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| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Who Wrote the Bible? Richard Friedman, 2019-01-15 A much anticipated reissue of Who Wrote the Bible?—the contemporary classic the New York Times Book Review called “a thought-provoking [and] perceptive guide” that identifies the individual writers of the Pentateuch and explains what they can teach us about the origins of the Bible. For thousands of years, the prophet Moses was regarded as the sole author of the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch. According to tradition, Moses was divinely directed to write down foundational events in the history of the world: the creation of humans, the worldwide flood, the laws as they were handed down at Mt. Sinai, and the cycle of Israel’s enslavement and liberation from Egypt. However, these stories—and their frequent discrepancies—provoke questions: why does the first chapter in Genesis say that man and woman were made in God’s image, while the second says that woman was made from man’s rib? Why does one account of the flood say it lasted forty days, while another records no less than one hundred? And why do some stories reflect the history of southern Judah, while others seem sourced from northern Israel? Originally published in 1987, Richard Friedman’s Who Wrote the Bible? joins a host of modern scholars who show that the Pentateuch was written by at least four distinct voices—separated by borders, political alliances, and particular moments in history—then connected by brilliant editors. Rather than cast doubt onto the legitimacy of the Bible, Friedman uses these divergent accounts to illuminate a text that was written by real people. Friedman’s seminal and bestselling text is a comprehensive and authoritative answer to the question: just who exactly wrote the Bible? |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Bible with Sources Revealed Richard Elliott Friedman, 2009-06-02 This groundbreaking volume of the Five Books of Moses shows and explains how the source texts were compiled: “A fundamental resource” (Peter Machinist, Harvard University). For centuries, biblical scholars have worked on discovering how the Bible came to be. The consensus among a broad range of experts is known as The Documentary Hypothesis: the idea that ancient writers produced documents of poetry, prose, and law over many centuries, which editors then used as sources to fashion the books of the Bible that people have read for the last two thousand years. In The Bible with Sources Revealed, eminent scholar Richard Elliott Friedman offers a new, visual presentation of the Five Books of Moses—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—unlocking the complex and fascinating tapestry of their origins. Different colors and type styles allow readers to easily identify each of the distinct sources, showcasing Friedman's highly acclaimed and dynamic translation. This unique Bible provides a new means to explore the riches of scripture by: •Making it possible to read the source texts individually, to see their artistry, their views of God, Israel, and humankind, and their connection to their moment in history •Presenting the largest collection of evidence ever assembled for establishing and explaining the Documentary Hypothesis •Showing visually how the Bible was formed out of these sources •Helping readers appreciate that the Bible is a rich, complex, beautiful work as a result of the extraordinary way in which it was created. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Hidden Book in the Bible Richard Elliott Friedman, 2009-06-23 Renowned biblical sleuth and scholar Richard Elliot Friedman reveals the first work of prose literature in the world-a 3000-year-old epic hidden within the books of the Hebrew Bible. Written by a single, masterful author but obscured by ancient editors and lost for millennia, this brilliant epic of love, deception, war, and redemption is a compelling account of humankind's complex relationship with God. Friedman boldly restores this prose masterpiece-the very heart of the Bible-to the extraordinary form in which it was originally written. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Commentary on the Torah Richard Elliott Friedman, 2012-09-18 In this groundbreaking and insightful new commentary, one of the world's leading biblical scholars unveils the unity and continuity of the Torah for the modern reader. Richard Elliott Friedman, the bestselling author of Who Wrote the Bible?, integrates the most recent discoveries in biblical archaeology and research with the fruits of years of experience studying and teaching the Bible to illuminate the straightforward meaning of the text -- to shed new light on the Torah and, more important, to open windows through which it sheds its light on us. While other commentaries are generally collections of comments by a number of scholars, this is a unified commentary on the Torah by a single scholar, the most unified by a Jewish scholar in centuries. It includes the original Hebrew text, a new translation, and an authoritative, accessibly written interpretation and analysis of each passage that remains focused on the meaning of the Torah as a whole, showing how its separate books are united into one cohesive, all-encompassing sacred literary masterpiece. This landmark work is destined to take its place as a classic in the libraries of lay readers and scholars alike, as we seek to understand the significance of the scriptural texts for our lives today, and for years to come. