The Bible: A Historical and Literary Introduction

by Bart D. Ehrman

In The Bible: A Historical and Literary Introduction, renowned biblical scholar and New York Times Bestselling author Bart D. Ehrman presents his long-awaited survey of the Bible. Comprehensive yet succinct, current in scholarship, rich in pedagogical tools, and easily accessible to students of all backgrounds, this is an ideal textbook for one-semester courses on the Bible. Ehrman covers every book in the canon, including the Apocrypha, explaining the historical and literary problems posed by the biblical texts and showing students how to analyze scholarly evidence and conclusions.
FEATURES
* An exceptionally accessible and engaging writing style that vividly brings the Bible to life
* Full-color illustrations throughout, including numerous maps, time lines, charts, and photos
* "What to Expect" boxes previewing each chapter, "At a Glance" boxes summarizing chapters or large sections, and additional boxes presenting intriguing issues in more depth
* "Take a Stand" questions designed to help students synthesize the material in each chapter
* A unique appendix on the canon and text of the Bible
* An Instructor's Manual with Computerized Test Bank on CD that offers numerous teaching resources
* A Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/ehrman containing numerous resources for students and instructors
* This book is also available as a CourseSmart ebook (978-0-19-933633-3). Visit www.coursesmart.com.
A FREE 6-month subscription to Oxford Biblical Studies Online (www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com), a $180 value, is included with the purchase of every new copy of this text.
SAVE YOUR STUDENTS 20%!
This text is available in a discounted package with The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version, College Edition, Fourth Edition. To assign this package, order package ISBN 978-0-19-935854-0. For additional Bibles and packaging options, contact your Oxford University Press Representative at 800.280.0280

Genres: Religion, Christianity, History, Nonfiction, Academia, School, Theology

432 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2013

About the author

Bart Denton Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar focusing on textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the origins and development of early Christianity. He has written and edited 30 books, including three college textbooks. He has also authored six New York Times bestsellers. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Reviews

[˚༚✧˳⁺⁎davm⁎⁺˳✧༚˚ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Erhman’s bitterness towards Christianity and God seeps out of every page

[Arrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A world authority and UNC Professor of Religious Studies, Bart Ehrman gives us the background for our Holy Bible, including what is known of the history of the various characters and the periods and cultures they lived in, and how our current canon came to be accepted (and what was thrown out). Fascinating and educational reading, a perfect accompaniment (and often foil) for reading and understanding our Bible in its proper context. Easy to understand text with lots of maps, photos, and other visual aids, it gives valuable non-religious insights to the Good Book. Folks who are sure every word in their Bible is literal truth sent directly from God will find themselves squirming constantly - good for them! I highly recommend it to biblical scholars, believers, and raging heathens, and any curious readers alike.

[Darwin Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scholarly, concise with the Bart Ehrman flair for making complicated things simple to comprehend:
- Textbook for one-semester survey course on the Bible (including the Apocrypha)
- Explains Bible's historical and literary problems
- Comprehensive, yet succinct
- Current (as of 2018) scholarship
- Instructs on how to analyze scholarly evidence and conclusions.

No one who takes the Bible seriously should miss this introduction.

[Randall Scalise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for everyone.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learn so much from Bart Ehrman's books. This is a textbook. I enjoyed it almost as much as his regular books on scripture. As usual I learned much. This text deals with Hebrew scripture as well as the New Testament. Every book of the Bible is considered.

[James S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regardless of anyone's particular faith, the Bible is undeniably the most important book in history, and realizing this I recently made it my goal to read it cover to cover. But the truth is that reading the Bible without historical context is like trying to fly by flapping your arms. You'll put a lot of effort into it and get nowhere (and look like an idiot). In frustration, I ordered this book by Bart D. Ehrman, and I was pleased to discover a readable, thorough, and profound explanation of the historical context of each book in the Bible. Ehrman is clearly more of an academic than a theologian, and so his book is designed to educate, not to convert, something important for a reader in my situation. Overall, it is an excellent tool for getting grips on the book that has shaped the world more than any other.

(It's also full of interesting facts. Who knew Jesus had a brother? Who's ever heard of Marcion, the early Christian preacher who said that there are two gods, not one - the god of the Jews and the god of the Christians? Who knew that so many books in the Bible are "pseudoepigraphical" aka forgeries? etc.)

[She Reads What? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will keep this as reference for quite a while.

[Marvin Wurr · Rating 5 out of 5]

In case you were too lazy to read the entirety of the Bible, Apocrypha and all.

But seriously, this is an excellent read.