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Title: The Hebrew Bible Today: An Introduction to Critical Issues by Steven L. McKenzie, Matt Patrick Graham ISBN: 0-664-25652-X Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press Pub. Date: June, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Good, but Don't Leave the Scholars Unchallenged
Comment: When I first picked up this book, I expected it to be more conservative than it was. But it takes what is termed a "liberal" leaning; that is, for instance, an author will state that a particular prophetic text was written later (after the prophetic fulfillment) because they don't believe in supernatural predictions.
Despite this liberalness, which is why I didn't give the book 5 stars, it does raise some important issues. It is open and honest about the issues and isn't afraid to bring forth the challenge against tradition (which is why I didn't give it less than 4 stars).
Some of the reasoning by certain contributors is in desperate need of challenging because they make statements based on their presuppositions that don't have a basis, at least they don't provide one. Some of the authors speak certain views as "obvious" truth without providing evidence. I must state here that one should NEVER accept what a scholar, or group of scholars, says because he is a scholar. There are just as many scholars on the other side of the fence. So being a scholar does not equate with being right, just with maybe being worthy of a serious ear.
Overall, this is a good book for a serious student of the Bible. There are points within the book that are not refutable, and there are many more that are. But the book causes one to think, something much needed with the once important fundamentalist movement now gone fundamentally unthinking. Today, most lay people have a blind faith concerning the Bible, and fear a critical approach. In the end, their refusal to face realities only leaves them in sometimes rediculous ignorance and embarrasment, except among themselves.
On the other hand, this book, and any other on realistic and honest biblical criticism, should not be read or thrown in the face of those who are not strong in their faith. These issues can do more than simply open one's mind and provide a challenge; rather, for many, such issues would destroy their faith in God completely. Teaching believers in God requires more than just blatant truth; it requires shepherding, and many sheep aren't ready for this type of reality. This book will never make a good gift for someone else!
Thus, this book is a good text for criticism and opens one's eyes to both liberal thought and to realistic, less liberal thought. And, of course, it is not all that could be said on either side of the issues.
In the end, the book is very wrong about most everything, but I challenge thinking Christians to face the issues presented.
Rating: 3
Summary: Too many of "today's" issues are decades old.
Comment: The subtitle to this volume is: An Introduction to Critical Issues. This would be true is the issues were those of decades past, e.g. the problems of documentary theory. As it is the issues raised are not the current ones. One need look no further than the dirth of footnotes from the 1990's.Or one may note the lack of dialogue with the likes of Lemche, Thompson, Finkelstein, Edelman, etc. One would do better with Knight's _Hebrew Bible and its Modern Interpreters_.
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Title: To Each Its Own Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and Their Application by Steven L. McKenzie, Stephen R. Haynes ISBN: 0664257844 Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press Pub. Date: September, 1999 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: The Tree of Life: An Exploration of Biblical Wisdom Literature by Roland E. Murphy ISBN: 0802839657 Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Pub. Date: January, 2002 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: The Psalms: An Introduction by James L. Crenshaw ISBN: 0802808549 Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Pub. Date: January, 2001 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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Title: A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament by Bruce C. Birch, Walter Brueggemann, Terence E. Fretheim, David L. Petersen, David L. Peterson ISBN: 0687013488 Publisher: Abingdon Press Pub. Date: November, 1999 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: A History of Prophecy in Israel - revised by Joseph Blenkinsopp ISBN: 0664256392 Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press Pub. Date: September, 1996 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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