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Exodus Richard Elliott Friedman, 2017-09-12 The Exodus has become a core tradition of Western civilization. Millions read it, retell it, and celebrate it. But did it happen? Biblical scholars, Egyptologists, archaeologists, historians, literary scholars, anthropologists, and filmmakers are drawn to it. Unable to find physical evidence until now, many archaeologists and scholars claim this mass migration is just a story, not history. Others oppose this conclusion, defending the biblical account. Like a detective on an intricate case no one has yet solved, pioneering Bible scholar and bestselling author of Who Wrote the Bible? Richard Elliott Friedman cuts through the noise — the serious studies and the wild theories — merging new findings with new insight. From a spectrum of disciplines, state-of-the-art archeological breakthroughs, and fresh discoveries within scripture, he brings real evidence of a historical basis for the exodus — the history behind the story. The biblical account of millions fleeing Egypt may be an exaggeration, but the exodus itself is not a myth. Friedman does not stop there. Known for his ability to make Bible scholarship accessible to readers, Friedman proceeds to reveal how much is at stake when we explore the historicity of the exodus. The implications, he writes, are monumental. We learn that it became the starting-point of the formation of monotheism, the defining concept of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Moreover, we learn that it precipitated the foundational ethic of loving one’s neighbors — including strangers — as oneself. He concludes, the actual exodus was the cradle of global values of compassion and equal rights today. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Bible Now Richard Elliott Friedman, Shawna Dolansky, 2011-10-01 For millennia, people have used the Bible as a touchstone on important social and political questions, and rightly so. But many use the Bible simply as a weapon to wield against opponents in a variety of debates--without knowing what the Bible actually says about the issue in question. In The Bible Now, two respected biblical scholars, Richard Elliott Friedman and Shawna Dolansky, tell us carefully what the Hebrew Bible says or does not say about a wide range of issues--including homosexuality, abortion, women's status, capital punishment, and the environment. In fascinating passages that shed new light on some of today's most passionate disputes, the authors reveal how the Bible is frequently misunderstood, misquoted, mistranslated, and misused. For instance, those who quote the Bible in condemning homosexuality often cite the story of Sodom, and those who favor homosexuality point to David's lament over the death of Jonathan. But as the authors show, neither passage is clearly about homosexuality, and these texts do not offer solid footing on which to make an argument. Readers learn that female homosexuality is not prohibited--only male homosexuality. And on the subject of abortion, the Bible is practically silent, with one extraordinary exception. The Bible has inspired people to do great good but has also been used by people to do great harm, so it is vitally important for us to pay attention to it--and to get it right. The Bible Now shows us how we can--and cannot--use this ancient source of wisdom to address our most current and pressing issues. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Disappearance of God Richard Elliott Friedman, 1995-10 Friedman examines how God gradually becomes hidden as the Bible progresses, and this phenomenon's place in the formation of Judaism and Christianity. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Hidden Face of God Richard Friedman, 1997 |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Creation of Sacred Literature Richard Elliott Friedman, 1981-01-01 |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Who Really Wrote the Bible? Clayton Howard Ford, 2010-02 For many years now, a debate has raged among literary scholars as to who wrote the Pentateuch, The first five books of the Bible. Within that debate, two sides with irreconcilably different viewpoints have battled For The truth. The result of this discourse will be far-reaching, threatening the foundations of the world's three greatest religions. For Christianity, if Moses did not write the Pentateuch, then Jesus was misled, And The faith of many are in jeopardy. If several editors wrote and put together those books at different times as Dr. Richard Elliott Friedman argues in his book, Who Wrote the Bible (1987), then it is possible that Abraham was a fictional character And The faiths of Judaism and Islam have a fictional origin. In Who Really Wrote the Bible, author Clayton Ford sifts through the logical and literary fallacies put forth as evidence by those who would condemn the Pentateuch's authenticity. By following through the dissenters' reasoning, with copious references to their own material, he brings light to how these scholars have tied themselves up in the knots of their own criticism. Where Moses's detractors see inconsistency and evidence for multiple authors, Ford finds examples of elaborate harmony, consistency, and intricate storytelling. Where they find dramatically different styles, Ford shows an educated, single author with an ability to alter formats, As evidenced in other examples from antiquity. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Le-David Maskil Richard Elliott Friedman, William Henry Propp, 2004 For the past half-century, David Noel Freedman has had an enormous impact on the study of the Bible, both as an author and as an editor of the writings of others. As his colleagues note in their comments at the beginning of this volume, You are quintessentially the man of the book. And perhaps what impresses us most is that your bibliography of hundreds of books is not limited to the extraordinary number of important books that you've written yourself. It also contains the books that you've edited for others. And we know what it means to have David Noel Freedman as one's editor. For every page of manuscript that the author sends you, you send back almost an equal number of pages of advice, criticism, corrections, and improvements. You can make a bad book good, and a good book better. And you can make its author a better scholar and a better writer. In this volume, his compatriots at the University of California, San Diego, contribute eight varied essays in celebration of his impact on them and in honor of his varied contributions to biblical studies. