Scripture: An Ecumenical Introduction to the Bible and Its Interpretation

Most Bible introductions are the product of a single person or present only one perspective. Written by and for people from a variety of faith traditions, this distinctive introduction represents the work of 15 Protestant and Catholic scholars—all members of the same theological faculty, but representing a diversity of backgrounds and approaches.

Part I introduces the Bible itself: its library-like character; its geography, history, and archaeology; the books of each Testament; important noncanonical books; the Bible’s various Jewish and Christian forms; and its transmission and translation.

Part II covers the interpretation of the Bible at various times, in various traditions, and for various reasons: in the premodern period and in the modern and postmodern eras, including recent critical, theological, and ideological approaches; in Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and African-American Churches; and for spiritual growth, social justice, and Christian unity.

Offering helpful insight into how Christians (and others) have agreed and disagreed in their approaches to the Bible, it provides students with a clear, succinct introduction to Scripture as divine and human word.

"As the reader moves from one Christian tradition to another, common problems and the challenge that all Christians must face to keep theWord of the Bible alive in the Churches and in society emerge. Beautifully written, this is a book that could be read with profit by anyone—from the professor to the person in the pew, and beyond." —Francis J. Moloney, SDB, The Catholic University of America

"This is a splendidly conceived and excellently executed volume. It covers an amazing amount of ground—muchmore than the proverbial bird's eye view, but never allows itself to get lost in fine detail. A beginning student at adult education level could not ask for a better or clearer introduction to the study of the Bible." —James D. G. Dunn, University of Durham

Michael Gorman is Dean and Professor of New Testament and Early Church History at the Ecumenical Institute of Theology, St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, Maryland.