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Colleen M. Conway. A Contemporary Introduction to the Bible
A CONTEMPORARY INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE
SACRED TEXTS AND IMPERIAL CONTEXTS
CONTENTS
List of Illustrations
List of Maps
Guide
Pages
FIGURES
MAPS
MAIN DISCUSSIONS/OUTLINES OF BIBLICAL BOOKS. Where to Find Basic Information on Biblical Books (Basics Boxes and More)
BOXES. What Is a More on Method Box?
What Is in Special Topics Boxes?
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABBREVIATIONS
OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL PERIOD
TIMELINE
Prologue Orientation to Multiple Bibles and Multiple Translations
Chapter Overview
The Bible as a Complex Product of Many Hands
The Different Scriptures of Judaism and Christianity
Basics on Bible Translations
MORE ON METHOD: TEXTUAL CRITICISM
Bible Abbreviations, Chapters and Verses
The Origins of Chapters and Verses
Conclusion on Critically Analyzing a Page of Your Own Bible
PROLOGUE REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
APPENDIX 1: TRANSLATION AND PARAPHRASE COMPARISON OF ISA 52:13–15
APPENDIX 2: CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECT ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE
1 Studying the Bible in Its Ancient Context(s)
Chapter Overview
Why History Is Important in Studying the Bible
AD, BC, BCE, AND CE
Overview: Order of Main Discussions of Biblical Books
The Geography and Major Characters of the Biblical Drama
Visualizing (the Possible Ancestors of) Ancient Israelites
Major Periods in the Biblical Drama
Multiple Contexts, Multiple Methods
The Name of Israel’s God: Yahweh/the LORD
Looking Forward to the Big Picture
CHAPTER ONE REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
APPENDIX: ISRAEL’S HISTORY AND EMPIRES
2 The Emergence of Ancient Israel and Its First Oral Traditions
Chapter Overview
Imagining Early Israel
What Was Earliest “Israel” and Who Were “Judges”?
History and the Books of Joshua and Judges
MORE ON METHOD: TRADITION HISTORY AND TRANSMISSION HISTORY
Problems in Reconstructing Early Israel
The Name “Israel”
Traces of the Most Ancient Israelite Oral Traditions in the Bible
The Oral Background of Genesis
Basics on the Written Version of the Ancestral Story (Genesis 12–50)
The Exodus from Egypt
MORE ON METHOD: AFRICAN AMERICAN BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
The Song of Deborah
The Creation of “Israel” Through Cultural Memory of Resistance to Domination
CHAPTER TWO REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
3 The Rise of Writing and Echoes of Past Empires in Monarchal Israel
Chapter Overview
Imagining Early Monarchal Israel
The Rise of the Israelite Monarchy and Resistance to It
Archaeology and Problems of History Surrounding David, Solomon, and the Beginning of the Israelite Monarchy
Influence of Ancient Empires on Early Israel’s Monarchy and Writings
Echoes of Near Eastern Royal Theology in the Royal and Zion Psalms
Labels (e.g. “Psalm of David”): What They (Don’t) Tell Us
Basics on the Book of Psalms: Part 1
MORE ON METHOD: POETIC ANALYSIS
Echoes of Texts from Earlier Empires in Writings Attributed to Solomon
MORE ON METHOD: AFROCENTRIC AND WOMANIST INTERPRETATION
Basics on Ecclesiastes/Qohelet
Basics on the Book of Proverbs
The Speech of Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8
Echoes of Texts from Past Empires Elsewhere in the Bible
MORE ON METHOD: SOURCE AND REDACTION CRITICISM
Contrasts and Parallels Between Biblical and Mesopotamian Flood Narratives
The Garden of Eden Story (Gen 2:4–3:24)
MORE ON METHOD: FEMINIST CRITICISM AND HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION/RECEPTION
Conclusion
CHAPTER THREE REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
4 Narrative and Prophecy Amidst the Rise and Fall of the Northern Kingdom
Chapter Overview
Setting the Stage: The Rise of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Its Texts
Basics on the Jacob Story
MORE ON METHOD: THE JOSEPH STORY AND LITERARY APPROACHES
A View from the Assyrian Imperial Court: The Annals of Sennacherib
Exercise
Ancient Near Eastern Prophecy
Overview of the Four Eighth-Century Prophets
Amos, a Southern Prophet Preaching Justice and Doom to the North
Basics on the Book of Amos
Hosea, the Northern Prophet, Calling for Israel’s Devotion to Yahweh Alone
Basics on the Book of Hosea
Hosea and the “Book of the Twelve Prophets”
Micah, a Southern Prophet, Predicting Judgment for Judah and Jerusalem
Basics on the Book of Micah
Isaiah’s Vision of Hope for Jerusalem/Zion Embedded in the Book of Isaiah