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: A Laymans Guide to Who Wrote the Books of the Bible? C. Jack Trickler, 2003 Bible as used in the title of this book refers to the Bibles used by mainstream American Jews, Roman Catholics and Protestants. This book deals with the books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, including those of the Apocrypha.This is a study of the people who wrote the books of the Bible and of the historical, political and social settings in which they wrote and of the factors that caused the authors to write. The search for the authors and what motivated them to write takes the readers into the origins of the stories that make up a large part of the Bible.While many popular and scholarly books have been written about the authorship of specific books of the Bible, this is the only book that deals with all of the books of the Bbile is a single, concise volume. It is in laymen's language with footnotes suggesting where readers can find further information for expanded study.Where scholars have offered differing views of biblical matters that affect the determination of authorship, this book presents the various views - in laymen's language. Read, learn and enjoy! |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Sacred History, Sacred Literature Shawna Dolansky, 2008-06-30 Richard Friedman is well known in the field of biblical studies, not only because of his contributions to the study of the Hebrew Bible (which are many) but also because he has written cogently and clearly for a much wider audience, outside the academy, most notably in his Who Wrote the Bible? (1997). In addition, his influence has crossed the boundaries of a variety of disciplines such as source criticism, archaeology, the ancient Near East, as well as religious studies. The essays in this volume reflect the breadth and depth of Richard Friedman’s life and work. Several contributors discuss topics related to the Hebrew Bible: for example, Jacob Milgrom examines the relationship between Ezekiel and the Levites and Carol Meyers discusses the Tabernacle texts in the context of Priestly influence on them; Ronald Hendel, Michael Homan, and Robert Wilson explore the history of source criticism, with detailed source-critical analysis of Genesis 1–11 and the book of Kings. Jeffrey Geoghegan discusses the origins of the Passover in one of several insightful essays under the topic “Israel and the Ancient Near East.” Among the contributions specific to archaeology, Baruch Halpern’s provides a provocative “Defense of Forgery.” Lastly, four contributors (e.g., Alan Cooper) discuss religion and religious studies, along with ramifications for contemporary application. A fine collection of contemporary topics discussed by leading scholars in the field. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Who Wrote the Bible? Richard Elliott Friedman, 1987 Includes index and bibliography. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: They Spoke from God William C. Williams, Stanley M. Horton, 2012 The Spoke From God addresses the writings of the Old Testament in simple language and in a personal style that speaks directly to the reader. It not only provides the student with a basic grasp of relevant passages; it also related the biblical text to historical, thological and ethical questions. Most importantly, it demonstrates how the various portions of the Old Testament fit together with one another, held together by the story of a God at work to redeem his people.--Back cover |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: In the Footsteps of Jesus Jean-Pierre Isbouts, 2012 Featuring the latest archaeological and historical discoveries, this guide illustrates the people and events that shaped the life of Jesus, from his birth in Bethlehem to his death in Jerusalem. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Bible Unearthed Israel Finkelstein, Neil Asher Silberman, 2002-06-11 In this groundbreaking work that sets apart fact and legend, authors Finkelstein and Silberman use significant archeological discoveries to provide historical information about biblical Israel and its neighbors. In this iconoclastic and provocative work, leading scholars Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman draw on recent archaeological research to present a dramatically revised portrait of ancient Israel and its neighbors. They argue that crucial evidence (or a telling lack of evidence) at digs in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon suggests that many of the most famous stories in the Bible—the wanderings of the patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, Joshua’s conquest of Canaan, and David and Solomon’s vast empire—reflect the world of the later authors rather than actual historical facts. Challenging the fundamentalist readings of the scriptures and marshaling the latest archaeological evidence to support its new vision of ancient Israel, The Bible Unearthed offers a fascinating and controversial perspective on when and why the Bible was written and why it possesses such great spiritual and emotional power today. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The First Historians Baruch Halpern, 2010-11-01 |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: How the Bible Became a Book William M. Schniedewind, 2005-08-22 How the Bible Became a Book combines recent archaeological discoveries in the Middle East with insights culled from the history of writing to address how the Bible was written and evolved into sacred Scripture. Written for general readers as well as scholars, the book provides rich insight into how these texts came to possess the authority of Scripture and explores why Ancient Israel, an oral culture, began to write literature. It describes an emerging literate society in ancient Israel that challenges the assertion that literacy first arose in Greece during the fifth century BCE. Hb ISBN (2004) 0-521-82946-1 |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Great Shift James L. Kugel, 2017-09-12 The renowned author of How to Read the Biblereveals how a pivotal transformation in spiritual experience during the biblical era made us who we are today. A great mystery lies at the heart of the Bible. Early on, people seem to live in a world entirely foreign to our own. God appears to Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and others; God buttonholes Moses and Isaiah and Jeremiah and tells them what to say. Then comes the Great Shift, and Israelites stop seeing God or hearing the divine voice. Instead, later Israelites are “in search of God,” reaching out to a distant, omniscient deity in prayers, as people have done ever since. What brought about this change? The answers come from ancient texts, archaeology and anthropology, and even modern neuroscience. They concern the origins of the modern sense of self and the birth of a worldview that has been ours ever since. James Kugel, whose strong religious faith shines through his scientific reckoning with the Bible and the ancient world, has written a masterwork that will be of interest to believers and nonbelievers alike, a profound meditation on encountering God, then and now. “Fascinating.”