Book Review
Para leer esta crítica en español clic aquí.
The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies J.W.Rogerson and Judith M.Lieu (eds.), Oxford: University Press, 2006, 914 pages, $150
Those studying for the Christian ministry find that their core subjects divide into two main areas: Theology and Biblical Studies. This publication is a significant one because it aims at presenting the state of current scholarship in the area of Biblical Studies. It forms part of the Oxford Handbook series which aims to be a definitive guide to significant areas of study whether it be art, literature or theology.
The 45 chapters are arranged in seven main divisions with contributions from 39 scholars dealing with areas such as the translation, composition, interpretation and authority of the Bible. Unfortunately two-thirds of those contributing are based in England and this weakens the claim of the Handbook to be drawing upon international scholarship. This is a pity as expertise in the USA and Scotland, not to mention Germany, could have made the publication an even richer resource.
One the most outstanding articles is by a North American with German roots, Walter Brueggemann, who, in the section on Bible Interpretation, presents a survey of Old Testament theology during the last 70 years. Another notable article is that on the Gospels by Richard Burridge, dealing with the issues of genre, bibliography and literary relationships. One other article of note is that on Canon and its relationship to the ancient world by Lee Martin McDonald.
For readers in Latin American some of the articles would be of particular interest. Harriet Harris’ extensive treatment of Fundamentalism in the section on Scriptural Authority gives an analysis of a movement which is reflected in much missionary endeavour. Feminism is also an important area of contemporary debate and Marie-Theres Wacker provides an interesting coverage of feminist hermeneutics when dealing with Feminist Criticism.
Sadly, some articles were disappointing because the writers failed to describe the state of current scholarship. For example, the bibliography on the article entitled, “Textual Transmission and Versions of the NT” ends in 1998 and even more surprisingly that on “Apocalyptic” in 1989.
Potential buyers of The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies should note that this is not an encyclopaedia describing the significant points of the discipline. Rather it is a handbook guiding the reader into the present state of academic development. As such it is useful for students, lecturers and pastors who want to understand what are the contemporary areas of debate within Biblical Studies.
Articles contained:
History of the Discipline in the Last Seventy Years
Old Testament (J. W. Rogerson)
New Testament (Robert Morgan)
The Impact of Other Disciplines upon Biblical Scholarship
Archaeology (John R. Bartlett)
Ancient Near Eastern Studies: Mesopotamia (W.G. Lambert)
Ancient Near Eastern Studies: Egypt ( Kenneth Kitchen)
Qumran Studies (Philip Davies)
Study of the Graeco-Roman World (Peter Richardson)
Diaspora and Rabbinic Judaism (Catherine Hezser)
Languages, Translation and Textual Transmission of the Bible
Language and Translation of the Old Testament (John Elworde)
Language, Translation, Versions, and Text of the Apocrypha (Michael A. Knibb)
Language and Translation of the New Testament (Stanley E. Porter)
Ancient Versions and Textual Transmission of the Old Testament (Gerard J. Norton)
Textual Transmission and Versions of the New Testament (J. N. Birdsall)
Historical and Social Study of the Bible
Section 1. Background and Context
Introduction: General Problems of Studying the Text of the Bible in order to Reconstruct History and Social Background (Keith W. Whitelam)
Israel to the End of the Persian Period: History, Social, Political, and Economic Background (J. W: Rogerson)
Israel from the Rise of Hellenism to 70 CE (Lester L. Grabbe)
The Life and Teaching of Jesus and the Rise of Christianity (Craig A. Evans)
Section 2. Institutions of the Old and New Testaments
Priesthood, Temple(s) and Sacrifice (Robert Hayward)
Law in the Old Testament (Gordon Wenham)
Scribes and Synagogues (Lester L. Grabbe)
Movements (Judith M. Lieu)
Section 3. Genres of the Old and New Testaments
Prophecy (Deborah W. Rooke)
Apocalyptic (Philip Davies)
Wisdom (Katharine J. Dell)
Novella (Erich S. Gruen)
Gospels (Richard A. Burridge)
Letters (Judith M. Lieu)
Composition of the Bible
The Growth of the Old Testament (Reinhard G. Kratz)
The Growth of the Apocrypha (Alison Salvesen)
The Growth of the New Testament (John M. Court)
Authors, Books, and Readers in the Ancient World (Alan Millard)
Methods in Biblical Scholarship
Archaeology (John R. Bartlett)
Textual Criticism (Aire Van der Kooh)
Form, Source, and Redaction Criticism (Johannes P. Floss)
Rhetorical and New Literary Criticism (Margaret M. Mitchell)
Feminist Criticism and Related Aspects (Marie-Theres Wacker)
Social, Political, and Ideological Criticism (Christopher Rowland)
The Interpretation of the Bible
Old Testament Theology (Walter Brueggemann)
New Testament Theology (James D. G. Dunn)
Biblical Theology (Bernd Janowski)
The Bible in Ethics (Eryl W. Davies)
Jewish Interpretation of the Bible (Jonathan Magonet)
The Authority of the Bible
Canon (Lee Martin McDonald)
Fundamentalism (Harriet A. Harris)
Historical Criticism and the Authority of the Bible (J. W. Rogerson)
David E. C. Ford
Professor of New Testament, Fundación Universitaria Seminario Bíblico de Colombia