Isaiah 6 and the “Call Narrative”
The Use and Reuse of Biblical Traditions
Contrasting Prophetic Visions of Zion’s Future
CHAPTER FOUR REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
5 Torah and Other Texts Written in the Wake of the Assyrian Empire
Chapter Overview
Religious and Textual Reform Amidst the Downfall of Assyria
Basics on the Book of Nahum
Basics on the Book of Zephaniah
The Deuteronomic Torah of Moses and the Phenomenon of Hybridity
Basics on the Book of Deuteronomy (and the Ten Commandments)
Overview: The Covenant Code and Deuteronomy
MORE ON METHOD: POSTCOLONIAL CRITICISM
Basics on the Book of Joshua
Historical Texts Infused with the Theology and Values of Deuteronomy
The Books of the Former and Latter Prophets
Basics on the Book of Judges
Basics on the Books of 1–2 Samuel
Basics on the Books of 1–2 Kings
The Conquest and Ancient Holy War
Jeremiah’s Prophecy of Judgment on Zion
Basics on the Book of Jeremiah
Deuteronomy 6:4–9
New Scriptures in the Twilight of Judean Monarchy
CHAPTER FIVE REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
6 Bible for Exiles: Promise and Story in the Neo-Babylonian Empire
Chapter Overview
The Neo-Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem and Exile
FORCED LABOR FOR EXILES UNDER NEBUCHADNEZZAR
Basics on the Book of Lamentations
MORE ON METHOD: TRAUMA STUDIES AND THE BIBLE
The Exilic Editions of Biblical Books
Ezekiel’s Move from Judgment to Promise with the Fall of Jerusalem
Basics on the Book of Ezekiel
The Divine Council
Hope for Exiles in Second Isaiah (also called “Deutero-Isaiah”)
Basics on Second Isaiah/Deutero-Isaiah
From Promise in the Prophets to Promise in Two Pentateuchal Sources: L and P
Traditions That Moses Wrote the Pentateuch
Promise-Centered Storytelling in the Lay Pentateuchal Source (L)
The Story of Jacob at Bethel as an Example of the Addition of Promise to an Older Story
Basics on the non-P (L) Source
MORE INFORMATION: THE GAP BETWEEN ANCESTORS AND MOSES
J (the “Yahwistic Source”), E (the “Elohistic Source”), and the Documentary Hypothesis
An Alternative Vision for Exiles in the Priestly Pentateuchal Source (P)
Basics on the P Source
Basics on the Book of Leviticus
MORE ON METHOD: INSIGHTS FROM HISTORY OF RELIGIONS
MORE ON METHOD: ECOLOGICAL BIBLICAL CRITICISM
History and Fiction
Gen 12:1–3
Conclusions on (Exilic) Trauma and the Bible
CHAPTER SIX REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
7 Persian Empire and the Emergence of a Temple-Centered Jewish Community
Chapter Overview
History: The Persian-Sponsored Building of a Temple- and Torah-Centered Judaism
Basics on the Book of Haggai
Basics on the Book of Zechariah
Basics on the Book of Isaiah
Alternative Perspectives on Foreigners
The Final Formation of the Torah
Basics on the Book of Genesis
Basics on the Book of Exodus
Basics on the Book of Numbers
The Book of Psalms as a Torah-Centered Collection of More Ancient Psalms
Basics on the Book of Psalms: Part 2
MORE ON METHOD: FORM CRITICISM AND GENRE
Isa 56:1–8
Concluding Reflections on Scriptures in and After the Exile
CHAPTER SEVEN REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
8 Hellenistic Empires and the Formation of the Hebrew Bible
Chapter Overview
Judaism and Hellenism Before the Hellenizing Crisis
The Emergence of “Judaism”
The Crisis Over Hellenizing Jerusalem and the Book of Daniel
Basics on the Book of Daniel
A Hellenistic Period Kingdom of Israel: The Hasmonean Revolt and Monarchy
The Book of Judith (as an example of a Hasmonean text)
The Hellenistic Period as the Setting for Other Hebrew Bible Texts
Basics on the Book of Esther
Basics on the Books of Chronicles
Basics on the Books of Ezra–Nehemiah
Daniel 10–12
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Formation of the Jewish Tanakh and Christian Old Testament(s)
Conclusion
CHAPTER EIGHT REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
Prologue to the Study of the New Testament
The New Testament Canon
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
9 The Jesus Movement in the Context of the Roman Empire
Chapter Overview
Imagining the Jerusalem That Jesus Knew
Rome Comes to Jerusalem
The Earliest Jesus Traditions
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas: the Boy Jesus and His Superpowers
Searching for the Historical Jesus: Problems and Proposals
MORE ON THE HISTORICAL JESUS SEARCH
Eschatology versus Apocalypticism
CHAPTER NINE REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
10 Paul and His Letters in the Roman Colonial Context
Chapter Overview
Paul’s Travels and Letter Collection
Who Was Paul?
