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5.0 out of 5 stars
Prophecy, July 12, 2003
This review is from: The New Interpreter's Bible : Isaiah - Ezekiel (Volume 6) (Hardcover)
The New Interpreter's Bible is a twelve-volume series, updating the popular Interpreter's Bible from a few decades ago. There are several key features common to all of the volumes of this series. First, each includes a two-column, double translation of the Biblical text (NIV - New International Version, and NRSV - New Revised Standard Version) arranged by topical unit or story. Then, they provide commentaries that look at the passages as a whole, as well as verse-by-verse. Third, interesting Reflection pieces that relate the passages to each other, to history, and to current concerns occur at the conclusion of each passage. Fourth, introductory articles for each book are provided that discuss transmission, historical background, cultural setting, literary concerns, and current scholarship. Finally, there are general articles about the Bible, each Testament, and various types of literature (Narrative, Gospel, Wisdom Literature, etc.) are provided to give general placement and knowledge about the text overall.
The list of contributors, editors, and consultants on the project is a veritable Who's Who of biblical and theological scholarship, representing all major traditions and schools of thought liberal and conservative. Leander Keck, of the Yale Divinity School, is the primary editor of the series.
The volumes were published individually, and can be purchased individually, which is a good thing, given that they are a bit expensive. But for any serious biblical scholar, preacher, student, or enthusiast, they are invaluable.
--Volume VI--
The sixth volume of the New Interpreter's Bible is the volume that introduces the Prophetic tradition in the Hebrew Scriptures. After an introductory essay concerning Prophetic Literature, the volume continues with the books of the major prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel, as well as the apocrypal books of Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah..
In his introductory general article on Prophetic Literature, David Petersen of the Illiff School of Theology looks at the diverse roles of the prophets in Israel's history, as well as the different kinds of poetic and prose produced by the prophets. Petersen addresses issues of the growth over time of prophetic voices, as well as the key issues brought up by the prophets over and over again, such as ethical norms, covenant, and the idea of ultimate hope in God. Petersen also looks at prophetic parallels in other cultures, concluding however that there are no true exemplars outside of the Bible given the scope and sophistication of Biblical prophecy.
The book of Isaiah is looked at as two distinct units, divided as I Isaiah (consisting of chapters 1-39), addressed by Gene Tucker of the Candler School of Theology, Emory, and II Isaiah (consisting of chapters 40-66), addressed by Christopher Seitz of St. Mary's College, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. This helps reinforced the radical difference in the text of Isaiah. Patrick Miller of Princeton Theological Seminary provides commentary on the book of Jeremiah. Anthony Saldarini of Boston College looks at both the book of Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah. Kathleen O'Connor of Columbia Theological Seminary takes on the task of Lamentations, and Katheryn Pfisterer Darr completes the volume with her work on the book of Ezekiel.
The books of Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah are called apocryphal because their status is not canonically clear within the Christian tradition. They are not contained in the official canon of the Hebrew scripture, and so Protestant tradition has tended to leave the books out of the Old Testament. However, these texts were included in the Septuagint, the primary Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures in the ancient world, and so the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox churches consider the texts canonical.
High praise goes to the general editorial staff for working with such strong authors/scholars, that their work fits together well as part of this set while retaining their individual characteristics (much like the writers of the Bible itself!).
--Other volumes available--
The following is a list of each volume in this twelve-volume set, and the contents of each.
Volume I: General Articles on the Bible; General Articles on the Old Testament; Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus
Volume II: Numbers; Deuteronomy; Introduction to Narrative Literature; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; I & II Samuel
Volume III: I & II Kings; I & II Chronicles; Ezra, Nehemiah; Esther; Additions to Esther; Tobit; Judith
Volume IV: I & II Maccabees; Introduction to Hebrew Poetry; Job; Psalms
Volume V: Introduction to Wisdom Literature; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Book of Wisdom; Sirach
Volume VI: Introduction to Prophetic Literature; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Baruch; Letter of Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel
Volume VII: Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature; Daniel; Additions to Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Johan; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi
Volume VIII: General Articles on the New Testament; Matthew; Mark
Volume IX: Luke; John
Volume X: Acts; Introduction to Epistolary Literature; Romans, I Corinthians
Volume XI: II Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; I & II Thessalonians; I & II Timothy; Titus; Philemon
Volume XII: Hebrews; James; I & II Peter; I, II & III John; Jude; Revelation
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