Approaches to Biblical Studies Collection (6 vols.)

The volumes in the T & T Clark Approaches to Biblical Studies have been primarily developed for those interested in biblical studies in theological or ministerial education, and are designed to introduce the reader to the various approaches to the study of the bible. The series is ecumenical, and all the writers are professionally engaged in the teaching of biblical studies.

These six volumes, written by prominent scholars such as Steve Moyise (editor of the series), Clive Marsh and Paula Gooder, will not only be of interest to academics and pastors. The lay person will also find these introductory guides interesting, useful and challenging. Each book is written so that the beginning student and average reader can understand the content without getting lost or overwhelmed by extensive scholarly terminology. Many of the volumes include maps, charts and discussion questions; and most of the chapters end with a comprehensive summary or conclusion and a small list of books for further reading.

This collection concentrates on many of the current perspectives surrounding important issues that face today’s Christian. The Introduction to Biblical Studies covers such topics as the sacraments, form criticisms of the psalms and gospels, retrieving women’s voices in the Bible, and postmodernism resistance. In its final chapter the author insists that because the Scriptures are the sacred text of the Christian church, biblical interpretation should be an activity performed more by the church than by the academy. An Introduction to Revelation: A Pathway to Interpretation explores history-based interpretations, predictive prophecy, images and themes, and the relevancy of Revelation to today. Jesus and the Gospels explores the various perceptions each gospel writer has of Jesus and concentrates on their comparisons and differences. The chapter on the twelve factors of Christology is especially poignant and insightful. Joshua to Kings: History, Story, Theology concentrates on the historical, literary, sociological, and theological aspects of this important period in Israel’s history, from conquest of the land to the development of a nation, from women in Judges to the Davidic empire, from the Torah as social order to the character of God. The Old Testament in the New establishes a foundation for the Christian to be confident that the NT writers believed that Jesus fulfilled OT prophecy. Beginnings are important, argues the author of The Pentateuch: A Story of Beginnings and throughout the book she shows how critical the first five books of the Bible are for us today, tackling such controversial subjects as the two creation accounts, the sons of God and the daughters of humans, the Sarah/Hagar affair, exodus and liberation theology, and ethics and law codes.