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Author : Craig A. Evans
Number of Pages : 539
Publisher : Hendrickson Publishers
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Product Description One of the daunting challenges facing the New Testament interpreter is achieving familiarity with the immense corpus of Greco-Roman, Jewish, and Pagan primary source materials. From the Paraphrase of Shem to Pesiqta Rabbati, scholars and students alike must have a fundamental understanding of these documents’ content, provenance, and place in NT interpretation. But achieving even an elementary facility with this literature often requires years of experience or a photographic memory. Evans’s dexterous survey—a thoroughly revised and significantly expanded edition of his Noncanonical Writings and New Testament Interpretation—amasses the requisite details of date, language, text, translation, and general bibliography. Evans also evaluates the materials’ relevance for interpreting the NT. The vast range of literature examined includes the Old Testament apocrypha, the Old Testament pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, assorted ancient translations of the Old Testament and the Targum paraphrases, Philo and Josephus, Rabbinic texts, the New Testament pseudepigrapha, the early church fathers, various gnostic writings, and more. Six appendixes, including a list of quotations, allusions, and parallels to the NT, and a comparison of Jesus’ parables with those of the rabbis will further save the interpreter precious time. Praise for the first edition: "Evans’s introduction is more than a map to terra incognita, it is a helpful companion for all who study Judaism and Christianity before the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire." —James H. Charlesworth, George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, Princeton Theological Seminary Customer reviews an excellent resource  by .. David Stump ()
For a one stop resource that will introduce you to a very wide swath of literature relevant to the new testament, this is a gem!
It gives summaries of scores of ancient texts stemming from the literary/cultural background of, and contemporaneous with the new testament.
This resource will give someone the introductory data for grasping the wider literary world before and during the new testament cultural milieu.
Deals with the:
Old Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, The Dead Sea Scrolls, Versions of the Old Testament, Philo and Josephus, The Targums, Rabbinic Literature, New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, Early Church Fathers, Gnostic Writings, and briefly touches on Greco-Roman authors/writings as well.
A fine study tool!!
A Helpful Introduction to Primary Sources  by .. Brandon Wason (Atlanta, Georgia)
Craig Evans describes the book's purpose in the preface, "The purpose of this book is to arrange these diverse literatures [that have been discovered and published in this last generation] into a comprehensible and manageable format" (xi). He divides _Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies_ into eleven types of writings, which form the first eleven chapters: (1) The Old Testament Apocrypha, (2) The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, (3) The Dead Sea Scrolls, (4) Versions of the Old Testament, (5) Philo and Josephus, (6) The Targums, (7) Rabbinic Literature, (8) The New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, (9) Early Church Fathers, (10) Gnostic Writings, and (11) Other Writings.
Where are the Greco-Roman writings? They have a small section in the eleventh chapter titled, "Other Writings." Evans admittedly only writes "the briefest thumbnail sketches of these writers" (287). For example, Evans's discussion of Pausanias is quite short: "Pausanias (second century c.e.) was the author of Description of Greece, a guide with special interest in monuments" (294).
More welcome, however, is the short section titled, "Greco-Roman Authors on Jesus and Early Christianity" (298-300), yet this also is too brief, but at least this section includes bibliographies. The question must be raised: Why is Greco-Roman material lacking in this work? It is true that scholars have over emphasized the Greco-Roman background during the early and mid twentieth century, and that shifts towards a greater emphasis on the Semitic background has been made since the publications of works by people like E. P. Sanders. Also, Evans's own works have tended to show more of a preference to Jewish and Semitic sources than Greco-Roman ones. Still I find the downplay of Greco-Roman sources to be a flaw in _Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies_--especially in light of recent research, namely that of the socio-political background studies of the New Testament.
The twelfth and final chapter of the work gives examples of New Testament Exegesis. Here Evans looks at over half a dozen of examples where familiarity with the ancient sources has been strategic to their interpretation.
While the first appendix simply charts the inclusion of the apocryphal books in the various canons (i.e., Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and Coptic), the following five appendices are actually quite helpful. I have already put a sticky note at the beginning of the second appendix: "Quotations, Allusions, and Parallels to the New Testament." This is superior to the indices found on pages 887-901 of the USB Greek New Testament (1994), as it contains a number of biblical and extra-biblical material ordered by the New Testament verse reference. The example from 2 Cor 4.6 reads: "Gen 1:3; Isa 9:2; Corp. herm. 7:2-3; Cicero, Tusc. 1.26; Seneca, Ep. 44.2" (387). The third appendix is also helpful: "Parallels between New Testament Gospels and Pseudepigraphal Gospels." The fourth appendix discusses the use of parables: "Jesus' Parables and the Parables of the Rabbis." The fifth appendix explores the idea of competing miracle workers around the time of Jesus: "Jesus and Jewish Miracle Stories." The last appendix covers the topic of "Messianic Claimants of the First and Second Centuries."
