{"product_id":"literary-study-of-the-bible-isbn-9781444334951","title":"Literary Study of the Bible","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe most comprehensive and accessible introduction to scriptural art yet written\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiterary Study of the Bible: An Introduction \u003c\/i\u003eapproaches each book of the Bible (including several of the apocrypha) with non-sectarian literary questions, exploring the meanings that the Bible reveals when we read it like a poem, narrative, or play. As a unique hybrid of introductory guide, essential handbook, historical survey, and absorbing commentary, this book fills a gap in literary Bible study with its fresh perspectives on the biblical writers’ many arts. Readers will engage in wide range of textual approaches and interpretive traditions through this broadly informed, accessibly written text.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDr. Christopher Hodgkins has taught Literary Study of the Bible for 25 years, over which time he has field-tested the many lenses—of genre, image, language, characterization, plot, and craft—used throughout this book. Tracing the sources, composition, and influences of the Biblical text, this book places the Bible in a tradition of ancient near eastern, Hebrew, and Hellenistic literary art, giving new depth to the way we understand the familiar stories of scripture. Unlike other literary introductions to the Bible, this book uniquely combines these elements:\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eApproaches the Bible as a richly collaborative and coherent work of literary art, exploring how earlier books influence the creation and interpretation of later ones\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eProvides illuminating commentary supplemented by explanatory textboxes, maps, illustrations, and study questions to enhance interest and expand learning\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eIntroduces poetic and narrative devices like doubling, juxtaposition, and irony within the context of scriptural art and editorial design\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eGives extensive attention to each biblical book, resulting in the most comprehensive introduction to literary Bible study to date\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePresents these materials through an accessible and lively text permeated with references to both high and popular culture\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiterary Study of the Bible\u003c\/i\u003e will be a welcome addition to personal, school, college, and congregational libraries, as well as an excellent text for students of the Bible in both secular and faith-based settings. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreface xiii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments xix\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart I Beginning 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1 \"The Dream Was Doubled\": Reading Like a Hebrew 3\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.1 Seeing Deep and Whole: Stereoscopic Vision 3\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.2 Tabernacles for the Sun: Biblical Genres 10\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2 \"In the Scroll of the Book\": Composition and Canonicity 15\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.1 The Documentary Hypothesis: Its Origins, Assumptions, and Evolution 15\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.1.1 Hypothetical Documents: Divine Names, Disputed Dates, and the \"Polychrome Bible\" 17\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.1.2\u003ci\u003e Toledoth\u003c\/i\u003e: Generations of Genesis and Torah 22\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.2 New Testament Sources: \"Q\" and A 23\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.3 \"In His Hand Was a Measuring Rod\": Community, Councils, and Canons 23\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.3.1 \u003ci\u003eTanakh\u003c\/i\u003e, Old Testament, the Deutero]Canonicals, and New Testament Apocrypha 24\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4 Literary Study of the Bible: A Way Forward 29\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart II The Old Testament\/Hebrew Bible\/\u003ci\u003eTanakh\u003c\/i\u003e 31\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3 Hebrew Poetry: Deep Calls to Deep 33\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1 \"In the Great Congregation\": The Many Voices of Psalms 33\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1.1 A Pentateuch of Poems: The Five Books of the Psalter 35\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1.2 \"Create in Me a Clean Heart\": Interior Drama and Psychological Discovery 39\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1.3 \"Play Skillfully\": Figure and Form 45\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1.3.1 Figurative Language 45\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1.3.2 Form: Parallelism – Synonymous, Antithetic, Synthetic 46\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1.3.3 Form: Refrain and Litany 46\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1.3.4 Form: Juxtaposition 47\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.2 Love Strong as Death: The Song of Solomon 48\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.2.1 Lyric Sequence or Dramatic Narrative: Whose Story? 48\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.2.1.1 Allegory? 51\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.2.1.2 Literal Love Story? 