The T & T Clark Blog

Excellent review of Rowan Williams' 'On Augustine' by A.N. Wilson in The New Statesman

Readers of this blog might be interested in a new publication from Bloomsbury's trade division. It's a masterful volume on Augustine by Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. Don't just take our word for it, A.N. Wilson thinks it's great too:

“This is a book that I have been waiting all my adult life to read - though I did not realise it ... Again and again, I put this book down and wished that it were compulsory reading for all those who, in our public forum, think that they are engaging in intelligible conversations when they are merely mouthing sounds.” –  A N Wilson, New Statesman

“This is a book that I have been waiting all my adult life to read - though I did not realise it ... Again and again, I put this book down and wished that it were compulsory reading for all those who, in our public forum, think that they are engaging in intelligible conversations when they are merely mouthing sounds.” –  A N Wilson, New Statesman - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/on-augustine-9781472925299/#sthash.9Qz1ACfH.dpuf

http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2016/04/love-god-how-rowan-williams-illuminates-philosophy-st-augustine

Readers might also be interested in the paperback of 'Prayer and Thought in Monastic Tradition: Essays in Honour of Benedicta Ward SLG' edited by Rowan Williams, Santha Bhattacharji and Dominic Mattos, also recently published.

Author Interview - Dom Alcuin Reid on his recently edited 'T&T Clark Companion to Liturgy'

Note to readers: the T&T Clark Companion to Liturgy was published in December 2015, and has already received some extremely positive reviews. If you want to read more, click HERE! The Companion is currently on sale at a reduced price as our Book of the Month. See HERE for details on how to order your copy using the special discount. And lastly, you may be interested to know that the the Sacra Liturga conference 2016 will be taking place in London 5-8th July. The volume Liturgy in the Twenty-First Century: Contemporary Issues and Perspectives will be published in time for the conference, and can be ordered at registration for a discounted price.

Dom Alcuin, your T&T Clark Companion to Liturgy (our Feb 2016 Book of the Month) has just been published. Can you tell us something about its origins please?

The Companion was the idea of Tom Kraft, a T&T Clark editor some years ago, who wanted a volume in the series which would present something of the status quaestionis of liturgical studies in the Western Catholic Church at the beginning of the twenty first century. Undoubtedly Tom’s approach came in the light of the impetus given to these questions by the election of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. As Cardinal Ratzinger he had taught for many years that “the true celebration of the Sacred Liturgy is the centre of any renewal of the Church whatever.” Western Catholics have endured a number of decades of liturgical turmoil since the middle of the twentieth century, and what is “the true celebration of the Sacred Liturgy” was then—and still is—very much a live issue.

Tom asked—well really, he insisted—that I compile and edit the volume. That commenced (too many) years of work with many generous contributors and others who gave of their talents eventually to produce what we hope will provide students and those generally interested in Western Catholic liturgy with a resource that contains some of the best theological, historical and pastoral liturgical scholarship available today, which does not ignore the liturgical issues of recent decades, and which will serve as a guide towards further study in these areas.

So what is “liturgy”?

The best answer to that question is found in the first chapter, “Liturgical Theology,” by Professor David Fagerberg of Notre Dame University, USA. Shorter answers are found in the A-Z section of the book. Liturgy is, of course, the public ritual worship of the Church in and through which, in Catholic theology, we hold that Christ acts in a singularly privileged way in our world today. Our optimal participation in the liturgy, our connectivity with this divine action, facilitates our own sanctification and empowers us for Christian life and mission. That’s why Cardinal Ratzinger emphasised that it is the “centre of any renewal of the Church whatever.” If we get the liturgy wrong our connectivity to Christ is impeded. And without optimal connectivity to Christ we, and those so in need of the mission of the Church today in the various and complex situations that the 21st century presents, will lack something essential, we will suffer.

Academically, where does the Companion stand in the field of liturgical studies?

Firstly I must emphasise that this is a companion to liturgical studies in “the Western Catholic tradition.” Some commentators have already noted that this subtitle is unfortunately missing from much of the Companion’s promotional material. The book neither sets out to ignore the Churches of the East nor to minimise their venerable and rich liturgical traditions. Really, another Companion should be commissioned for the great Eastern liturgical tradition.

In the light of what some have termed the “liturgy-wars” of recent decades, contemporary studies in Western liturgy have tended to be fairly ‘safe,’ avoiding critical analysis of the “troubles” following the Second Vatican Council. If you can regurgitate your professor’s take on the liturgical reform following the Council you will pass your seminary course. If you do higher studies in liturgy and do a purely historical analysis of rites or aspects of them, or “engage” with “liturgical sources” (demonstrate a knowledge of ancient liturgical texts), you will receive your degree without difficulty. But should you use history, theology or pastoral practice critically to question the status quo of liturgical thought or practice in your diocese or academic institution, you will often encounter an intolerance that verges on totalitarianism: “Don’t mention the war!” The situation is improving, certainly, but this problem persists amongst a certain generation and school of liturgists.