A word should also be said about the indices of _Ancient Texts for New Testament Study_. This text is a reference tool; it is unfortunate that so many reference books have very poor indices that make them difficult to navigate. Evans's work, however, does not fall into this category. It is a superb example of indices done right. There are almost a hundred pages for the three indices found in this work. These indices are as follows: Index of Modern Authors, Index of Ancient Writings and Writers, and Index of Ancient Sources. The index of Ancient Writings and Writers is organized to help the reader find references easier (e.g., the Book of Jasher is listed in the Bs under Book of Jasher as well as in the Js under Jasher, Book of).
All in all, Evans's Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies is a helpful tool for the beginning student looking to learn more about certain ancient sources, as well as for the experienced scholar looking to locate key bibliographical references. In addition to Evans's volume, there is also an Old Testament counterpart which should be promising as well: Kenton L. Sparks, _Ancient Texts for the Study of the Hebrew Bible_ (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 2005).
Related Search : studies guide , background literature , new testament  |
Author : Sidney Greidanus
Number of Pages : 390
Publisher : Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
List Price : $26.00
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Product Description A fusion of biblical hermeneutics and homiletics, this thorough and well-researched book offers a holistic contemporary approach to the intepretation and preaching of biblical texts. Customer reviews The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text by .. Arthur P. Horne ()
A well researched book with lots of insight. Not for the student without a college background.
a much needed work by .. David Stump ()
the bible is God's word, yes, but it did not fall out of the sky all at once and it is not a personal love letter from God in order to help us be more psychologically healthy. This book is a very well thought out and scripture honoring study in several issues relating to not only understanding what the bible is and what it's about, but also how to use it for teaching and preaching purposes. To truly honor the bible's message, the bible should be handled with intelligence and careful thought. This book will go a good distance towards that goal. It is written with serious readers in mind, it is not a feel good devotional type work. Also be sure to check out, Biblical Interpretation by Blomberg, Klein and Hubbard as well as How to Read The Bible For All It's Worth by Fee and Stewart and finally, Preaching The Whole Bible as Christian Scripture by Graeme Goldsworthy. These are some of the most helpful and sane works on the subject that I have come across yet.
Tough going but worth it by .. Mark Elefritz ()
A significant, scholarly review of approaches to interpreting the Bible -- complete with a suggested holistic approach. While arduous reading (including so many quotes of primary sources that it was annoying to me!), this was an eminently worthwhile read for me as a teacher & preacher. I'd like to give it 5 stars, but...shoot, it was just too tough going. But if you want to understand the history of Bible interpretation -- learning from your forebears, and strengthening your own convictions -- buck up and read it.
Complete and then some by .. J. Miller (LA, CA USA)
This is one of the most exhaustive looks at translating the biblical text into the preached word. It steps a bit out of homiletics and into hermeneutics. The scope is almost too much for one book.
Greidanus does a cursory introduction to expository preaching before launching into a full-blown critique of the historical-critical methods of biblical analysis. While his calm prose and scholarly foundations calmed my initial expectation that this would be a work of defensive fundamentalism, I was still shocked to see such a dubious review of the techniques that biblical scholars have been developing for a couple of centuries. I think Greidanus might have trouble getting a hearing in some circles of biblical scholarship today.
Chapters 3-5 are a unit, a look at the means of literary, historical, and theological interpretation of a text. I like the fact that in his subsequent study of each of the genres of biblical literature, Greidanus systematically returns to each of these three methods (e.g. how each of these three apply to prophetic literature, gospels, etc.).
Chapters 6-8 are also a unit, though not so tightly bound. Six deals with the selection of a text for preaching, a subject to which Greidanus returns in each of his studies of the genres of biblical literature. Seven looks more specifically at homiletics and the didactic and narrative forms of the sermon. Here, I feel a bit as though the text has wandered from its original purpose, or rather that the book needs to either focus on issues of biblical analysis or of sermon preparation. As I said, he takes on a lot here. Eight talks about the appropriate application of ancient texts to the modern world, the translation of the meaning and purpose of the original text and readers to the congregation.
Chapters 9-12 are really the substance of the book. The too-short critique of historical-critical methods with which it began almost detracts from what is really a rewarding conclusion. Here the book walks through Hebrew narratives, prophetic literature, gospels, and epistles and applies all of what came before. For each, it tells us how to apply literary, historical, and theological interpretation. For each, it tells us how to apply the text to modern preaching.
