The Bible: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the Bible as both a sacred text, central to the faith of millions, and a classic work of Western literature, containing a tapestry of genres, voices, perspectives, and images. This guide skilfully addresses both aspects of the Bible’s character by exploring:
- the rich variety of literary forms, from poetry to prophecy and epistles to apocalypses;
- the historical, geographic, and social context of the Bible;
- contemporary attitudes to the Bible held by believers and non-believers;
- the status of biblical interpretation today.
The second edition has been updated throughout and includes maps and detailed suggestions for further reading. This is an ideal starting point for people of any faith, or none, who are studying the Bible in any setting or who simply want to know more about the best-selling book of all time.
List of figures
Preface to the first edition
Preface to the second edition
1
The Bible in the modern world
2
The nature of the Bible
3
Major genres
4
Religious themes
5
The Bible and history
6
The social world of the Bible
7
Biblical interpretation today
Bibliography
Index
Biography
John Barton is Emeritus Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture and a senior Research Fellow of Campion Hall, University of Oxford, UK.
"This book draws on the author’s lifetime of experience in Biblical Studies to introduce in clear and simple terms some of the complex ideas and debates that have shaped the field in recent times. It succinctly introduces both the nature and background of the biblical text, making this an ideal book for anyone who wants to explore the Bible in more depth. Professor Barton understands how to read the Bible from both scholarly and faith-based perspectives, and students from many backgrounds will find this a stimulating and useful read."
- Andrew Village, York St John University, UK
"Barton manages to address heavy-weight topics with great care and clarity that can easily be approached by both academic students or interested readers. I highly recommend this second edition."
- Kirsi Cobb, Cliff College, UK
"This second edition of Barton’s introduction succeeds in introducing the reader to the pitfalls and neuralgic points of current Biblical studies. It functions as an invitation to read the Bible [...] while, at the same time, encouraging one to ask how its future readers will resolve its many conundrums. It is hoped that many people read this book with an aim towards testing their preconceptions and general knowledge of the biblical text."
- Philipp Reisner, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany, Reading Religion