The Companion moves beyond this academic impasse. Many if not most of its contributors are indeed prepared to “mention the war,” and even to admit that it has occasioned severe casualties. The motivation for this is positive—academically and pastorally. The academic questions to which the situation of Western liturgy since the Council has given rise must be studied. The conclusions of such studies must be taken into account in decisions in respect of future liturgical life and reform. So too the associated pastoral issues must be addressed. Yes, a sound knowledge of liturgical history is very important. The ability thoroughly to engage in liturgical sources is certainly a skill and informs the historical study of liturgy. More important today, however, is the ability critically to engage with the liturgical and theological principles operative in history in making a critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of our current ritual and pastoral practice. If the Companion helps to form a generation of liturgical scholars who are open to such an approach it will have made a significant contribution.

What do you think is the Companion's unique contribution?

I think that is, really, the shift from “safe” liturgical study to “critical” liturgical study that I was just talking about. Part III of the Companion, “The Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council,” contains two chapters by Dom Anscar Chupungco OSB (†2013). They take a very different stance to my own chapter and to that of Fr Thomas Kocik in the same section. Students should read them all, attentively and critically. Identifying our different approaches, sources and assumptions will be instructive, indeed I hope it will be formative in acquiring not only a broad appreciation of differing scholars’ stances, but more importantly in developing a critical ability to engage with the sources, underlying principles and realities. This will indeed help to form better scholarship and pastoral practice.

Is there anything else you would like to highlight about the Companion?

The Companion is a large reference book. As such it has many uses—from studying particular chapters according to given interests and needs, to quickly referring to terms and concepts in the A-Z section, as well as making use of its extensive bibliographies for further research. But it also provides something of a course for studies in liturgical theology, history and contemporary issues. Certainly, it does not and could not contain all that one could study— and that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to accompany, to be a companion for, the student of Sacred Liturgy so that he or she will be well equipped to pursue further studies in the field. I hope and pray that we have, at least in part, achieved that aim.

Thank you very much, Dom Alcuin Reid.

The Companion is currently on sale at a reduced price as our Book of the Month. See HERE for details on how to order your copy using the special discount.

T&T Cornerstone: Jesus: Miriam's Child, Sophia's Prophet, by Elisabeth Schussler-Fiorenza

Our last Cornerstone to cover out of this batch. Expect more wonderful titles in 2016. Do come and find the books at SBLAAR at booth 600. They look *stunning* and they are also available in EPDF and EPUB for the first time ever.

In Jesus: Miriam's Child, Sophia's Prophet Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza makes a unique contribution to two quite different discussions of Jesus the Christ. On the one hand, she looks at biblical Christology from a critical feminist perspective in the tradition of liberation theology. On the other, she examines the feasibility of a feminine Christology by considering such problems as Christian anti-Judaism, ideological justification of domination, religious exclusivism and the formation of patriarchal identity. Re-imagining the Jesus movement in a feminist key transcends the boundaries set by history, gender and doctrine. By assessing various Jesus traditions and interpretations in terms of whether they can engender liberating visions for today, Schüssler Fiorenza seeks to challenge and transform a Christianity dominated by masculinity and exclusivist theological frameworks so that it offers a vision of justice and well-being for all, the central image in which is the reign, the coming world, of God. This Cornerstones edition features a new extended introduction which takes into account the developments in the field since the work was originally published in 1994.

 Reviews of the new edition:

“This is a most welcome reissue of Schüssler Fiorenza's groundbreaking work. With analysis of women's experience as the starting point, Schüssler Fiorenza uses vivid images such as "into the hill country," and "the open road to Galilee," to invite readers into new spaces where images of Christ in the Scriptures can be explored from a different perspective and christological discourses can be reconceptualized toward liberating practice. For those willing to embark on the journey with her, the destination is no less than global well-being.” –  Barbara E. Reid, Catholic Theological Union, USA

“In this new edition of her deep and influential book, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza continues her singuar retrieval of the bibilcal figure of Sophia for contemporary theology. As this book demonstrates, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza has for many of us herself become a Sophia figure of our period continuously contributing her wisdom over and over again.” –  David Tracey, The University of Chicago Divinity School, USA

T&T Cornerstone: Solidarity and Difference by David G. Horrell

It’s great to have David Horrell’s Solidarity and Difference in Cornerstones. It’s seminal work that was really ahead of its time in terms of study of NT ethics and identity and it’s wonderful to be able to present it again with Horrell’s reflective introduction and a substantial foreword by N.T. Wright. Indeed, Wright has described the book as; “One of the most creative and innovative books about Paul I have ever read.” –  N. T. Wright, Paul and His Recent Interpreters, 2015

In the book Horrell presents a study of Pauline ethics, examining how Paul's moral discourse envisages and constructs communities in which there is a strong sense of solidarity but also legitimate difference in various aspects of ethical practice. Horrell reads New Testament texts with an explicit awareness of contemporary ethical theory, and assesses Paul's contribution as a moral thinker in the context of modern debate.

