An Introduction to the Bible: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts

This groundbreaking introduction to the Bible explores its emergence and development in the context of world history. It particularly focuses on the role of a number of empires in the formation of the biblical canon.

In addition to its comprehensive coverage, this book also integrates in an accessible way the most up–to–date work in the field. It traces the development of the Bible through its interaction with the empires of the time, from the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic empires, through to the Roman dominion. Topics explored include the formation of the Pentateuch, the development of the earliest Old Testament stories, the historical study of the gospel traditions surrounding Jesus; the influence of Roman rule in the provinces where Paul spent much of his ministry; and the interpretation of the biblical texts and their use by different faith communities.

Packed throughout with reader–friendly features including study questions, bibliographies, timelines, and illustrations and photos, this is a balanced and informed introduction.

Also available by David Carr: An Introduction to the Old Testament. 

List of Figures.

List of Maps.

List of Boxes.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

List of Abbreviations.

Major Periods and Corresponding Texts Covered in this Book.

Timeline.

Prologue: Orientation to Multiple Bibles and Multiple Translations.

1. Studying the Bible in Its Ancient Context(s).

2. The Emergence of Ancient Israel and Its First Oral Traditions.

3. Echoes of Empire in Monarchal Israel.

4. Narrative and Prophecy amidst the Rise and Fall of the Northern Kingdom.

5. Torah and Other Texts Written in the Wake of the Assyrian Empire.

6. Bible for Exiles: Promise and Story in the Neo–Babylonian Empire.

7. The Persian Empire and the Emergence of a Temple–Centered Jewish Community.

8. Hellenistic Empires and the Formation of the Hebrew Bible 9. Studying the New Testament in Its Ancient Context.

10. Paul and his Letters in the Roman Colonial Context.

11. Mark′s Story of Jesus in the Midst of Roman Retribution.

12. The Gospel of Matthew: Defining Community in the Wake of Destruction.

13. Negotiating the Empire in Luke–Acts.

14. The Gospel of John and the Johannine Epistles: Turning Inward as a Strategy for Life in the Empire.

15. Variations on Responses to Empire in other New Testament Writings.

Epilogue: The Final Formation of the Jewish and Christian Bibles.

Glossary.

Index.

David M. Carr is Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Union Theological Seminary in New York. His previous books include Reading the Fractures of Genesis: Historical and Literary Approaches (1996); The Erotic Word: Sexuality, Spirituality and the Bible (2003); and Writing on the Tablet of the Heart: Origins of Scripture and Literature (2005).

Colleen M. Conway is Professor of Religious Studies at Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. Her books include Men and Women in the Fourth Gospel: Gender and Johannine Characterization (1999) and Behold the Man: Jesus and Greco Roman Masculinity (2008).

"I recommend this book to those careful readers who seek to improve their knowledge of the Bible from new perspectives." (Theological Book Review, 2010)