Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

An Introduction to the Bible. Robert Kugler and Partrick Hartin. 538p. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2009. 978-0-8028-4636-5; 2008-35211. $50.

This introductory textbook provides student with a critical framework for reading the Bible. The approach is a book-by-book survey of the Old and New Testaments. Each testament and groups of books like the Pentateuch, the Prophets, or the Gospels get additional introductory essays placing the works in their historical context. The chapters focusing on particular books summarize their content, address issues of authorship and dating and explore theological themes. Specific readings and questions are suggested for considering each text. Selected secondary sources are suggested for further research. The coverage is limited to only those books that are held canonical by Protestants. Thus, Old Testament works that were not part of the Jewish Bible, like the books of Judith, Sirach and Maccabees are not included. Unfortunately, a limited index weakens a work that would otherwise have great reference value. Nonetheless, this survey will provide readers in high school, public and undergraduate libraries with a useful introduction to biblical studies.