Using a framework indebted to the social sciences, as well as to contemporary ethical theory, Horrell examines the construction of community in Paul's letters, the notions of purity, boundaries and identity, Paul's attempts to deal with diversity in his churches, the role of imitating Christ in Paul's ethics, and the ethic Paul develops for interaction with 'outsiders'. This Cornerstones edition includes an extended reflective introduction and a substantial foreword from N.T. Wright.

Here are two more wonderful endorsements:

“In a global, pluralist, fractured world, may Christians hope to find a healing and hopeful word in - of all places - the letters of Paul, themselves centers of controversy and division from the beginning? Horrell answers with a resounding "Yes", After a penetrating analysis and critique of the polarized conversation among ethicists in recent decades, he proposes a new, "third way" to find a model in Paul for communities that embrace the other without losing their identity.” –  Wayne A. Meeks, Yale University, USA

“This is a bold and highly stimulating intellectual experiment...Through close study of key texts and carefully reasoned debates across multiple disciplines, Horrell reconfigures the Pauline ethic and opens it up to dialogue with public morality as never before. Both New Testament scholars and ethicists will welcome this ground-breaking work.” –  John Barclay, Durham University, UK

T&T Cornerstone: One God One Lord by Larry Hurtado

One God One Lord by Larry Hurtado is an absolute classic. In this third edition for the Cornerstones series Larry provides a 53 page epilogue on how the field has changed since the second edition. Larry refers to the third edition on his blog and expresses a hope 'that the new Epilogue will continue to make it useful to readers, perhaps especially students seeking to gear up in the topic.' This is certainly a hope that we share!

Larry Hurtado's One God, One Lord has been described as 'one of the most important and provocative Christologies of all time' (Alan F. Segal). The book has taken its place among works on Jesus as one consistently cited, consistently read, and consistently examined in scholarly discourse.

Hurtado examines the early cultic devotion to Jesus through a range of Jewish sources. Hurtado outlines an early 'high' Christological theology, showing how the Christ of faith emerges from monotheistic Judaism. The book has already found a home on the shelves of many in its two previous editions. In this new Cornerstones edition Hurtado provides a substantial epilogue of some twenty-thousand words, which brings this ground-breaking work to the fore once more, in a format accessible to scholars and students alike.

“Since its initial publication in 1988, this book has become somewhat of a classic for anyone interested in Christian origins. Now supplemented by a timely interaction with conversation partners from the last two decades, Hurtado's readable, clear, and carefully formulated arguments regarding the rise of devotion to Jesus will continue to steer discussion of New Testament Christology during the coming years. A must read!” –  Loren Stuckenbruck, LMU, Germany

“Since its initial publication in 1988, this book has become somewhat of a classic for anyone interested in Christian origins. Now supplemented by a timely interaction with conversation partners from the last two decades, Hurtado's readable, clear, and carefully formulated arguments regarding the rise of devotion to Jesus will continue to steer discussion of New Testament Christology during the coming years. A must read!” –  Loren Stuckenbruck, LMU, Germany - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/one-god-one-lord-9780567657718/#sthash.C1WbW4jR.dpuf

Spotlight on: Woman's Body and the Social Body in Hosea by Alice Keefe

Every now and then it's good to give some attention to the gems on our extensive backlist. Here is a post concerning a book that has just been made available again both in paperback and PDF -- namely, Alice A. Keefe’s original and provocative study of Hosea’s (in)famous marriage metaphor, Woman’s Body and the Social Body in Hosea.

This work takes on an entrenched tradition of interpretation, exposing its androcentric and confessional determinants, and draws on a socio-literary approach to reread Hosea’s female sexual imagery and to rethink the brunt of his prophetic critique. An excellent choice for graduate level courses in biblical studies, Keefe’s showcases the fruitful impact of interdisciplinary approaches in biblical interpretation as well as demonstrating the difference which a feminist approach can make in the study of one very important text.