The Structure of Paul’s Letters
Apostle to the Gentiles
Paul’s Apocalyptic Worldview
Paul and Slavery
Three Undisputed Letters of Paul: Galatians, 1 Corinthians, and Romans
Paul’s Letter to the Galatians
Basics on Galatians
The Question of Circumcision
Changing Perspectives on Paul
The First Letter to the Corinthians
Basics on 1 Corinthians
The Letter to the Romans
Basics on Romans
The Problem of Israel and the Place of the Gentiles (Romans 9–11)
The Disputed Letters
Conclusion: From Letters to Scripture
CHAPTER TEN REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
11 The Gospel of Mark: Suffering and Trauma Under Imperial Rule
Chapter Overview
The Jewish War (66–70 CE)
Pointers to the Dating and Context of the Gospel of Mark
Basics on the Gospel of Mark
Markan Priority
Rising Popularity of Jesus and Rising Conflict with the Authorities (Mark 1:1–8:21)
An Exorcism of Rome?
Teaching and More Misunderstanding on the Way (Mark 8:22–10:52)
MORE ON THE MESSIANIC SECRET
Jesus the “Son of Man”
The Suffering Messiah (Mark 11:1–16:8)
Intercalation or the Markan “Sandwich”
A Glimpse of Life under Roman Occupation
Mark’s Enigmatic Ending
Mark 12:1–12
CHAPTER ELEVEN REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
12 The Gospel of Matthew: Defining Community in the Wake of Destruction
Chapter Overview
The Synoptic Problem
MORE ABOUT THE Q DOCUMENT
The Structure of the Gospel of Matthew
Basics on the Gospel of Matthew
The Matthean Jesus and Moses
Gender and Matthew’s Genealogy (Matt 1:1–17)
The Matthean Jesus, Righteousness, and Torah Obedience
The Matthean Jesus, Wisdom, and Torah
Matthew’s Apocalyptic Vision and the Kingdom of Heaven
The Matthean Polemic Against the Pharisees
Who Were the Pharisees?
Matt 25:31–46
CHAPTER TWELVE REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
13 Luke–Acts: Legitimizing the Jesus Movement in the Midst of Empire
Chapter Overview
The Lukan Prologues
The Lukan Jesus in Continuity with Israel’s Past
The Jesus Movement in Continuity with Israel’s Past
Salvation to the Gentiles in Luke–Acts
Possessions and the Poor: A Lukan Puzzle
Situating the Jesus Movement in the Roman Empire
The Priene Calendar Inscription
The Holy Spirit in Luke–Acts
MORE ON METHOD: AFRICAN AMERICAN BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Jesus’s Sermon in Nazareth (Luke 4:14–30)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
14 The Gospel of John and the Johannine Letters: Turning Inward as a Strategy for Life in the Empire
Chapter Overview
Who Is the Johannine Jesus?
The Johannine Prologue: Jesus as Pre-existent Logos Made Flesh
The Johannine Jesus as God’s Divine Agent in the World
The “I Am” Sayings in the Gospel of John
Knowing and Believing in the Johannine Jesus
MORE ON METHOD: GENDER CRITICISM AND MASCULINITY STUDIES
Opposition from the World
The Problem of “the Jews” in the Gospel of John
Was There a Johannine Community?
John 17
The Johannine Letters
CHAPTER FOURTEEN REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
15 Following Christ in the Empire: Diverse Approaches in the New Testament
Chapter Overview
The Revelation to John: Visions of “Conquering” Roman Power
Basics on Revelation to John
Tacitus’s Account of Nero’s Persecution of Christians in Rome
Revelation 17–18
MORE ON METHOD: CULTURAL CRITICISM OF THE BIBLE
Hebrews: Platonic Perspectives on Christ
Basics on The Letter to the Hebrews
1 Peter: Living as Aliens and Accommodating to the Empire
Basics on 1 Peter
Conclusion: Three Different Relationships to the Roman Empire
CHAPTER FIFTEEN REVIEW
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
EPILOGUE: THE FINAL FORMATION OF THE JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN BIBLES
GLOSSARY
INDEX
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