—The New York Times Book Review “Biblical exegesis at its best: a brilliant and sensitive reading of ancient texts, all with an eye to making them meaningful to our time by making sense of what they meant in their own.”—Kirkus Reviews(starred review) “A magnificent job of bringing important ideas from the academy to a broad readership . . . Kugel gives readers a sense of history’s convoluted texture, its ironies, and thus its beauty.”—The Jewish Review of Books |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Torah Seymour Rossel, 2007 An interactive study of the Five Books of Moses. The book can be read from cover to cover or used to study each portion of the Torah as read weekly in the synagogue. Simple enough for teenagers, it is sophisticated enough for adults and rich in resources for preparing lectures, sermons, and talks. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Meaning of the Bible Douglas A. Knight, Amy-Jill Levine, 2011-11-08 “Both enlightening and inspiring . . . a helpful resource for both Jews and Christians, conservatives and liberals, religious leaders and social reformers.” —Peter J. Paris, the Elmer G. Homrighausen Professor of Christian Social Ethics, emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary In The Meaning of the Bible: What the Jewish Scriptures and Christian Old Testament Can Teach Us, preeminent biblical scholars Douglas A. Knight and Amy-Jill Levine deliver a broad and engaging introduction to the Old Testament—also known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible—offering a wealth of compelling historical background and context for the sacred literature that is at the heart of Judaism and Christianity. John Shelby Spong, author of Why Christianity Must Change or Die writes, “Levine and Knight have combined to write a book on the Bible that is as academically brilliant as it is marvelously entertaining. By placing our scriptures into their original Jewish context they have opened up startling and profound new insights. This is a terrific book.” “A winsome, accessible introduction to the theological thought of the Hebrew Bible. This sort of irenic, thoughtful linkage of criticism and interpretation within a confessing tradition is exactly what we most need in Scripture reading.” —Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary “From its superb introduction to its perfectly worded conclusion, this book does it all. Whether your interest in the Bible is historical or literary, specific texts or broad themes, this book has it—and conveys its relevance for today.” —Richard Elliott Friedman, author of Commentary on the Torah “More than random facts about the Hebrew Bible . . . more than a historical overview . . . they are aiming for true understanding of the life, culture, and practices of the ancient Israelites.” —Booklist |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Bible With and Without Jesus Amy-Jill Levine, Marc Zvi Brettler, 2020-10-27 The editors of The Jewish Annotated New Testament show how and why Jews and Christians read many of the same Biblical texts – including passages from the Pentateuch, the Prophets, and the Psalms – differently. Exploring and explaining these diverse perspectives, they reveal more clearly Scripture’s beauty and power. Esteemed Bible scholars and teachers Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Z. Brettler take readers on a guided tour of the most popular Hebrew Bible passages quoted in the New Testament to show what the texts meant in their original contexts and then how Jews and Christians, over time, understood those same texts. Passages include the creation of the world, the role of Adam and Eve, the Suffering Servant of Isiah, the book of Jonah, and Psalm 22, whose words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” Jesus quotes as he dies on the cross. Comparing various interpretations – historical, literary, and theological - of each ancient text, Levine and Brettler offer deeper understandings of the original narratives and their many afterlives. They show how the text speaks to different generations under changed circumstances, and so illuminate the Bible’s ongoing significance. By understanding the depth and variety by which these passages have been, and can be, understood, The Bible With and Without Jesus does more than enhance our religious understandings, it helps us to see the Bible as a source of inspiration for any and all readers. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Genesis and the Moses Story Konrad Schmid, 2010 Konrad Schmid is a Swiss biblical scholar who belongs to a larger group of Continental researchers proposing new directions in the study of the Pentateuch. In this volume, a translation of his Erzväter und Exodus, Schmid argues that the ancestor tradition in Genesis and the Moses story in Exodus were two competing traditions of Israel's origins and were not combined until the time of the Priestly Code--that is, the early Persian period. Schmid interacts with the long tradition of European scholarship on the Hebrew Bible but departs from some of the main tenets of the Documentary Hypothesis: he argues that the pre-Priestly material in both text blocks is literarily and theologically so divergent that their present linkage is more appropriately interpreted as the result of a secondary redaction than as thematic variation stemming from J's oral prehistory. He dates Genesis-2 Kings to the Persian period and considers it a redactional work that, in its present shape, is a historical introduction to the message of future hope presented in the prophetic corpus of Isaiah-Malachi. Scholars and students alike will be pleased that this translation makes Schmid's important work readily available in English, both for the contributions made by Schmid and the summary of continental interpretation that he presents. In this edition, some passages have been expanded or modified in order to clarify issues or to engage with more-recent scholarship. The notes and bibliography have also been updated. Dr. Schmid is Professor of Old Testament and Early Judaism at the University of Zürich. