October 13, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS – "No one in modern pluralist society can live in a world that is shaped only by the Bible. We are all heirs to other traditions as well. . . . We may agree that none of these provides secure foundations from which to judge the others, but they cannot be ignored." So John J. Collins introduces Encounters with Biblical Theology, a collection of powerful and eloquent essays, which cover a broad range of biblical and apocalyptic writings and make a compelling case that historical criticism remains the most satisfactory context for a responsible public theology.

"The Bible was written long ago in another culture, vastly different from our own. Any attempt to apply it to a modern situation, or to deduce ethical principles from it, must be approached with caution. But it remains a powerful book in modern society, and its power is not restricted to the church or synagogue. The theological dimensions of this literature, broadly understood as to what it has to say to the modern world, is too important to ignore. It is also too dangerous to be removed from public discussion and relegated to the realm of unquestioned belief and acceptance." – from the Introduction "John Collins is one of the most sophisticated Hebrew Bible scholars active in the discipline today. These lucid essays demonstrate especially the value of the integration of the history of Israel's religion and its theological reflection." – Terence E. Fretheim, Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary This important book for use in Old Testament courses is also a valuable resource for those exploring the role of the Bible in culture today. The articles include:

• Theoretical Issues

• Is a Critical Biblical Theology Possible?

• Biblical Theology and the History of Israelite Religion

• The Politics of Biblical Interpretation

• The Pentateuch

• Faith without Works: Biblical Ethics and the Sacrifice of Isaac

• The Development of the Exodus Tradition

• The Exodus and Biblical Theology

• The Biblical Vision of the Common Good

• Wisdom and Biblical Theology

• The Biblical Precedent for Natural Theology

• Proverbial Wisdom and the Yahwist Vision

• Natural Theology and Biblical Tradition: The Case of Hellenistic Judaism

• Apocalyptic Literature

• Temporality and Politics in Jewish Apocalyptic Literature

• The Book of Truth: Daniel as Reliable Witness to Past and Future in the United States of America

• The Legacy of Apocalypticism: Christian Adaptations of Jewish Tradition

• Jesus and the Messiahs of Israel

• Jewish Monotheism and Christian Theology John J. Collins is Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale University. He is the author of three Fortress Press books: Daniel (Hermeneia; 1996), Introduction to the Hebrew Bible with CD-ROM (2003), and Does the Bible Justify Violence? (Facets, 2004). Encounters in Biblical Theology, Format: Hardcover, 6" x 9," 176 pp, Item Number: 0-8006-3780-1, Price: $40.00. Format: Paperback, 6" x 9," 176 pp, Item Number: 0-8006-3769-0, Price: $22.00. Publisher: Fortress Press.

To order Encounters in Biblical Theology please call Fortress Press at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the Web site at http://www.fortresspress.com/.

Fortress Press