Gale A. Yee, Hugh R. Page Jr., Matthew J. M. Coomber Apocrypha

Annotation

<p>This concise commentary on the Apocrypha, excerpted from the <i>Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The Old Testament and Apocrypha</i>, engages readers in the work of biblical interpretation. Contributors from a rich diversity of perspectives connect historical-critical analysis with sensitivity to current theological, cultural, and interpretive issues.</p><p>Introductory articles describe the challenges of reading the Old Testament in ancient and contemporary contexts, relating the biblical theme of ';the people of God' to our complex, multicultural world, and reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, followed by an ';Introduction to the Apocrypha.' Each chapter (Tobit through 4 Maccabees) includes an introduction and commentary on the text through the lenses of three critical questions:</p><p>The Text in Its Ancient Context. What did the text probably mean in its original historical and cultural context?</p><p>The Text in the Interpretive Tradition. How have centuries of reading and interpreting shaped our understanding of the text?</p><p>The Text in Contemporary Discussion. What are the unique challenges and interpretive questions that arise for readers and hearers of the text today?</p><p><i>The Apocrypha</i> introduces fresh perspectives and draws students, as well as preachers and interested readers, into the challenging work of interpretation.</p>