As is well known, Hosea’s figure of Israel as an adulterous wife who chases after her “lovers” has routinely been read as a polemic against popular participation in a syncretistic “fertility cult” in eighth century Israel. The dominant reading of this metaphor posits that the prophet is upset because the people are worshipping deities immanent in nature in order to secure the fertility of the soil, rather than putting their trust in the transcendent “Lord of history,” Yahweh. Further, many 20th century scholars argue that this “fertility cult” may have included rituals of sacred prostitution designed to evoke or magnify the divine powers which ensure the fertility of the soil, and that Hosea’s lascivious wife may have been a participant in such rituals. But recent advances in our understanding of Hosea’s social and religious contexts have rendered this dominant interpretation untenable. It is no longer credible to imagine a simple polarity Canaanite fertility religion and Yahwistic “faith,” and any clear evidence for rituals of sacred prostitution has been found to be lacking. But further, Keefe unpacks how this dominant reading has been shaped by the reflexive association of women and female sexual imagery with sin, sex, temptation, and the lure of the “natural,” associations which developed centuries later and were not familiar in Hosea’s time.

As an alternative frame for interpretation, Keefe reads Hosea’s metaphor of the nation/land as an adulterous woman in the context of the symbolic association between sexual transgression and social violence found elsewhere in biblical literature and argues then that Hosea’s “wife of promiscuity” points to the structural/social violence which accompanied the expansion of royal estates and the boom in “agribusiness” in Hosea’s time. Highly readable and well-argued, Woman’s Body and the Social Body in Hosea offers an engaging entree to the methodological sea-change that has transformed biblical studies in recent decades. Its deconstructive and constructive moves draw upon the fruits of social scientific approaches to ancient Israel in tandem with methods of close reading and attention to intertextual clues. It takes the reader into the contested arena of feminist biblical criticism and challenges the argument that woman is always a symbol of the “other” in biblical literature. But most importantly, this work provides a powerful lesson in the indeterminacy of readings. Rather than claiming to have finally found the “right” reading of Hosea’s marriage metaphor, Keefe’s purpose is to show how readings are conditioned by readers. She shows how a feminist interpretive lens has the power to disturb entrenched “male stream” readings and open up new perspectives on the meaning of female sexual imagery in biblical literature.

"With interpretive and methodological sensitivity, Keefe provides an instructive case study in the changing dynamics of biblical interpretation in recent decades and the ways they open new possibilities for reading a particular text with a troubled interpretive past. The book is a gift to students and professors looking for a way to explore emerging sociological readings of prophetic texts such as Hosea 1—3 or to illustrate the wide-ranging impact that sociological, intertextual, and feminist approaches can have on biblical interpretation and the underlying—often under-examined—assumptions at work within it." –Brad E. Kelle, Point Loma Nazarene University (author of Hosea 2: Metaphor and Rhetoric in Historical Perspective [SBL Academia Biblica 20; Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2005])

"This sociohistorical analysis of Hosea provides a compelling challenge to traditional interpretations of the marriage metaphor and sexual imagery in Hosea 1 and 2. Keefe shows that, rather than signaling cultic apostasy, Hosea's troubled marital relationship represents ancient Israel's serious political, social, and economic problems. With astute awareness of the poetics of Hosea's language and of the material realities of his day, she provides a fresh and powerful new understanding of this eight century BCE prophetic book." --Carol Meyers, Duke University (author of Rediscovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012).

Review of Geza Vermes 'True Herod' in The Spectator and review round-up.

We've just had a really nice -- albeit short -- review of Geza Vermes' final book 'The True Herod' in The Spectator. The celebrated novelist Justin Cartwright describes the book as 'a gripping and scholarly work'.

It's nice to get a review in a major magazine a while after publication, and this has prompted me to do a little review round up of the book. Here's what people have had to say:

“This beautiful book has been produced with dedicated skill... Assembling an array of gorgeous illustrations to match the lively text, [Bloomsbury have] created a lush product befitting Herod's aesthetic. This is a rich read… demonstrating the knowledge and understanding of an author at the peak of his powers, even so close to his death. In this book that honours the complex character of Herod, we have also an honourable tribute to the exceptional historian who wrote it.” –  History Today

“If the name Herod elicits the static image of a two-dimensional villain for you, read this by the late Vermes ... Generously illustrated with images from the time ... as well as maps, later paintings, sculptures, and reliefs, and based on the author's lifetime of scholarship, the text fleshes out this much maligned character from biblical history. Vermes not only gives context for Herod's negative reputation but also provides a fresh perspective for appreciating admirable accomplishments (for example, renovating the Jerusalem temple) and qualities (loyalty, savvy political instincts, fondness for the learned Jews of his time) ... a clear and winning introduction to a man both larger than life and fully human.” –  Publishers Weekly

“[Exhibits] a determination to challenge preconceptions. It is intended for “all and sundry”, and there is comfort in knowing that the widest possible readership will, or should, encounter Vermès one last time.” – Catholic Herald

