Biblical Criticism: A Guide for the Perplexed

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This Guide for the Perplexed will demonstrate how modern biblical scholars have expressed dissatisfaction with a one-sided historical-critical approach to biblical texts and have argued that developments in secular literary theory should be applied in biblical studies. Whereas the historical-critical approach was concerned with the moment of a text's production (authorship, date, place of writing etc), the literary approach is concerned with the moment of the text's reception. Eryl W. Davies shows how and why approaches such as reader-response criticism', feminist criticism', ideological criticism', canonical criticism' and post-colonial criticism' are now becoming more popular in many quarters. The volume explains to the uninitiated in a readable and accessible form how strategies originally derived from secular literary criticism have been adopted by biblical scholars in order to understand the text of Scripture and to appreciate its relevance.

Reviews

The book is clearly written, with a warmth and gentle humour that make it a pleasure to read. -- Fr Henry Wansbrough OSB * Church Times *
This is an accessible volume which lives up to the series sub-title A Guide for the Perplexed. It is well written in a style that does not presume any detailed previous understanding of the subject matter. As such, it would serve well as an introductory level text book ... [and] is also well within reach of other suitably interested readers. * Theological Book Review *
Davies offers an elegant little guide to a range of biblical criticisms in this compact and efficient book [He] writes with an enviable clarity and exercises fair judgment It will admirably resource beginning students to get involved with the different conversations described herein. * The Heythrop Journal *
The value of Daviess book lies in its capacity both to explain, and excite interest in, critical reflection on the Bible ... This Guide for the Perplexed will undoubtedly serve as a clarifying and enlightening companion to readers interested in the Bible, both those outside academic institutions and those searching for a guide in their undergraduate studies of the Bible. * Modern Believing *
Summarized. * New Testament Abstracts *

Author Bio

Dr Eryl W Davies is a Reader in the School of Theology and Religious Studies at Bangor University. His previous publications include Prophecy and Ethics: Isaiah and the Ethical Traditions of Israel (1981); a commentary on Numbers in the New Century Bible Commentary Series, and The Dissenting Reader: Feminist Approaches to the Hebrew Bible (2003)