Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Dedication; Table of Contents; Preface to the Third Edition; Abbreviations; Maps; 1. What is the Bible?; 2. How Biblical Writers Wrote; 3. The Making of the Old Testament; 4. The Making of the Apocrypha; 5. The Making of the New Testament; 6. The Canon of the Bible; 7. The Study of the Bible; 8. The Use of the Bible; Notes; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.
Summary
The Bible is one of the most influential and profound texts in human history - it is disturbing, unconventional, and never content with the world as it is. This classic introduction presents a concise and accessible guide to all aspects of biblical study: the nature and purpose of the Bible; how biblical writers wrote; the making of both Old and New Testaments; the making of the Apocrypha; what was left out and what kept in the Bible and why; and how the Bible has been shaped by and continues to shape religion, culture and politics. Completely revised and updated - and considerably extended.