“Vermes describes Herod's life with more gusto than is usual for serious scholars, but this is somewhat refreshing. The True Herod is an attractive volume, with numerous color photographs, maps and genealogical trees. It should be a welcome addition to any library.” – Biblical Archaeology Review

“Knowing that this book was to be his last, [Vermes] poured into it the accumulated research of decades, but at the same time fashioned it into an elegant and entertaining account of the life and times of one of the most fascinating and maligned figures in Jewish history ... Vermes skilfully reduces the political intrigues and military campaigns of this long reign to a succinct and readable narrative. He also conjures up the magnificence of Herod's main building works.” –  Standpoint Magazine

“In this final book of his career, published posthumously, Geza Vermes's insightful eye remains as sharp as ever… Herod has both horrified and fascinated us throughout the centuries, and this book superbly captures why.” –  Joan E. Taylor, King's College London

“Geza Vermes once again teaches us that to write great history is also -- perhaps first of all -- to tell a great story.” –  Paula Fredriksen, Boston University

“This is a fascinating journey into the past; the stimulating narrative causes the reader to ponder, wonder, and speculate about human frailties and fortunes. How does an evil genius succeed in building monumental cities and the Temple, even bringing peace to a tortured land? This biography of Herod, 'a genuine tragic hero,' is another of Vermes's monumental achievements from a life devoted to research, study, and reflection.” –  James H. Charlesworth, Princeton Theological Seminary

 “Few volumes of 181 pages have managed to say as much about Herod as Vermes managed. In fact, none, known to me, have done so. What's most engaging and most important about this slim volume, though, isn't the historical information ... What's most important here is the way that Vermes tells the tale. His book is, if I may be so bold, artistically beautiful and aesthetically amazing. It is a genuine pleasure to read ... Students beginning historical studies and seasoned academics should pick up a copy of this book.” –  Zwinglius Redivivus blog

Remember, Professor Joan Taylor's podcast from the launch of the volume is available here.

This beautiful book has been produced with the dedicated skill of Geza Vermes' widow Margaret and a fine team at Bloomsbury/ T&T Clark. Assembling an array of gorgeous illustrations to match the lively text, they have created a lush product befitting Herod's aesthetic. This is a rich read, despite its brevity, demonstrating the knowledge and understanding of an author at the peak of his powers, even so close to his death. In this book that honours the complex character of Herod, we have also an honourable tribute to the exceptional historian who wrote it.” –  History Today

“If the name Herod elicits the static image of a two-dimensional villain for you, read this by the late Vermes ... Generously illustrated with images from the time ... as well as maps, later paintings, sculptures, and reliefs, and based on the author's lifetime of scholarship, the text fleshes out this much maligned character from biblical history. Vermes not only gives context for Herod's negative reputation but also provides a fresh perspective for appreciating admirable accomplishments (for example, renovating the Jerusalem temple) and qualities (loyalty, savvy political instincts, fondness for the learned Jews of his time) ... a clear and winning introduction to a man both larger than life and fully human.” –  Publishers Weekly

“Géza Vermès died in 2013. He left behind him an astonishing corpus of writing about Jewish and biblical history. This final little book is very different from the mighty, ground-breaking scholarly tomes, but it shares the same determination to challenge preconceptions. It is intended, Vermès wrote in his introduction, for “all and sundry”, and there is comfort in knowing that the widest possible readership will, or should, encounter Vermès one last time. You may, all along, have disagreed with some things that he wrote, but you'd have been a fool to ignore them.” –  Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald

“Vermes describes this intimate side of Herod's life with more gusto than is usual for serious scholars, but it is somewhat refreshing. The True Herod is altogether an attractive volume, with numerous color photographs, maps and genealogical trees. It should be a welcome addition to any library.” –  David M. Jacobson, Biblical Archaeology Review

“Knowing that this book was to be his last, [Vermes] poured into it the accumulated research of decades, but at the same time fashioned it into an elegant and entertaining account of the life and times of one of the most fascinating and maligned figures in Jewish history ... Vermes skilfully reduces the political intrigues and military campaigns of this long reign to a succinct and readable narrative. He also conjures up the magnificence of Herod's main building works.” –  Standpoint Magazine

“In this final book of his career, published posthumously, Geza Vermes's insightful eye remains as sharp as ever. Rejecting the traditional villainous presentation of Herod the Great, and drawing on both literary and archaeological evidence, Vermes argues that Herod was a complex figure, capable of terrible acts but also of loyalty and diplomatic brilliance. Beautifully illustrated, and written with a real relish for presenting a personality almost larger than life, this book vividly explores the history of the Jews, Herod's stunning rise to power, the convolutions of Herod's personal and political life, his maniacal murders, monumental architecture, death and legacy. Herod has both horrified and fascinated us throughout the centuries, and this book superbly captures why.” –  Joan E. Taylor, King's College London, UK