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Beyond the Texts William G. Dever, 2020-11-16 A handbook for biblical scholars and historians of the Ancient Near East William G. Dever offers a welcome perspective on ancient Israel and Judah that prioritizes the archaeological remains to render history as it was—not as the biblical writers argue it should have been. Drawing from the most recent archaeological data as interpreted from a nontheological point of view and supplementing that data with biblical material only when it converges with the archaeological record, Dever analyzes all the evidence at hand to provide a new history of ancient Israel and Judah that is accessible to all interested readers. Features A new approach to the history of ancient Israel Extensive bibliography More than eighty maps and illustrations |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Essential Torah George Robinson, 2006-10-31 Whether you are studying the Bible for the first time or you're simply curious about its history and contents, you will find everything you need in this accessible, well-written handbook to Jewish belief as set forth in the Torah (The Jerusalem Post). George Robinson, author of the acclaimed Essential Judaism, begins by recounting the various theories of the origins of the Torah and goes on to explain its importance as the core element in Jewish belief and practice. He discusses the basics of Jewish theology and Jewish history as they are derived from the Torah, and he outlines how the Dead Sea Scrolls and other archaeological discoveries have enhanced our understanding of the Bible. He introduces us to the vast literature of biblical commentary, chronicles the evolution of the Torah’s place in the synagogue service, offers an illuminating discussion of women and the Bible, and provides a study guide as a companion for individual or group Bible study. In the book’s centerpiece, Robinson summarizes all fifty-four portions that make up the Torah and gives us a brilliant distillation of two thousand years of biblical commentaries—from the rabbis of the Mishnah and the Talmud to medieval commentators such as Rashi, Maimonides, and ibn Ezra to contemporary scholars such as Nahum Sarna, Nechama Leibowitz, Robert Alter, and Everett Fox. This extraordinary volume—which includes a listing of the Torah reading cycles, a Bible time line, glossaries of terms and biblical commentators, and a bibliography—will stand as the essential sourcebook on the Torah for years to come. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Making of the Bible Konrad Schmid, Jens Schrter, 2021-10-29 The authoritative new account of the BibleÕs origins, illuminating the 1,600-year tradition that shaped the Christian and Jewish holy books as millions know them today. The Bible as we know it today is best understood as a process, one that begins in the tenth century BCE. In this revelatory account, a world-renowned scholar of Hebrew scripture joins a foremost authority on the New Testament to write a new biography of the Book of Books, reconstructing Jewish and Christian scriptural histories, as well as the underappreciated contest between them, from which the Bible arose. Recent scholarship has overturned popular assumptions about IsraelÕs past, suggesting, for instance, that the five books of the Torah were written not by Moses but during the reign of Josiah centuries later. The sources of the Gospels are also under scrutiny. Konrad Schmid and Jens Schrter reveal the long, transformative journeys of these and other texts en route to inclusion in the holy books. The New Testament, the authors show, did not develop in the wake of an Old Testament set in stone. Rather the two evolved in parallel, in conversation with each other, ensuring a continuing mutual influence of Jewish and Christian traditions. Indeed, Schmid and Schrter argue that Judaism may not have survived had it not been reshaped in competition with early Christianity. A remarkable synthesis of the latest Old and New Testament scholarship, The Making of the Bible is the most comprehensive history yet told of the worldÕs best-known literature, revealing its buried lessons and secrets. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: How to Read the Bible James L. Kugel, 2012-05-01 James Kugel’s essential introduction and companion to the Bible combines modern scholarship with the wisdom of ancient interpreters for the entire Hebrew Bible. As soon as it appeared, How to Read the Bible was recognized as a masterwork, “awesome, thrilling” (The New York Times), “wonderfully interesting, extremely well presented” (The Washington Post), and “a tour de force...a stunning narrative” (Publishers Weekly). Now, this classic remains the clearest, most inviting and readable guide to the Hebrew Bible around—and a profound meditation on the effect that modern biblical scholarship has had on traditional belief. Moving chapter by chapter, Harvard professor James Kugel covers the Bible’s most significant stories—the Creation of the world, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and his wives, Moses and the exodus, David’s mighty kingdom, plus the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the other prophets, and on to the Babylonian conquest and the eventual return to Zion. Throughout, Kugel contrasts the way modern scholars understand these events with the way Christians and Jews have traditionally understood them. The latter is not, Kugel shows, a naïve reading; rather, it is the product of a school of sophisticated interpreters who flourished toward the end of the biblical period. These highly ideological readers sought to put their own spin on texts that had been