ToC | Reading the Old Testament. . . Introduction | ToC

A. Why Write RTOT?

Why write an introduction to the Hebrew Bible? Why write this particular one? An author might write such an introduction to the Hebrew Bible for any number of reasons, none of which this author will examine in any great depth. Reasons include its influence on religion, spirituality, church doctrine, culture, literature, and history. Suffice it to say the Hebrew Bible is such a significant book that it deserves all the attention it can get. But that attention needs to be disciplined and thoughtful and informed.
    Actually the Bible gets a tremendous amount of attention in the contemporary world, but not all of it is right-headed. All too often the media connect current events to the Bible in a superficial or sensational manner--Noah's ark has been spotted! The Dead Sea Scrolls change everything! The ark of the covenant has been found! --or they disparagingly portray biblical religion as reactionary, authoritarian and dangerous. Churches and synagogues sometimes use the Bible to support their own power rather than extend God's grace. Biblically based arguments often enter the debate on issues of public policy, such as gender and family issues, abortion and reproductive rights, gay rights, cosmology and science, and ecology. What is truth and what is fiction?
    Perhaps today more than ever there is a need to understand the Bible. Not what others claim about the Bible, but what the Bible itself says and means. To be responsible world citizens we need to be able to analyze and critique how others draw upon biblical authority; and as we turn to the Bible we need to do it responsibly. This introduction teaches you to read the biblical text appropriately. Along the way it exposes you to the many and varied factors that affect interpretation, as well as methods to understand them.
    Now, why was this particular introduction written? Maybe all textbook authors get started because they think they can do it better. Then they find out how difficult it is to get it right. This author wanted a textbook for his students that provided three things: the thread of the biblical story line, significant exposure to the biblical text itself, and serious practice in modern interpretive methods.
ToC | Reading the Old Testament. . . Introduction | ToC