“In The True Herod, his richly illustrated account of this much-maligned king of the Jews, Geza Vermes once again teaches us that to write great history is also -- perhaps first of all -- to tell a great story.” –  Paula Fredriksen, Boston University, USA

“This is a fascinating journey into the past; the stimulating narrative causes the reader to ponder, wonder, and speculate about human frailties and fortunes. How does an evil genius succeed in building monumental cities and the Temple, even bringing peace to a tortured land? This biography of Herod, 'a genuine tragic hero,' is another of Vermes's monumental achievements from a life devoted to research, study, and reflection.” –  James H. Charlesworth, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA

“Few volumes of 181 pages have managed to say as much about Herod as Vermes managed. In fact, none, known to me, have done so. What's most engaging and most important about this slim volume, though, isn't the historical information ... What's most important here is the way that Vermes tells the tale. His book is, if I may be so bold, artistically beautiful and aesthetically amazing. It is a genuine pleasure to read- unencumbered by unnecessary rabbit chasing or reference to irrelevancies ... Students beginning historical studies and seasoned academics should pick up a copy of this book. The former because they will learn the facts of Herod's life and legacy from one of our generation's greatest most gifted scholars. And the latter because they will re-learn facts long forgotten and how to express those facts to readers in a sensible and clear and concise way” –  Zwinglius Redivivus blog

“Featured” –  Minerva

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About Author/Editor(s)/ Contributor(s)

• Geza Vermes

  Geza Vermes was Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford, UK and was one of the world's greatest experts on the historical Jesus, Christian beginnings, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. With the... Read more

Related Books

• 

  The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ: Volume 3.ii and Index

  Emil Schürer, Fergus Millar, Geza Vermes

  30 January 2014, PDF eBook

  £29.99

   

- See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-true-herod-9780567575449/#sthash.n4ADi9L7.dpuf

“This beautiful book has been produced with the dedicated skill of Geza Vermes' widow Margaret and a fine team at Bloomsbury/ T&T Clark. Assembling an array of gorgeous illustrations to match the lively text, they have created a lush product befitting Herod's aesthetic. This is a rich read, despite its brevity, demonstrating the knowledge and understanding of an author at the peak of his powers, even so close to his death. In this book that honours the complex character of Herod, we have also an honourable tribute to the exceptional historian who wrote it.” –  History Today - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-true-herod-9780567575449/#sthash.n4ADi9L7.dpuf

This beautiful book has been produced with the dedicated skill of Geza Vermes' widow Margaret and a fine team at Bloomsbury/ T&T Clark. Assembling an array of gorgeous illustrations to match the lively text, they have created a lush product befitting Herod's aesthetic. This is a rich read, despite its brevity, demonstrating the knowledge and understanding of an author at the peak of his powers, even so close to his death. In this book that honours the complex character of Herod, we have also an honourable tribute to the exceptional historian who wrote it.” –  History Today

“If the name Herod elicits the static image of a two-dimensional villain for you, read this by the late Vermes ... Generously illustrated with images from the time ... as well as maps, later paintings, sculptures, and reliefs, and based on the author's lifetime of scholarship, the text fleshes out this much maligned character from biblical history. Vermes not only gives context for Herod's negative reputation but also provides a fresh perspective for appreciating admirable accomplishments (for example, renovating the Jerusalem temple) and qualities (loyalty, savvy political instincts, fondness for the learned Jews of his time) ... a clear and winning introduction to a man both larger than life and fully human.” –  Publishers Weekly

“Géza Vermès died in 2013. He left behind him an astonishing corpus of writing about Jewish and biblical history. This final little book is very different from the mighty, ground-breaking scholarly tomes, but it shares the same determination to challenge preconceptions. It is intended, Vermès wrote in his introduction, for “all and sundry”, and there is comfort in knowing that the widest possible readership will, or should, encounter Vermès one last time. You may, all along, have disagreed with some things that he wrote, but you'd have been a fool to ignore them.” –  Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald

“Vermes describes this intimate side of Herod's life with more gusto than is usual for serious scholars, but it is somewhat refreshing. The True Herod is altogether an attractive volume, with numerous color photographs, maps and genealogical trees. It should be a welcome addition to any library.” –  David M. Jacobson, Biblical Archaeology Review

“Knowing that this book was to be his last, [Vermes] poured into it the accumulated research of decades, but at the same time fashioned it into an elegant and entertaining account of the life and times of one of the most fascinating and maligned figures in Jewish history ... Vermes skilfully reduces the political intrigues and military campaigns of this long reign to a succinct and readable narrative. He also conjures up the magnificence of Herod's main building works.” –  Standpoint Magazine