In the end, the text is so thoroughly analytical that it is almost impractical. It takes what is probably an entire course that Greidanus teaches (the table of contents even looks like a course syllabus) and puts it in a single work. It will take some time to digest this text.
Valuable Guide to Preaching on Biblical Genres by .. Camden M. Bucey (Philadelphia, PA USA)
Greidanus provides a useful tool for the modern preacher. In this book Greidanus gives the preacher what is essentially a handbook on how to handle the various biblical genres. I feel the book is more suited to be used as a reference rather than a book you would read through and let sit. Although at times, the book felt repetitive and seemed to be a collection of parts rather than a fluid text, the book remains both insightful and useful to the modern preacher. There were numerous times where Greinadus' insights opened up biblical passages I had previously scanned over.
Overall this work will prove to be useful to biblical preachers everywhere and even the established student of the Bible should take something new away from it.
Related Search : ancient text , modern preacher , interpreting preaching
Author : John S. Kerr
Number of Pages : 229
Publisher : American Bible Society
List Price : $7.99
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Related Search : ancient texts , story english , alive today  |
Edition : 3
Number of Pages : 735
Publisher : Princeton University Press
List Price : $130.00
Amazon Price : $103.56
Used Price : $87.22 |
Product Description This anthology brought together the most important historical, legal, mythological, liturgical, and secular texts of the ancient Near East, with the purpose of providing a rich contextual base for understanding the people, cultures, and literature of the Old Testament. A scholar of religious thought and biblical archaeology, James Pritchard recruited the foremost linguists, historians, and archaeologists to select and translate the texts. The goal, in his words, was "a better understanding of the likenesses and differences which existed between Israel and the surrounding cultures." Before the publication of these volumes, students of the Old Testament found themselves having to search out scattered books and journals in various languages. This anthology brought these invaluable documents together, in one place and in one language, thereby expanding the meaning and significance of the Bible for generations of students and readers. As one reviewer put it, "This great volume is one of the most notable to have appeared in the field of Old Testament scholarship this century." Princeton published a follow-up companion volume, The Ancient Near East in Pictures Relating to the Old Testament (1954), and later a one-volume abridgment of the two, The Ancient Near East: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures (1958). The continued popularity of this work in its various forms demonstrates that anthologies have a very important role to play in education--and in the mission of a university press. Customer reviews Collection of ancient source documents by .. Robert J. Fitzpatrick (Lost)
If you like studying the Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture), this book will provide translations of original source documents discovered by modern archeology that help us understand the late Bronze and early Iron Ages in Mesopotamia, Egypt and Palestine. Worth a look at the library if only for all the references to wandering 'apiru or habiru as possible predecessors to the Hebrews. For a shorter and much less expensive alternative that presents the most relevant of these original source documents as direct context for Scripture, try Nahum Sarna's Understanding Genesis. For those who want the real thing and the whole enchildada, this is the one.
One of the best sets of primary sources by .. Yonatan Zunger (Mountain View, CA USA)
This is a book that needs to be on the shelf of anyone seriously studying the ancient Near East, with or without an interest in Biblical archaeology. It collects an enormous variety of ancient texts and inscriptions, trying to give the current "gold-standard" translations (with extensive footnoting discussing ambiguities, variants, and so on, and tying it in closely to all of the original literature on which the book is based). Some of the texts are things you can find in many sources, like the Epic of Gilgamesh or some of the Egyptian hymns; but this book collects an extraordinary range of things that you would normally need a giant research library to find, such as early Palestinian ostraka, a wide selection of Egyptian and Akkadian oracles and prophecies, and even a Sumerian lullaby. (!!)
a classic by .. TammyJo Eckhart (Bloomington, Indiana United States)
Pritchard's contributions to Near Eastern studies can not be praised enough. Here we have many surviving text translated well and supplemented by commentary on social and historical background. Well worth the money and time for the serious scholar.
A Valuable Resource by .. C. Hoerth ()
Prichard's ANET is a standard reference for those examining the cultural setting of the Bible. It contains translations of many important inscriptions which shed light on otherwise mysterious Bible customs. Generally regarded as a scholarly work, it's worth checking out for the layperson as well. Some of the jargon may be a little tricky, but there's no substitute for original source material, which makes up the majority of the book. Besides, some of the stories are just a plain old (very old) good read. Included are such things as the Epic of Gilgamesh (containing our oldest Flood parallels), the Nuzi Texts (which help us understand the life of Jacob, among others), and various of the ancient law codes which have parallels to the biblical code. Tremendously useful for study!
