Introduction to the Hebrew Bible: Fourth Edition

by John J. Collins

John J. Collins's Introduction to the Hebrew Bible is one of the most reliable and widely adopted critical textbooks at undergraduate and graduate levels alike, and for good reason. Enriched by decades of classroom teaching, it is aimed explicitly at motivated students, regardless of their previous exposure to the Bible or faith commitments. The approach is ecumenical, in the sense that it seeks not to impose any particular theological perspective but to provide information and raise questions that should be relevant to any student. Collins proceeds through the canon of the Old Testament and the Apocrypha, judiciously presenting the current state of historical, archaeological, and literary understanding of the biblical text, and engaging the student in questions of significance and interpretation for the contemporary world.

The fourth edition is supplemented in areas that go beyond historical criticism and answer questions crucial for students today. John J. Collins discusses the issues that arise when studying the Hebrew Bible that aren't always addressed in introductory textbooks. The issues discussed include gender, patriarchy, social justice, violence, race and ethnicity, environment, salvation and death, the messiah, and colonialism. In addition to the new essays, John J. Collins has updated bibliographies to include the most recent scholarship that students and professors need to know.

681 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

John J. Collins is Holmes Professor of Old Testament at Yale Divinity School. A native of Ireland, he has a doctorate from Harvard University, and earlier taught at the University of Chicago, and the University of Notre Dame. He has published widely on the subjects of apocalypticism, wisdom, Hellenistic Judaism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls and served as president of both the Catholic Biblical Association and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Reviews

[Derek DeMars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still the industry standard for a reason. Collins gives an excellent orientation to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (including the apocryphal books) from an academic, historical-critical perspective. His treatment is thorough, up-to-date, and easy to read.

In particular, Collins' coverage of how the Hebrew Bible came to be and of the implications of critical research for biblical authority and interpretation are excellent. In this fourth edition, he also adds brief essays on ethical topics in relation to the text. While short, these offer good material for reflection/discussion.

A must-have resource for any layperson or student interested in understanding the biblical text.