“In this final book of his career, published posthumously, Geza Vermes's insightful eye remains as sharp as ever. Rejecting the traditional villainous presentation of Herod the Great, and drawing on both literary and archaeological evidence, Vermes argues that Herod was a complex figure, capable of terrible acts but also of loyalty and diplomatic brilliance. Beautifully illustrated, and written with a real relish for presenting a personality almost larger than life, this book vividly explores the history of the Jews, Herod's stunning rise to power, the convolutions of Herod's personal and political life, his maniacal murders, monumental architecture, death and legacy. Herod has both horrified and fascinated us throughout the centuries, and this book superbly captures why.” –  Joan E. Taylor, King's College London, UK

“In The True Herod, his richly illustrated account of this much-maligned king of the Jews, Geza Vermes once again teaches us that to write great history is also -- perhaps first of all -- to tell a great story.” –  Paula Fredriksen, Boston University, USA

“This is a fascinating journey into the past; the stimulating narrative causes the reader to ponder, wonder, and speculate about human frailties and fortunes. How does an evil genius succeed in building monumental cities and the Temple, even bringing peace to a tortured land? This biography of Herod, 'a genuine tragic hero,' is another of Vermes's monumental achievements from a life devoted to research, study, and reflection.” –  James H. Charlesworth, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA

“Few volumes of 181 pages have managed to say as much about Herod as Vermes managed. In fact, none, known to me, have done so. What's most engaging and most important about this slim volume, though, isn't the historical information ... What's most important here is the way that Vermes tells the tale. His book is, if I may be so bold, artistically beautiful and aesthetically amazing. It is a genuine pleasure to read- unencumbered by unnecessary rabbit chasing or reference to irrelevancies ... Students beginning historical studies and seasoned academics should pick up a copy of this book. The former because they will learn the facts of Herod's life and legacy from one of our generation's greatest most gifted scholars. And the latter because they will re-learn facts long forgotten and how to express those facts to readers in a sensible and clear and concise way” –  Zwinglius Redivivus blog

“Featured” –  Minerva

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About Author/Editor(s)/ Contributor(s)

• Geza Vermes

  Geza Vermes was Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford, UK and was one of the world's greatest experts on the historical Jesus, Christian beginnings, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. With the... Read more

Related Books

• 

  The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ: Volume 3.ii and Index

  Emil Schürer, Fergus Millar, Geza Vermes

  30 January 2014, PDF eBook

  £29.99

   

- See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-true-herod-9780567575449/#sthash.n4ADi9L7.dpuf

Another nice review for Into the World of the New Testament by Daniel Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have been alerted to another really nice review of 'Into the World of the New Testament' by Daniel Smith (SLU). This new textbook has had a really nice start. It's an innovative volume and I hope it will find its way onto many course reading lists, and into many private libraries.

Read more about it in a previous blog post here.

Buy the book here.

Into the World of the New Testament by Daniel Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday marked the official US publication of Into the World of the New Testament by Daniel L. Smith (St. Louis University).

This is a book that I'm very excited about. It is a book that actually encourages students to read the New Testament and other keys texts, and which introduces them to key issues and themes in a manageable way, whilst at the same time prompting them to think.

Daniel's style is easily intelligible, and he has a great turn of phrase. When we first discussed the proposal I knew I wanted the book. Then upon receiving and discussing the proposal, and sending it out for review, I knew we were on to a winner.

Marketing a brand new textbook is not the easiest thing to do. It takes time for scholars to change the books on their reading lists, and from which they teach. This is entirely understandable. That said, I really do believe that this particular book is special and that it deserves a place as one of the most used textbooks in the field.

And you don't have to take my word for it... look at these nice reviews from Nijay Gupta and Jim West. And the book has been 'heartily recommended' by John T. Carroll, whereas Craig S. Keener says it's an 'excellent work... easy to read, sensitive to the historically uninformed, yet highly informative'. 

You can also read Daniel's own thoughts on his book in his guest blog post here.

To make life easier for lecturers wishing to adopt the book Daniel has put together a sample syllabus, available on the book's webpage for free, here.

I expect you can tell by now that I really want this book to be the success it deserves to be. Do check it out!

 

 

Author blog on Into the World of the New Testament by Daniel Smith

"I like to think of it as a hybrid of two genres. Like an anthology, it features dozens of readings from antiquity. But like a textbook, it has a narrative framework to help orient the reader."  --- Daniel Smith

 

As someone who regularly teaches introductory New Testament classes, I found myself unsatisfied with the tools at my disposal. Over several semesters, I had sampled a variety of conventional New Testament textbooks, each of which had its strong points. Yet, I was discouraged by their general tendency to tell the reader what she should know about Paul, or about Mark’s Gospel, or about apocalyptic literature. Despite the many color illustrations, textbooks inevitably do a lot of telling.