Related Search : ancient eastern , old testament , texts relating  |
Number of Pages : 436
Publisher : Kessinger Publishing
List Price : $36.95
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Product Description Unabridged audiobook in MP3 format. Related Search : ancient egyptian , 1910 , pyramid texts  |
Edition : 1st University of Pennsylvania Press Ed
Number of Pages : 280
Publisher : University of Pennsylvania Press
List Price : $24.95
Amazon Price : $18.23
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Product Description Zeus and the other gods of shining Olympus were in reality divine only by popular consent. Over the course of time Olympian luster diminished in favor of religious experiences more immediate to the concerns of people living in an increasingly cosmopolitan ancient world. These experiences were provided by the mysteries, religions that flourished particularly during the Hellenistic period and were secretly practiced by groups of adherents who decided, through personal choice, to be initiated into the profound realities of one deity or another. Unlike the official state religions, in which people were expected to make an outward show of allegiance to the local gods, the mysteries emphasized an inwardness and privacy of worship within a closed band of initiates.
In this book, Marvin W. Meyer explores the sacrifices and prayers, the public celebrations and secret ceremonies, the theatrical performances and literary works, the gods and goddesses that were a part of the mystery religions of Greece in the seventh century B.C. to the Judaism and Christianity of the Roman world of the seventh century A.D. Customer reviews Good collection of "mystery religions" writings from antiquity. by .. David Stump ()
Ever hear of the ancient mystery religions from the ancient mediterranean world that supposedly influenced the new testament? This is just about the best book to actually read up on what the mystery religions consisted of. A good tool to check out for yourself if there are or are not any parallels between the mystery religions and new testament content.
Review of The Ancient Mysteries Sourcebook by .. S. Jean (Bisbee, AZ USA)
The book is informative and well presented. It was required reading for a Masters Class, and it augmented the other required reading, as well as the classroom information. The author writes commentary on the background of the mystery, and then the sacred text.
Full of Gems by .. Abarax ()
A very useful source book, I use it often. The division of the book into specific religions/cults makes it easy to use.
The only thing lacking are images/diagrams to supplement the texts.
The chapters on Isis, Osiris and Mithras are excellent.
Invaluable texts by .. Luc REYNAERT (Beernem, Belgium)
As Marvin M. Meyer explains in his excellent introduction, the Mysteries (from the Greek myein = to close) were associations of individuals: 'The Mysteries were secret religious groups composed of individuals who decided, through personal choice, to be initiated into the profound realities of one deity or another. They joined an association of people united in their quest for personal salvation.'
Unlike the Catholic Church or State religions, the Mysteries had no power base and no organized structure. They were an easy target for those who considered them as enemies or serious rivals in their power search. The Catholic Church attacked them fanatically in speech, picture and scripture. After becoming the official religion under Constantine the Great, the Roman Church convinced emperor Theodosius the Great to commit one of the most savage crimes against humanity: he ordered in A.D. 391 the abolition of all pagan mysteries and the destruction of their sanctuaries, giving at the same time a religious monopoly to the Pope.
This book contains excerpts of very well known works like 'Bakchai' by Euripides or 'The Golden Ass' by Apulejus, but also texts which are difficult to find.
The editor wrote a small introduction for each of the mysteries considered together with excellent bibliographies.
Not to be missed by all those interested in Ancient history.
excellent source by .. H. F. Gibbard (Dark City, USA)
Marvin W. Meyer's "The Ancient Mysteries: A sourcebook of Sacred Texts" is a splendid resource for original texts pertaining to the ancient Greco-Roman mystery cults. Meyer covers the full range of mystery cults, from the mysteries of Demeter and Persephone, through the mysteries of Dionysos, the Great Mother, Isis, Osiris, and Mithras, finishing with the mysteries within Judaism and Christianity. The texts span a wide spectrum of viewpoints and sources, from relatively objective accounts by period historians, to manuals from within the cults governing discipline and worship, to actual hymns and stories by initiates such as Apuleius's "The Golden Ass." My favorite selection was his excerpts from the Orphic Hymns, reproduced from the incomparable translation by Apostolos Athanassakis, which inspired me to obtain and read the entire book.
Meyer provides a brief introduction to each form of the mysteries that he discusses, along with brief introductions to the excerpts he provides. This book is an excellent introduction to what the mysteries were, and how they were seen and experienced by initiates, dramatists and historians during the period when they flourished.