around for centuries, utterly transforming them in the process. Their interpretations became what the Bible meant for centuries and centuries—until modern scholarship came along. The question that this book ultimately asks is: What now? As one reviewer wrote, Kugel’s answer provides “a contemporary model of how to read Sacred Scripture amidst the oppositional pulls of modern scholarship and tradition.” |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: How the Bible Became Holy Michael L Satlow, 2014-04-15 In this sweeping narrative, Michael Satlow tells the fascinating story of how an ancient collection of obscure Israelite writings became the founding texts of both Judaism and Christianity, considered holy by followers of each faith. Drawing on cutting-edge historical and archeological research, he traces the story of how, when, and why Jews and Christians gradually granted authority to texts that had long lay dormant in a dusty temple archive. The Bible, Satlow maintains, was not the consecrated book it is now until quite late in its history. He describes how elite scribes in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C.E. began the process that led to the creation of several of our biblical texts. It was not until these were translated into Greek in Egypt in the second century B.C.E., however, that some Jews began to see them as culturally authoritative, comparable to Homer’s works in contemporary Greek society. Then, in the first century B.C.E. in Israel, political machinations resulted in the Sadducees assigning legal power to the writings. We see how the world Jesus was born into was largely biblically illiterate and how he knew very little about the texts upon which his apostles would base his spiritual leadership. Synthesizing an enormous body of scholarly work, Satlow’s groundbreaking study offers provocative new assertions about commonly accepted interpretations of biblical history as well as a unique window into how two of the world’s great faiths came into being. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible Martin G. Abegg, Jr., Peter Flint, Eugene Ulrich, 2012-08-07 From the dramatic find in the caves of Qumran, the world's most ancient version of the Bible allows us to read the scriptures as they were in the time of Jesus. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Hidden Book in the Bible Richard Elliott Friedman, 1998-09-22 Renowned biblical sleuth and scholar Richard Elliott Friedman, author of Who Wrote the Bible?, reveals for the first time his most startling and revolutionary discovery: embedded within the Bible is a continuous narrative that had been sliced apart by ancient editors who interlaced it with other stories, laws, and poetry. It is a singular work of genius, the core of the Bible. Across three millennia, this great work of prose comes back to us--pieced together as it was originally meant to be read--in a fresh and powerful translation. In recent years, Harold Bloom's The Book of J and Friedman's own Who Wrote the Bible? have made the short work called J known to the public. But in The Hidden Book in the Bible Friedman presents his landmark discovery that J is not a work. It is the beginning section of a work: a long, exquisitely connected prose composition full of artistry and power. Using a creative blend of scholarship and detective work, Friedman has joined together this story from the dawn of written history, and what emerges is astonishing. Far from a primitive first attempt atr writing, it is an exciting and complex saga, a passionate work of love, deception, war, and redemption. Readers will experience the story that has not been read as a single continuous narrative for almost three millennia. Friedman begins by leading the readers through the exciting story of his discovery of this hidden work. He marshals the evidence, showing how a unique use of language and themes--from the two cases of the famous coat of many colors to all nine references to Sheol (the place of the dead), and from incidents of sibling rivalry to sexual violation--recur in a connected way in certain parts of hte Bible but nowhere else. Friedman dramatically illustrates how these clues establish a singular author's voice guiding more of the Bible than was ever previously suspected. Friedman presents the work itself in a bold translation that is remarkable faithful to the original. It begins with a well-known tale of the deity's creation of a paradise that goes wrong and then conveys a sweep of history, telling the story of a family through twelve generations: a story of deception and recompense, of powerful loves and sibling rivalries, of wars and spies. The family becomes a nation, the nation finds a ruling family, and they find their way to peace. The author of this saga crafts a compelling and densely woven tale of family struggles, bitter betrayal, and, finally, the birth of a great kingdom under Solomon, the son of David. This work, says Friedman, is a treasure. It became the core of the Bible and the beginning of prose literature. Readers now have the opportunity to see the first great prose writer's full achievement: an epic work of the struggle between God and human, and between good and bad. The Hidden Book in the Bible will forever change the way we regard the Bible. Exciting, provocative, ambitious yet reverent, says Donald Spoto, Friedman's latest book is, as usual, grounded in impeccable scholarship. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels Barry Beitzel, 2018-04-18 The Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels delivers fresh insight by paying attention to an often overlooked component of the Gospel stories--their geographical setting. Written by a team of scholars with on-the-ground experience in Palestine, the Geographic Commentary lets you see the land through the eyes of the disciples as Jesus uses the surrounding landscape as the backdrop for his teaching. Each article addresses a particular story, event, or subject across the Gospels. This commentary will not only place you in the sandals of the disciples as they traveled throughout Israel with Jesus, but it will explain the significance of the geographic details to the biblical text and your life today. With more than fifty Gospel stories expounded from this important geographical angle, you're bound to take away something new from these well-worn stories.