Discovering Biblical Texts (DBT)

Concise, student-friendly introduction to Romans This third volume in the Discovering Biblical Texts series offers readers a compact, up-to-date, and student-friendly introduction to Paul's letter to the Romans, focusing on its structure, content, theological concerns, key interpretive debates, and historical reception. Anthony C. Thiselton alerts readers to key issues and questions raised by the text, encouraging in-depth study and a sincere grappling with the theological and historical questions raised by this often-controversial epistle. He pays special attention to the book's reception and its influence on Christian history and culture, exploring and explaining the approaches and conclusions of a wide range of ancient and modern interpreters.

Student-friendly introduction to the Gospel of John This up-to-date introduction to John's Gospel is the first volume in the Discovering Biblical Texts series, which encourages students to engage deeply with the biblical writings by alerting them to key issues and questions raised by the text. In Discovering John Ruth Edwards covers the structure, content, theological concerns, key interpretive debates, and historical reception of the Gospel of John. Does John still have meaning for the church and contemporary society? Does it need to be reinterpreted for today's world? Is it anti-Semitic? Edwards expertly guides readers through these questions and others, helping those interested in this provocative, sometimes enigmatic Gospel to discover the answers for themselves.

This interpretation of Luke encourages in-depth study of the text and genuine grappling with the theological and sociohistorical questions it raises. It draws on a range of methodological interests (author-, text-, and reader-centered) as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of understanding the text. It also recognizes the importance of the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra. Throughout Discovering Luke, Joel Green gives readers strategies for reading the Gospel of Luke and guides them through Luke's world in its historical, ideological, political, and economic contexts. Green reviews key issues raised by the Gospel and connects these issues to questions of how Luke should be interpreted today.

This concise introduction to the interpretation of the book of Isaiah encourages in-depth study of the text and deliberate grappling with related theological and historical questions by providing a critical assessment of key interpreters and interpretative debates. It draws on a range of methodological approaches (author-, text-, and reader-centered) and reflects the growing scholarly attention to the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra.

Student-friendly introduction to the Gospel of Matthew In this introduction to the story that Matthew tells, Ian Boxall deftly guides readers through the sources, origins, themes, and main characters of the first Gospel. The book's short chapters enable coverage of a wide range of topics, presenting the issues and scholarly debates surrounding the Gospel of Matthew in an accessible yet nuanced manner. Like the first Discovering Biblical Texts volume, on the Gospel of John, Discovering Matthew offers a guide to key issues and questions raised by the text to enable readers to come to their own conclusions. Encouraging in-depth study of the text and genuine grappling with pertinent theological and historical questions, this book is an ideal introduction to the interpretation of Matthew.

This concise introduction to the interpretation of the book of Exodus encourages in-depth study of the text and deliberate grappling with related theological and historical questions by providing a critical assessment of key interpreters and interpretative debates. It draws on a range of methodological approaches (author-, text-, and reader-centered) and reflects the growing scholarly attention to the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra. Throughout Discovering Exodus, Ralph Hawkins gives strategies for reading the book of Exodus, including archaeological criticism. He also reviews key issues raised by Exodus and connects these issues to questions of how this important Old Testament book should be interpreted today.

This compact introduction to the interpretation of the book of Psalms encourages in-depth study of the text and genuine grappling with related theological and historical questions by providing a critical assessment of key interpreters and interpretative debates. It draws on a range of methodological approaches (author-, text-, and reader-centered) and reflects the growing scholarly attention to the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra.

Concise, student-friendly introduction to Genesis Iain Provan here offers readers a compact, up-to-date, and student-friendly introduction to the book of Genesis, focusing on its structure, content, theological concerns, key interpretive debates, and historical reception. Drawing on a range of methodological approaches (author-, text-, and reader-centered) as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of understanding, Discovering Genesis encourages students to dig deeply into the theological and historical questions raised by the text. It provides a critical assessment of key interpreters and interpretive debates, focusing especially on the reception history of the biblical text, a subject of growing interest to students and scholars of the Bible.

The book of Revelation has been received over the past several centuries with both fascination and aversion, but one thing is certain: it has profoundly shaped Christian history and culture. And the way it has shaped history and culture has been determined, in large part, by how the book has been variously-and sometimes irresponsibly-interpreted.  David A. deSilva addresses the interpretation and reception-history of Revelation in this compact, up-to-date, and student-friendly introduction to the book of Revelation, focusing on its structure, content, theological concerns, key interpretive debates, and historical reception. Discovering Revelation draws on a range of methodological approaches (author-, text-, and reader-centered) as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of interpreting the text. DeSilva pays special attention to defining features of Revelation, such as its use of sequences of seven as a major structuring device, its nonlinear plotline, and its deployment of contrast and parody. As deSilva writes, "A text as rich and multidimensional as Revelation calls for its readers to adopt a rich and multidimensional approach that draws upon a variety of interpretative angles and skills.".