This excellent work is easy to read, sensitive to the historically uninformed student, yet highly informative concerning the context of the NT. Drawing on particularly key sources, Smith also helpfully engages the reader with what is relevant to the interests that brought them to the study in the first place. - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/into-the-world-of-the-new-testament-9780567657022/#sthash.g5Bhky3q.dpuf

This “here’s-what-you-need-to-know” approach worried me. I wanted my students to interact more with the New Testament texts themselves, and with other relevant sources from the ancient world. I toyed with the idea of assigning an anthology, but experience has taught me that giving students primary sources at the introductory level can capture their imaginations…and lead to fantastically decontextualized, anachronistic readings.

 

"This excellent work is easy to read, sensitive to the historically uninformed student, yet highly informative concerning the context of the NT. Drawing on particularly key sources, Smith also helpfully engages the reader with what is relevant to the interests that brought them to the study in the first place." --- Craig S. Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary, USA

 

This excellent work is easy to read, sensitive to the historically uninformed student, yet highly informative concerning the context of the NT. Drawing on particularly key sources, Smith also helpfully engages the reader with what is relevant to the interests that brought them to the study in the first place. - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/into-the-world-of-the-new-testament-9780567657022/#sthash.g5Bhky3q.dpuf

It was around this time when Into the World of the New Testament (IWNT)began to take shape in my mind. I wanted students in my classes to spend most of their time interacting with the New Testament texts themselves. So, the basic course “textbook” would be a study Bible; study Bibles already include the essential data on authorship, dating, and so on. I would then write another book that would introduce students to the world in which the New Testament took shape.

I started by taking stock of my last ten years of scholarship. What had I learned about the Greco-Roman world and about early Judaism that would help my students make better sense of the earliest Christian writings? Immediately, passages from Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, 1 Maccabees, and Tacitus sprang to mind. I developed a collection of key passages, and only then did I sort them into chapter headings. With the passages serving as the foundation, I then built an overarching narrative framework to elaborate on and contextualize these quotations.

 

'Writing with clarity and verve, Daniel Smith takes readers on an intriguing and informative journey "Into the World of the New Testament," and back--and beyond. As a companion volume read in tandem with a Study Bible, this will be a valuable resource--heartily recommended!”' –  John T. Carroll, Union Presbyterian Seminary, USA

 

In this way, IWNT was born. I like to think of it as a hybrid of two genres. Like an anthology, it features dozens of readings from antiquity. But like a textbook, it has a narrative framework to help orient the reader. My goal has been to take the best of each genre and to create a concise, readable book that will invite students into the world of the New Testament. If I am successful, then a student who reads a chapter of IWNT will find himself wanting to open up his study Bible and read Mark, or Philemon, or Hebrews.

With this goal in mind, I have had to be firm about what my book is not doing. IWNT does not aim to supplant a conventional textbook, with its comprehensive coverage of important modern scholarly debates. In IWNT, I try to explain ancient perceptions of Jewish sects, ancient messianic expectations, and ancient practices of crucifixion. I rely on twenty-first-century biblical scholarship in my discussion of the first-century sources, but the chapters of IWNT revolve around these ancient sources, not modern debates.

"Everyone who teaches an introductory NT course should seriously consider using this text as a pedagogical aid.” –  David E. Aune, University of Notre Dame, USA

Nor does IWNT try to fill the role of a biblical commentary. I avoid presenting a New Testament text and then marshalling the relevant ancient parallels. That sort of approach may have its merits, but in such a small book, I could only treat a fraction of the New Testament corpus. Hence, I focus on larger issues that affect the first-century world more broadly: the military history of the ancient Near East, the widespread practice of emperor worship, the concept of faith/pistis/fides, and Jewish apocalyptic worldviews. I seek to illuminate the reading of New Testament writings, not to exegete the finer points of this or that verse.

While I strive to help students plant their feet on ancient ground, I do not lose sight of—as one endorser put it—“the interests that brought them to the study in the first place.” I teach at a Jesuit university, where the tradition of cura personalis calls us to nurture our students’ intellectual development, but to do so within the context of “care for the whole person.” Of course, almost all of my students take my introductory course to fulfill a university requirement. But many of them also bring their twenty-first-century questions and quandaries to the text. Where possible, I incorporate these contemporary concerns into IWNT, laying the groundwork for further discussion and reflection. I hope that students and other interested readers will find IWNT to invigorate their interest in reading and studying the New Testament.

"This companion to the New Testament offers students an opportunity to read the New Testament intelligently. It is neither a substitute for reading the New Testament by summarizing it and the questions related to it nor a survey of the background of the New Testament. It is a judicious selection and commentary on ancient texts and their relevance to the basic issues of the New Testament. I heartily recommend it for use in introductory courses.” –  Greg Sterling, Yale Divinity School, USA