52\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.2.1.3 Earthly Desire and Heavenly Longing 54\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4 Wisdom Literature: Understanding Their Riddles 57\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.1 \"Take Hold of Her\": Wisdom and Desire in Proverbs 58\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.1.1 \"She Calls Aloud in the Streets\": Wisdom and Folly Personified 59\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.1.2 Folly Made Flesh: The Loose Woman 60\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.1.3 Wisdom Incarnate: The Good Wife 62\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.1.4 \"The Beginning of Wisdom\": How to Read a Proverb 65\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.2 \"Enjoy Your Toil\": The Counter]Wisdom of Ecclesiastes 67\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.2.1 \"Under the Sun\": Living by Mortal Light 69\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.2.2 \"The Wind Whirls About\": Cycles and Cynicism 70\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.2.3 \"Remember Your Creator\": The End and the Beginning 73\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5 Origin Narrative I: Divine Images in Genesis 77\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1 Biblical Narrative Style: The Elements 77\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1.1 Minimalism 77\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1.2 Wordplay 79\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1.3 Doubling and Repetition 79\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1.4 Juxtaposition 80\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1.5 Deferred Judgment 80\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1.6 Irony – Sad, Happy, Complex 83\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.2 Day of Days: Creation in Stereoscope 84\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.2.1 \"And It Was Good\": The Quiet Polemic Against Creative Violence 85\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.2.2 \"In Our Image\": Man or Manikin? 88\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.2.3 \"Male and Female\": Gendering Genesis 89\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.2.4 \"Flesh of My Flesh\": Biblical Erotics and Marriage 91\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.3 Nakedness and Knowledge: Deception, Folly, Fall, and Curse 93\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e6 Origin Narrative II: Patriarchy and Its Discontents in Genesis 101\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.1 \"Arc\" of the Covenant: The Story of God’s Contracts 102\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.1.1 Kinds of Covenant: Bilateral and Unilateral 102\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.1.2 Keeping Covenant: Promises, Conditions, Signs 103\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.1.3 Specific Covenants: Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic 104\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.1.3.1 Adamic Covenant 104\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.1.3.2 Noahic Covenant 107\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.1.3.3 Abrahamic Covenant 110\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.2 Warts and All: Abraham and Anti]Patriarchal Patriarchy 114\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.3 \"The Older Shall Serve the Younger\": Against Primogeniture 120\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.4 \"What Will Become of His Dreams\": Joseph and His Brothers 131\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e7 Biblical Epic I: Making the Nation in the Pentateuch 145\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.1 Mosaic Epic: The Priestly Kingdom 145\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.1.1 Moses: A Man Drawn Out 148\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.1.2 The Exodus: Let My People Go 151\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.1.3 Exodus and Leviticus: Covenant Law and Liberty 155\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.1.3.1 Mosaic Covenant: Moral, Civil, and Ritual Law 158\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.1.4 Numbers: Rebellion and Wandering 169\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.1.5 Deuteronomy: The Law Renewed 172\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8 Heroic Narrative: Remaking the Hero in Joshua, Judges, and Ruth 177\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.1 Joshua’s Conquest: Taking the Promised Land 177\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.2 \"When the Judge Was Dead … They Reverted\": Cycles of Decay in Judges 183\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.2.1 Alternative Heroes: Ehud, Deborah, Jael, and Gideon 185\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.2.2 \"Weak … Like Any Other Man\": The Tragedy of Samson 191\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.2.3 The Anti]Hero: \"Right in His Own Eyes\" 195\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.3 \"Famous in Bethlehem\": Ruth and Boaz, Local Heroes 200\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9 Biblical Epic II: Making the Kingdom in 1 and 2 Samuel 207\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.1 Saul’s Epic Tragedy: \"A King … Like All the Nations\" in 1 Samuel 207\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.1.1 \"The Glory Has Departed\": Samuel, the Ark, and Israelite Survival 208\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.1.2 Cross Destinies: Saul, David, and Chiastic Plot Structure 212\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.2 David's Epic Tragicomedy: A Sure House, a Lasting Covenant in 2 Samuel 225\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.2.1 A Biblical Elegy: The Song of the Bow 225\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.2.2 \"From Strength to Strength\": King in Hebron, King in Jerusalem 226\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.2.3 Cross Destinies Times Two: David, Absalom, and Double Chiastic Plot Structure 230\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.2.4 Coda: \"He Who Rules Over Men\" 238\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e10 National Narrative: Chosen Stories of Chosen People in Kings, Chronicles, Ezra]Nehemiah, and Esther 241\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.1 Sad Stories of the Death of Kings: Kings and Chronicles 241\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.1.1 \"Cast Down the Mighty\": Highlights of Misrule and Divine Intervention in Kings 252\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.1.2 Doubled, with a Difference: The Book of Chronicles 260\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.2 Return and Rebuild: Ezra and Nehemiah, Restorers of the City 261\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.3 \"For