guide students through the material with their expert touch. I enthusiastically recommend this volume to you.
—Tremper Longman III, professor of Old Testament, Westmont College
For college students who are encountering the Old Testament for the first time, this attractively produced textbook offers a clear and helpful orientation to the world and literature of the Old Testament . . . the user-friendly charts, sidebars, and review aids . . . combine to invite everyone who opens this book to begin reading it immediately—a refreshing improvement over the standard textbook fare!
—Richard Schultz, Blanchard Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College
- Title: Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey, 2nd ed.
- Authors: Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer
- Edition: 2nd
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Publication Date: 2008
- Pages: 528
Bill T. Arnold (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is a professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including Encountering the Book of Genesis, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books, A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax, and a commentary on 1 and 2 Samuel.
Bryan E. Beyer (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is a professor of Old Testament at Columbia International University Seminary and School of Missions. He is the author of Encountering the Book of Isaiah and coeditor (with Bill Arnold) of Readings from the Ancient Near East.
Reviews
3 ratings
Scott Youngman
7/17/2016
Note that this is the 2nd edition (2008); a 3rd edition was published in 2015.
Bill Shewmaker
1/23/2015
Michael Roe
9/2/2014
Phillip J. Long
9/5/2013
Baker Academic released a third edition of their New Testament Survey textbook in May of 2013, the Old Testament textbook is in a second edition (2008). I have used both books in Bible Survey courses and found them to be excellent textbooks for an undergrad, freshman level course. Both books come with a CD-ROM containing a number of student helps. (The introduction to the books describes this CD as “fun and informative to use,” my students did not find it helpful at all.) Baker has continued to improve the books by adding online resources for both professor and student for Encountering the New Testament. Both books are written by solid evangelicals and demonstrate a commitment to the inspiration and authority of the Bible. In EOT, Arnold and Beyer state that “plenary verbal inspiration seems to deal best with all the biblical evidence” (EOT p. 25). Both books begin with a chapter orienting the student to the study of the Bible, placing an emphasis on the importance of the Bible for personal salvation and understanding what truth God has revealed. For example, “The Bible’s words are God’s words” (ENT, p. 22) But this does not mean that these books ignore contemporary methods for reading the Bible. In EOT Arnold and Beyer discuss the Documentary Hypothesis as well as multiple authorship theories for books such as Isaiah. While they do not accept these theories, they are conversant with and respectful of these views. Likewise, in ENT Elwell and Yarbrough have a very well-written chapter on Historical Jesus issues. Their conclusions are solidly conservative evangelical, but the student will have enough understanding of the issues at stake to move on to more advanced studies in the gospels. Both books are richly illustrated and have many side-bars and charts to help the student manage the information presented in the chapters. Some of the pictures in EOT are not very high resolution (or are old, p. 185, Tel Dan). The presentation of maps in both books is minimalistic, which in most cases works very well. They use a few colors to highlight the theme of the map, and only mark locations that are important for that map. These books are well-designed for use in a classroom. My impression is that they will be welcome in a conservative undergraduate environment, although there is enough depth in each book that they could be used in Introduction courses at the seminary level. I think that both books would be excellent for an interested layperson who wants to develop their knowledge of the Old and New Testaments. Encountering the Old Testament is still in the second edition and is not as advanced as ENT in the Logos version. There are no photos or maps in the electronic version. All of the text features are present, but none of the bells and whistles. In fact, there is no ePub version available for EOT at this time. I assume that if Baker does a third edition of Old Testament book that they will develop classroom resources and will include the features found in ENT. I have posted a more detailed review on my blog:
