January 18, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS – Why read the Bible? In his latest book, The Bible and Contemporary Culture, Gerd Theissen shares the wisdom gained in decades of Bible instruction at a state university to address questions of the Bible's relevance in a postmodern, pluralistic society. He describes the enduring value of the biblical legacy for anyone seeking to be a well-informed, self-aware, and responsible citizen, and commends the contributions the Bible can make to inter-religious and secular conversation. In a concluding chapter he addresses how the Bible may still serve as an essential resource for Christian identity in the twenty-first century.

Contents
Why any educated person should know the Bible
Biblical "Essentials"
The heart of the Bible: Core Themes
The Bible in dialogue with a pluralistic world
Conclusion

"Here an experienced teacher of the Bible offers tools for reading the Bible. This book is addressed to people who do not know the Bible, or do not know why they should read it. Theissen shows us how to develop a Bible-oriented, liberal faith identity by translating the Bible's core themes into a secular and post-secular world. Especially important, Theissen reveals the Bible's potential for dialogue with other religions, among confessions, and with secular culture." – Luise Schottrof, Professor of New Testament Emerita, University of Kassel, Germany.

"Theissen writes with the conviction that the varied responses to life found in the Bible can resonate with thoughtful moderns, whether they find themselves within communities of faith or without. . . . A thought-provoking book for anyone interested in seeking to understand the place of the Bible within our wider culture and world." – Paul Hanson, Lamont Professor of Divinity, Harvard Divinity School.

Gerd Theissen is Professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. He is the author of The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity (1982), the best-selling The Shadow of the Galilean (1987), the Fortress Introduction to the New Testament (2003), and with Annette Merz, The Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide (1998).

The Bible and Contemporary Culture, By Gerd Theissen, Translated by David E. Green, Item Number: 978-0-8006-3863-4, Price: $16.00 / CAN $19.50 / UK £9.99, Specs: 5.5" x 8.5," paperback, 176 pages.

To order The Bible and Contemporary Culture call Fortress Press at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the Web site at http://www.fortresspress.com/.

Fortress Press