Such a Time as This\": Esther in a Strange Land 268\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11 Drama: The Divine Tragicomedy of Job 277\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1 Job as Primal Theater 278\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1.1 Prologue: Nakedness and Knowledge, Again 279\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1.2 Act 1: Debate Begins – Job 4–14 282\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1.3 Act 2: The Pace Quickens – Job 15–21 284\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1.4 Act 3: Climax, Sullen Silence, and Summation – Job 22–31 287\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1.5 Act 4: Elihu, Angry Young Man – Job 32–37 289\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1.6 Act 5: The LORD Answers – Job 38–42 290\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1.7 Epilogue: Theodicy vs. Theophany and Satan's Real Absence – Job 42 292\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12 Prophecy: Who Speaks for God? 297\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.1 \u003ci\u003eNevi’im\u003c\/i\u003e: Prophets Former and Latter, Major and Minor 298\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.1.1 Forthtelling Prophecy: Elijah, Elisha, and Social Justice 298\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.1.2 Foretelling Prophecy: The Scandal of Prediction 300\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.1.2.1 Messianic Prophecy: The Anointed One 302\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.1.2.2 Apocalyptic Prophecy: Visions of the End, and the Beginning 303\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2 The Major Prophets: Isaiah Through Daniel 304\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2.1 Isaiah: The Art of Prophesying 304\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2.2 Jeremiah and Lamentations: The Weeping Prophet of Hope 307\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2.3 Ezekiel: \"Son of Man, Can These Bones Live?\" 313\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2.4 Daniel: \"Man Greatly Beloved\" 315\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3 The Minor Prophets: \"The Day of Small Things\" 318\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.1 Hosea: \"Take Unto Thee a Wife of Whoredoms\" 318\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.2 Joel: \"The Day of the Locust\" 319\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.3 Amos: \"Let Justice Run Down Like Water\" 319\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.4 Obadiah: \"Concerning Edom\" 320\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.5 Jonah: \"Should I Not Pity Nineveh?\" 320\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.6 Micah: Birth Pangs of the Kingdom 321\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.7 Nahum:\"Woe to the Bloody City!\" 322\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.8 Habakkuk: \"On the Day of Wrath, the Just Shall Live by His Faith\" 322\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.9 Zephaniah: \"I Will Gather Those Who Sorrow\" 323\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.10 Haggai: \"The Desire of All Nations\" 323\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.11 Zechariah: \"Behold, Your King\" 324\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3.12 Malachi: \"Who Can Endure the Day of His Coming?\" 325\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart III The New Testament\/New Covenant 329\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e13 Gospel Narrative: Kingdom Coming 331\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.1 Make It New: Another Covenant 331\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.2 \"A House Divided\": Intertestamental Developments and Religious\/Political Parties in Jesus' Day 332\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.3 Synoptic and Johannine: Stereoscopic Vision Revisited 336\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.3.1 Mark,\"Q,\" and Synoptic Composition 337\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.3.2 Jesus of History, Christ of Faith? 338\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.4 \"Tell No Man\": The Messianic Secret 340\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.4.1 Parables: Kingdom Secrets, \"Ears to Hear\" 343\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5 Gospel vs. Biography: Chosen Stories of the Chosen One 347\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.1 Matthew: Jesus, Son of Abraham 348\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.1.1 \u003ci\u003eToledoth Y’shua\u003c\/i\u003e: The Generations of Jesus 348\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.2 Mark: Jesus, Son of God 350\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.2.1 \"Render Unto Caesar\": Mark and\u003ci\u003e Romanitas\u003c\/i\u003e 350\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.3 Luke]Acts: Jesus, Son of Adam 352\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.3.1 \"Most Excellent Theophilus\": Luke's Testimony 354\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.3.2 Discoursing Wonders: Luke and the Marvelous 354\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.3.3 Acts of the Holy Spirit: \"The World Turned Upside Down\" 358\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.3.4 Preacher, Martyr, Evangelist, and Convert: Peter, Stephen, Philip, and Saul\/Paul 360\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.4 John: Jesus, Son of the Father, Word Made Flesh 366\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.4.1 \"And Dwelt Among Us\": Gnosticism Refuted by the Word Made Flesh 367\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.4.2 \"What Sign Do You Show Us?