-- |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Unbelievable Rob J Hyndman, 2015-09-16 A journey from faith via evidence. Why a university professor gave up religion and became an unbeliever. Rob J Hyndman is Professor of Statistics at Monash University, Australia. He was a Christadelphian for nearly 30 years, and was well-known as a writer and Bible teacher within the Christadelphian community. He gave up Christianity when he no longer thought that there was sufficient evidence to support belief in the Bible. This is a personal memoir describing Rob's journey of deconversion. Until recently, he was regularly speaking at church conferences internationally, and his books are still used in Bible classes and Sunday Schools around the world. He even helped establish an innovative new church, which became a model for similar churches in other countries. Eventually he came to the view that he was mistaken, and that there was little or no evidence that the Bible was inspired or that God exists. In this book, he reflects on how he was fooled, and why he changed his mind. Whether you agree with his conclusions or not, you will be led to reflect on the nature of faith and evidence, and how they interact. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Cities That Built the Bible Dr. Robert Cargill, 2017-02-21 For many, the names Bethlehem, Babylon, and Jerusalem are known as the setting for epic stories from the Bible featuring rustic mangers, soaring towers, and wooden crosses. What often gets missed is that these cities are far more than just the setting for the Bible and its characters—they were instrumental to the creation of the Bible as we know it today. Robert Cargill, Assistant Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Iowa, is an archeologist, Bible scholar, and host of numerous television documentaries, such as the History Channel series Bible Secrets Revealed. Taking us behind-the-scenes of the Bible, Cargill blends archaeology, biblical history, and personal journey as he explores these cities and their role in the creation of the Bible. He reveals surprising facts such as what the Bible says about the birth of Jesus and how Mary’s Virgin Birth caused problems for the early church. We’ll also see how the God of the Old Testament was influenced by other deities, that there were numerous non-biblical books written about Moses, Jacob, and Jesus in antiquity, and how far more books were left out of the Bible than were let in during the messy, political canonization process. The Cities That Built the Bible is a magnificent tour through fourteen cities: the Phoenicia cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos, Ugarit, Nineveh, Babylon, Megiddo, Athens, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Qumran, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Rome. Along the way, Cargill includes photos of artifacts, dig sites, ruins, and relics, taking readers on a far-reaching journey from the Grotto of the Nativity to the battlegrounds of Megiddo, from the towering Acropolis of Athens to the caves in Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. An exciting adventure through time, The Cities That Built the Bible is a fresh, fascinating exploration that sheds new light on the Bible. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord? L. Michael Morales, 2015-12-08 How can creatures made from dust become members of God's household forever? In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, Michael Morales explores the narrative context, literary structure and theology of Leviticus, following its dramatic movement from the tabernacle to the temple—and from the earthly to the heavenly Mount Zion in the New Testament. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: The Lost Books of the Bible William Hone, 2016-11-03 Collects the lost books of the Bible, sharing stories of Jesus as a child, discussing other miracles of Mary, and other tales not included in the New Testament. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: West with the Night Beryl Markham, 2012-08-14 The classic memoir of Africa, aviation, and adventure—the inspiration for Paula McLain’s Circling the Sun and “a bloody wonderful book” (Ernest Hemingway). Beryl Markham’s life story is a true epic. Not only did she set records and break barriers as a pilot, she shattered societal expectations, threw herself into torrid love affairs, survived desperate crash landings—and chronicled everything. A contemporary of Karen Blixen (better known as Isak Dinesen, the author of Out of Africa), Markham left an enduring memoir that soars with astounding candor and shimmering insights. A rebel from a young age, the British-born Markham was raised in Kenya’s unforgiving farmlands. She trained as a bush pilot at a time when most Africans had never seen a plane. In 1936, she accepted the ultimate challenge: to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean from east to west, a feat that fellow female aviator Amelia Earhart had completed in reverse just a few years before. Markham’s successes and her failures—and her deep, lifelong love of the “soul of Africa”—are all told here with wrenching honesty and agile wit. Hailed as “one of the greatest adventure books of all time” by Newsweek and “the sort of book that makes you think human beings can do anything” by the New York Times, West with the Night remains a powerful testament to one of the iconic lives of the twentieth century. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: Who Wrote the Gospels? Randel Helms, 1997 Arizona State University professor Dr. Randel Helms presents a historical perspective on the identity of the authors of the Gospels. |
| who wrote the bible richard elliott friedman: A History of the Bible John Barton, 2020-08-04 A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as Holy Scripture, a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture. |
WROTE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of WROTE is to form (characters, symbols, etc.) on a surface with an instrument (such as a pen). How to use wrote in a sentence.
