Publication
Imprint: London : Oneworld, 2013. Series:Oneworld Beginners' Guides. OCLC Number: 810121449
Physical: 1 volume : xv, 195 p.; 20 cm. Features: Includes bibliography, indices.
Call number
History / Goode
ISBN
9781851689903
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: From the language of Shakespeare to political campaigns in the US, the Bible{u2019}s influence is all around us. And yet, upon reading it, we are met not by one text but by many: a complex mix of history, parable, law, teaching, and prophecy. In this authoritative introduction, respected Biblical scholar Paula Gooder ably guides the reader in how to approach this multifaceted text, and explores its enduring influence on Western culture, from Renaissance art to the controversial film The Last Temptation of Christ. Covering its history, translation, interpretation, and selection of the cannon, Gooder provides a comprehensive and illuminating framework for understanding the Bible. With informative textboxes focussing on key details and an infectious enthusiasm for the topic, this wide-ranging primer will be of invaluable benefit to Christians and those of no faith alike.
Table of Contents: Introduction; 1 History; 2 Genre; 3 Canon; 4 Translation; 5 Interpretation; 6 Legacy; Further reading; Biblical index; General index.
FY2017 /
Table of Contents: Introduction; 1 History; 2 Genre; 3 Canon; 4 Translation; 5 Interpretation; 6 Legacy; Further reading; Biblical index; General index.
FY2017 /
Physical description
xv, 195 p.; 20 cm
Description
From the language of Shakespeare to the US presidential campaign trail, the Bible's influence is all around us. It is the most-printed book of all time, yet, upon reading it, we are met not by one work but by many- a complex mix of history and parable, law and prophecy. In this authoritative and impartial introduction, Paula Gooder ably guides the reader in how to approach this multifaceted text, and explores its enduring influence on Western culture, from Renaissance art to Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Featuring textboxes focussing on key details, Gooder provides an illuminating framework for understanding the Bible and shares her infectious enthusiasm for the topic. Covering its origins, content and interpretation, this wide-ranging primer will be of invaluable benefit to those of any and no faith alike.… (more)
Language
Original language
English
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User reviews
LibraryThing member booktsunami
You have to ask yourself when you are reading a beginners guide to the bible.....Where is the author coming from. After all, the bible is held out by many different religions as being the inspired word of god. So it's not just upper ordinary piece of pulp fiction. And Paula Gooder doesn't come
One thing that Gooder has done rather well is an historical summary of where the various books of the bible fit into contemporary history and the various genres of books such as Law, history, worship (Psalms) prophecy, wisdom teaching, apocalyptic, gospels letters sermons. n She also does rather well in drawing attention to the various forms of the Hebrew Bible, and the various versions of the bible that include or exclude the Apocrapha, and other books. Also, in drawing attention to the problems of translation with Mary being translated as either a "young woman" or a "virgin"....with massive consequences for how Mary might be treated by the various religions.
I must say, tha I often wondered why the King James version of the bible simply sounded better (to my ear) that many of the modern translations. Was it because, I had grown up with it and learned passages by heart...or was it something intrinsic. Gooder points out that the it was designed to be read out aloud and so the translators sat about reading to each other and picking the version that sounded the best, They even used archaic words at the time if the sounded good. (So such words are truly archaic today).
I was surprised that she does not speculate very much (if at all) about who actually penned most of the old testament. I have read suggestions that is was women (maybe several women ) who put together the texts after the exile in Babylon or during it. This might not be so unusual as, in Japan, the Tales of the Genji" were written by women...who were educated and had time on their hands.
Anyway, bottom line is that Gooder had done a fairly good job (in keeping with her name) of presenting a reasonably introduction for beginners to the bible. I might try and get my son to read it (the bible) as it is such an important book in our culture and history...but it's a bit hard to slug your way through Leviticus or Numbers. I give it three stars.
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through as a totally impartial observer or commentator. She is the Canon theologian at Salisbury Cathedralin the UK. However, that being said, I think she has done a pretty good job of being reasonably objective. And if there is bias it is probably in what is omitted rather than what is included. She doesn't give much attention to the various books that were in wide circulation prior to AD 400 when the current canon were more or less settled. I think she also gives a bit too much weight to the idea that the "best books" were selected by a kind of Darwinian evolution (or god driven guidance) to end up as the current canon. (See Lost Christianities by Bart Ehrman). And, It is quite possible, that another sort of Christianity might have emerged as the dominant form is some of the books had not been forcibly suppressed...and if Augustine of Hippo had not been able to marshal the full force of the Roman forces behind his interpretation of Christianity. We might have had a version where Christ was not god but a good man. And we might have had a version where there was a good god and a bad god.One thing that Gooder has done rather well is an historical summary of where the various books of the bible fit into contemporary history and the various genres of books such as Law, history, worship (Psalms) prophecy, wisdom teaching, apocalyptic, gospels letters sermons. n She also does rather well in drawing attention to the various forms of the Hebrew Bible, and the various versions of the bible that include or exclude the Apocrapha, and other books. Also, in drawing attention to the problems of translation with Mary being translated as either a "young woman" or a "virgin"....with massive consequences for how Mary might be treated by the various religions.
I must say, tha I often wondered why the King James version of the bible simply sounded better (to my ear) that many of the modern translations. Was it because, I had grown up with it and learned passages by heart...or was it something intrinsic. Gooder points out that the it was designed to be read out aloud and so the translators sat about reading to each other and picking the version that sounded the best, They even used archaic words at the time if the sounded good. (So such words are truly archaic today).
I was surprised that she does not speculate very much (if at all) about who actually penned most of the old testament. I have read suggestions that is was women (maybe several women ) who put together the texts after the exile in Babylon or during it. This might not be so unusual as, in Japan, the Tales of the Genji" were written by women...who were educated and had time on their hands.
Anyway, bottom line is that Gooder had done a fairly good job (in keeping with her name) of presenting a reasonably introduction for beginners to the bible. I might try and get my son to read it (the bible) as it is such an important book in our culture and history...but it's a bit hard to slug your way through Leviticus or Numbers. I give it three stars.
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