Reading Christian Scripture – serie

Southwestern Journal of Theology 2025 Book Award (Biblical Studies)This survey textbook by two respected Old Testament scholars is designed to meet the needs of contemporary undergraduate students. The book effectively covers the Old Testament books and major topics in the Old Testament, assuming no prior academic study of the Bible.Mark Gignilliat and Heath Thomas pay attention to the subject matter of the Old Testament: God's revelation of himself. Their focus is on the triune God and God's engagement with the world. The authors attend to the Old Testament's literary, theological, and historical dimensions and explore how these texts are received and interpreted in Christian (and Jewish) tradition. The book is organized according to the Hebrew structure of the Old Testament: Law, Prophets, and Writings. The authors utilize this structure to generate numerous interpretive and theological insights as well as fresh avenues of discovery for Christian readers who may lack familiarity with the Hebrew ordering of the Old Testament documents. Chapters can be assigned in any order, making this an ideal textbook for one-semester courses.Beautifully designed in full color, this addition to the Reading Christian Scripture series offers a full array of pedagogical aids that hold interest and aid learning: photographs, sidebars, maps, time lines, charts, glossary, and discussion questions. Additional resources for instructors and students are available through Textbook eSources.

Designed to meet the needs of contemporary evangelical undergraduates, this survey textbook offers an engaging introduction to Paul's Letters in their literary, theological, and canonical contexts.Constantine Campbell, a recognized Pauline and Greek scholar, explores Paul's letters with an eye to fitting them within the life, ministry, and theology of the apostle Paul. Campbell reflects on the reception history of Paul's letters, presents them in the context of the apostle's missionary journeys, and fits the Pauline corpus within the larger story and tradition of Christian Scripture. The book also covers the book of Acts as it relates to Paul's letters.Beautifully designed in full color with an abundance of maps, sidebars, images, and other visual aids to hold interest and aid learning, this addition to the Reading Christian Scripture series offers a faith-friendly introduction to students of Paul's Letters. Additional resources for instructors and students are available through Textbook eSources.

Contemporary readers often struggle with the Pentateuch, finding it difficult to understand, if not outright boring or even offensive. In this accessible survey textbook, David J. H. Beldman and Michael J. Rhodes help students discover that the Pentateuch is the critical launching pad and starting point for encountering God and God's ways in the world. These texts are the "big bang" of the Bible: The entire universe of the scriptural story spins out and takes shape from these first explosive texts. Beldman and Rhodes help students read these texts within their literary, historical, canonical, and theological contexts. Textboxes highlight the way the Pentateuch can spark the theological, ethical, and missional imaginations of contemporary readers, and substantial "Living the Text" sections at the close of each chapter explore how God's people might live differently in response. In addition to the main chapters exploring the specific books of the Pentateuch, shorter "How to Read" chapters explore some of the Pentateuch's trickier terrain, including ● "How to Read Biblical Law Today: Wise Guidance for Justice, Mercy, and Mission";● "How to Read Torah's Rituals Today: Sacred Rites and Holy Habits"; and● "How to Read Violent Texts Today: Wrestling Until We Receive a Blessing." This textbook is grounded in the view that the Pentateuch should be read as Christian Scripture. Although the book covers critical issues such as authorship, background, and history, its primary focus is on the message and theology of the Pentateuch and the contribution these texts make to the Christian canon. Indeed, Beldman and Rhodes argue throughout that the Pentateuch opens up horizons for Christian readers on some of today's most pressing theological, ethical, and missional questions. Reading Christian Scripture is a series of survey textbooks that cover the Old and New Testaments. Beautifully designed in full color with maps, sidebars, images, and illustrations to hold interest and aid learning, Reading the Pentateuch as Christian Scripture offers a faith-friendly introduction to students. Additional resources for instructors are available through textbook eSources.

This survey textbook offers an accessible introduction to the wisdom books and Psalms in their literary, theological, and canonical contexts.Written by an expert in the Old Testament wisdom tradition and Psalms, this book pays particular attention to theological themes in Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, and the Psalter. Christopher Ansberry skillfully connects these themes to comparable themes in the other books discussed in the volume and to the broader biblical canon. He also integrates philosophical concerns and questions.This addition to the Reading Christian Scripture series is an ideal faith-friendly introduction for students of the Old Testament, Wisdom literature, and Psalms. It features a beautiful full-color design with an abundance of sidebars, images, and other visual aids to enhance the reading experience and facilitate learning. Additional resources for instructors and students are available through Textbook eSources.

This survey textbook offers an accessible introduction to the Later New Testament in its literary, canonical, and theological contexts.Unlike other portions of the New Testament such as Paul's Letters or the Gospels, introductions to the Later New Testament (Hebrews through Revelation) are uncommon. These texts have been relatively neglected in the history of Christian interpretation. In this book, Ruth Anne Reese and Madison N. Pierce offer the most up-to-date introduction to these texts in more than a decade.This textbook is grounded in the view that the Later New Testament should be read as Christian Scripture. Although the book covers critical issues such as authorship, background, and history, its primary focus is on the message and theology of the Later New Testament and the contribution these texts make to the Christian canon.Reading Christian Scripture is a series of survey textbooks that will cover the Old and New Testaments. Beautifully designed in full color with maps, sidebars, images, and illustrations to hold interest and aid learning, Reading the Later New Testament as Christian Scripture offers a faith-friendly introduction to students. Additional resources for instructors are available through textbook eSources.