Related Search : sourcebook sacred , texts , ancient mysteries  |
Author : Muata Ashby
Number of Pages : 164
Release Date : 2006-08-01
Publisher : Sema Institute
List Price : $18.95
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Product Description The Ancient Egyptian Wisdom Texts are a genre of writings from the ancient culture that have survived to the present and provide a vibrant record of the practice of spiritual evolution otherwise known as religion or yoga philosophy in Ancient Egypt. The principle focus of the Wisdom Texts is the cultivation of understanding, peace, harmony, selfless service, self-control, Inner fulfillment and spiritual realization. When these factors are cultivated in human life, the virtuous qualities in a human being begin to manifest and sinfulness, ignorance and negativity diminish until a person is able to enter into higher consciousness, the coveted goal of all civilizations. It is this virtuous mode of life which opens the door to self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment. Therefore, the Wisdom Texts are important scriptures on the subject of human nature, spiritual psychology and mystical philosophy. The teachings presented in the Wisdom Texts form the foundation of religion as well as the guidelines for conducting the affairs of every area of social interaction including commerce, education, the army, marriage, and especially the legal system. These texts were sources for the famous 42 Precepts of Maat of the Pert M Heru (Book of the Dead), essential regulations of good conduct to develop virtue and purity in order to attain higher consciousness and immortality after death. Related Search : ancient egyptian , wisdom texts  |
Author : Herbert E. Ryle
Number of Pages : 270
Publisher : Wipf & Stock Publishers
List Price : $27.00
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Related Search : commonly called , ancient texts , translations  |
Author : A. E. Cowley
Number of Pages : 372
Publisher : Wipf & Stock Publishers
List Price : $35.00
Amazon Price : $28.19
Used Price : $35.00 |
Related Search : aramaic papyri , translations , b c  |
Author : Robert Francis Harper
Number of Pages : 326
Publisher : Wipf & Stock Publishers
List Price : $28.00
Amazon Price : $25.13
Used Price : $25.47 |
Product Description Harper, Robert Francis. The Code of Hammurabi King of Babylon. About 2250 B.C. Autographed Text Transliteration... Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1904. xxviii, 194, ciii pp. Plates, folding map of the region. Reprinted 2000 by the Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. LCCN 99-23953. ISBN 1-58477-003-1. Cloth $75. Complete English translation of the code with a running parallel transliteration of the original ideograms. All corrections and erasures are included. This edition also includes facsimiles of all of the original cuniaform tablets, a thorough glossary and index of subjects, lists of proper names and tables of weights and currencies. Customer reviews The Ancient Laws of Babylon by .. Teri Ward (Deland, Florida)
This book-- the first edition of which was printed in 1904-- provides the student of Mesopotamian antiquity with an astounding examination of the famous Code of Hammurabi, a king of Babylon who provided his subjects with what was probably the most comprehensive set of laws in existence at the time in which they were written. It is interesting to note that the laws themselves are said by Hammurabi to have been rendered unto him directly by Marduk, an ancient Sumerian sun-god. The book is amazing in many ways, not the least of which being the fact that the actual codes themselves were found, engraved on a large block of black diorite, in 1901 CE and yet were fully transliterated by a diverse group of scholars and in print as early as 1904 CE. This feat of having rendered a complete transliteration of the codes-- along with several extremely difficult passages that appeared in the epilogue-- is a truly impressive scholastic effort, the incredible work of several eminent Assyriologists of the early 20th Century CE. A great deal of information concerning the social structure of Babylon may be gleaned by reading through these codes, revealed both directly and also by inference. We are able to see quite well what their system of social prioritization was like, and by being so acquainted with their mores, proscriptions and so forth, a very clear picture of the Babylonians as a collective group emerges. This book would be most valuable to those who are interested in the history of ancient Semitic people, but also to those who are interested in the history of torts and criminal codes in general. As it is, the Codes of Hammurabi can be seen to have influenced subsequent legal codiciles, allegedly to include even the Ten Commandments as transferred by Moses. As these latter codes were to become a cornerstone of the subsequent ethical apperception of Europe-- thus having a further impact on the rest of the world, even unto this very day-- one might say that by reading the Codes of Hammurabi we are able to see how the laws of most Western people evolved over the past four millenia. While this book does not present us with a very difficult read, it might not be entirely interesting to the casual perusal of the average person. Even so, it is possible that virtually anyone who picked up this book and read some of it would learn a great deal about a famous society that became extinct around 1100 BCE, that is, the society of the ancient city-state known as Babylon. Perhaps by so knowing, we may also be facing an examination of ourselves.
Related Search : texts translations , king babylon , 2250 b |
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