\": The \u003ci\u003eSemeia\u003c\/i\u003e of John 370\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.5.5 Ordinary Splendor: The Miracle of the Everyday 374\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e14 Epistle: Divine–Human Correspondence 377\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1 Sent to the Nations: Pauline Epistles 379\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1.1 Paul's Letters to Churches 380\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1.1.1 At the Center of Power: Romans 380\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1.1.2 At the Center of Trade: 1 and 2 Corinthians 385\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1.1.3 The Law of Grace: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians 390\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1.1.4 Paul's Apocalypse: 1 and 2 Thessalonians 398\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1.2 Paul's Letters to Individuals 400\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1.2.1 Pastoral Epistles: 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus 400\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.1.2.2 \"More Than a Slave\": Philemon 402\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.2 General Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, Jude 403\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.2.1 Better Than Moses: The Letter to the Hebrews 403\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.2.2 Trials of the Faith that Works: James 405\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.2.3 The Forge of Persecution and the Cancer of Corruption: 1 and 2 Peter 407\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.2.4 Fire and Hope: Jude 410\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.3 Johannine Epistles: \"God is Love\" 411\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e15 New Testament Apocalypse: Kingdom Come 417\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.1 Little Apocalypses: The Gospels and Epistles 418\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2 \"An Angel Standing in the Sun\": The Brilliant Difficulties of Revelation 420\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.1 Fearful Symmetry: Structuring the Vision 421\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.2 \u003ci\u003eTheatrum Mundi\u003c\/i\u003e: Staging the Vision 423\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.3 \"The Words of This Book\": Speaking the Vision 424\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.4 \"If Anyone Adds … and Takes Away\": Interpreting the Vision 425\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.4.1 Preterist: Apocalypse Then 426\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.4.2 Historicist: Apocalypse Then to Now 427\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.4.3 Futurist: Apocalypse Soon 428\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.4.4 Spiritual\/Symbolist: Apocalypse Now – and Always 430\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2.5 The Three]Fold Answer: A Symbolic Drama of Past, Present, and Future 432\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.3 Full Circle: A Tree in a Garden 433\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAppendix 1 Suggestions for Further Reading 437\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAppendix 2 Boxes and Illustrations 439\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 443\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCHRISTOPHER HODGKINS\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor of Renaissance Literature at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is author or editor of eight books and many articles and essays, and has addressed audiences across North America and at the Universities of Cambridge, London, Surrey, Edinburgh, Catania, Aarhus, and Paris; at Salisbury and Canterbury Cathedrals; and at the Vatican.    \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURAL ART YET WRITTEN\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiterary Study of the Bible: An Introduction\u003c\/i\u003e approaches each book of the Bible (including several of the apocrypha) with non-sectarian literary questions, exploring the meanings that the Bible reveals when we read it like a poem, narrative, or play. As a unique hybrid of introductory guide, essential handbook, historical survey, and absorbing commentary, this book fills a gap in literary Bible study with its fresh perspectives on the biblical writers' many arts. Readers will engage in a wide range of textual approaches and interpretive traditions through this broadly informed, accessibly written text. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDr. Christopher Hodgkins has taught literary study of the Bible for 25 years, over which time he has field-tested the many lenses—of genre, image, language, characterization, plot, and craft—used throughout this book. Tracing the sources, composition, and influences of the Biblical text, this book places the Bible in a tradition of ancient near eastern, Hebrew, and Hellenistic literary art, giving new depth to the way we understand the familiar stories of scripture. This remarkable volume: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eApproaches the Bible as a richly collaborative and coherent work of literary art, exploring the ways in which earlier books influence the creation and interpretation of later ones\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eProvides illuminating commentary supplemented by explanatory text boxes, maps, illustrations, and study questions to enhance interest and expand learning\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eIntroduces poetic and narrative devices such as doubling, juxtaposition, and irony within the context of scriptural art and editorial design\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eGives extensive attention to each biblical book, resulting in the most comprehensive introduction of literary Bible study to date\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePresents these materials through an accessible and lively text permeated with references to both high and popular culture\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiterary Study of the Bible\u003c\/i\u003e will be a welcome addition to personal, school, college, and congregational libraries, as well as an excellent text for students of the Bible in both secular and faith-based settings.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47989536063717,"sku":"NP9781444334951","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781444334951.jpg?v=1761784505","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/literary-study-of-the-bible-isbn-9781444334951","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}