Can anyone suggest an introductory text to the OT or NT? I’m wondering if there are any texts that are commonly used for this purpose. I’m aware the essays in the Oxford Annotated NRSV are also meant to be a good starter. #CofEPeeps
Replies
Walter Bruggeman has written on the OT and the course I did at Sarum used the People's Bible Commentary - a wide range of perspectives (not just white men)
aug 30, 2025, 11:31 pm • 1 0 • view
Mark Allan Powell's introductory books are good and tend to be very even-handed (not passing off his preferred outlook as 'what everyone knows' or 'but the best of all is'). I disagree with Mark on many points, but I appreciate his effort not to twist arms in an intro book.
aug 31, 2025, 2:46 pm • 2 0 • view
Thank you - this is very useful info.
aug 31, 2025, 9:09 pm • 0 0 • view
The New Testament in its World by NT Wight and Michael Bird?
aug 31, 2025, 3:47 am • 1 0 • view
Sounds great! I realise I am likely to need more than two books long term, but it’s good to start somewhere. I’m also working on learning to note take properly, so having something dense to read and then summarise is helpful.
aug 31, 2025, 9:15 am • 1 0 • view
'Companion to the New Testament' edited by James Crossley & Michelle Fletcher (2024) is useful. Kinda does what it says on the tin, with short essays on themes, reception (historic and more modern), etc. Each essay has a bibliography for further reading, if you want/need to go further.
aug 31, 2025, 3:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Thank you ☺️
aug 31, 2025, 9:08 pm • 1 0 • view
I’d also recommend John Goldingay’s intro to the OT: www.hive.co.uk/Product/John...
sep 2, 2025, 5:53 pm • 1 0 • view
Thanks Phil.
sep 2, 2025, 6:48 pm • 0 0 • view
John Drane’s “Introducing the New/Old Testament” are both excellent.
sep 2, 2025, 5:48 pm • 1 0 • view
Luke Timothy Johnson’s New Testament is amazing! It’s out of Date but I still like Boadt for the Old Testament. Lots of information and lovely maps and very readable!
aug 31, 2025, 10:51 am • 2 0 • view
I love a good map, mate - esp eg Paul’s journeys
aug 31, 2025, 1:19 pm • 2 0 • view
Me too! Maps are one on my top 5 favourite things!
aug 31, 2025, 1:51 pm • 1 0 • view