Wrote or Written: Which Is Correct? (With Examples) - Two …
Mar 28, 2024 · “Wrote” is used alone, while “written” is part of the perfect tenses and must be accompanied by an auxiliary verb. So, when to use wrote or when to use written? …
WROTE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
He wrote prolifically, publishing his ideas in books, pamphlets, magazines and newspapers. From the Cambridge English Corpus Moreover, not all government correspondents wrote for official …
Wrote or Written: Which Is Correct? (Helpful Examples)
“Wrote” is correct when we use it to talk about “writing” in the past. It’s the simple past tense of the verb “to write.” “Written” is never correct on its own because it’s the past participle of “to write.” …
WROTE Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
See examples of WROTE used in a sentence.
When to Use Written vs. Wrote - YourDictionary
Feb 26, 2020 · Wrote is the simple past tense of "to write." Written is the past participle of "to write." So, what do simple past tense and past participle mean? That is where you'll find the …
Wrote - definition of wrote by The Free Dictionary
1. to trace or form (characters, letters, words, etc.), esp. on paper, with a pen, pencil, or other instrument or means: Write your name on each page. 2. to express or communicate in writing: …
WROTE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
She wrote a letter to a friend of Joao Ribeiro's, a mathematics professor at Cambridge called Louis Greig. → the past tense of write.... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, …
wrote verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes ...
Definition of wrote verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
What’s the Past Tense of Write? Wrote or Written?
Jun 6, 2025 · The post explains that “wrote” is the simple past tense of “write”. It’s used for completed actions in the past and stands alone without a helper verb, as shown in “She wrote …
WROTE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of WROTE is to form (characters, symbols, etc.) on a surface with an instrument (such as a pen). How to use wrote in a sentence.
Wrote or Written: Which Is Correct? (With Examples) - Two …
Mar 28, 2024 · “Wrote” is used alone, while “written” is part of the perfect tenses and must be accompanied by an auxiliary verb. So, when to use wrote or when to use written? …
WROTE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
He wrote prolifically, publishing his ideas in books, pamphlets, magazines and newspapers. From the Cambridge English Corpus Moreover, not all government correspondents wrote for official …
Wrote or Written: Which Is Correct? (Helpful Examples)
“Wrote” is correct when we use it to talk about “writing” in the past. It’s the simple past tense of the verb “to write.” “Written” is never correct on its own because it’s the past participle of “to write.” …
WROTE Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
See examples of WROTE used in a sentence.
When to Use Written vs. Wrote - YourDictionary
Feb 26, 2020 · Wrote is the simple past tense of "to write." Written is the past participle of "to write." So, what do simple past tense and past participle mean? That is where you'll find the …
Wrote - definition of wrote by The Free Dictionary
1. to trace or form (characters, letters, words, etc.), esp. on paper, with a pen, pencil, or other instrument or means: Write your name on each page. 2. to express or communicate in writing: …
WROTE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
She wrote a letter to a friend of Joao Ribeiro's, a mathematics professor at Cambridge called Louis Greig. → the past tense of write.... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, …
wrote verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes ...
Definition of wrote verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
What’s the Past Tense of Write? Wrote or Written?
Jun 6, 2025 · The post explains that “wrote” is the simple past tense of “write”. It’s used for completed actions in the past and stands alone without a helper verb, as shown in “She wrote …
