Robert B Coote

Is the Bible True? offers a lively, down-to-earth look at the origins and nature of the Bible. Minister David Ord and biblical historian Robert Coote address many of the questions raised when ordinary lay readers come face-to-face with dilemmas posed by modern biblical scholarship. Part I begins with the question of how the Bible should be read. Is the Bible True? traces the experience of a person who has grown up reading the Bible literally but who, on closer inspection, discovers that ""literally"" is not nearly literal enough. The study of Scripture that ensues leads to a new approach to reading the Bible and uncovering its meaning for today. Part II asks how the Bible came to be. Who began the writing process, and when? How were the books collected into the form we know now? Exactly what kind of book is the Bible? Part III shows how understanding the history and reality of the Bible can make reading it a more meaningful experience--especially in sorting out the difficult issues that confront us every day. Is the Bible True? succeeds in showing how a more sophisticated understanding of the scriptures can enhance rather than undermine faith. It is required reading for everyone who reads and studies the Bible. ""Full of good stories and examples, this is a book which helps make the Bible interesting and exciting. It will serve as a fine guide for individuals and discussion groups who wish to know how to hear more profoundly the insights and revelation of the Scriptures and find inspiration for contemporary living."" --The Right Reverend Frederick H. Borsch, PhD Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles Robert B. Coote is a professor of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California. David Robert Ord is a writer and editor living on Hawaii's Big Island.

Is the Bible True? offers a lively, down-to-earth look at the origins and nature of the Bible. Minister David Ord and biblical historian Robert Coote address many of the questions raised when ordinary lay readers come face-to-face with dilemmas posed by modern biblical scholarship. Part I begins with the question of how the Bible should be read. Is the Bible True? traces the experience of a person who has grown up reading the Bible literally but who, on closer inspection, discovers that ""literally"" is not nearly literal enough. The study of Scripture that ensues leads to a new approach to reading the Bible and uncovering its meaning for today. Part II asks how the Bible came to be. Who began the writing process, and when? How were the books collected into the form we know now? Exactly what kind of book is the Bible? Part III shows how understanding the history and reality of the Bible can make reading it a more meaningful experience--especially in sorting out the difficult issues that confront us every day. Is the Bible True? succeeds in showing how a more sophisticated understanding of the scriptures can enhance rather than undermine faith. It is required reading for everyone who reads and studies the Bible. ""Full of good stories and examples, this is a book which helps make the Bible interesting and exciting. It will serve as a fine guide for individuals and discussion groups who wish to know how to hear more profoundly the insights and revelation of the Scriptures and find inspiration for contemporary living."" --The Right Reverend Frederick H. Borsch, PhD Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles Robert B. Coote is a professor of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California. David Robert Ord is a writer and editor living on Hawaii's Big Island.

This is a book about an ancient writer, the J writer--the Yahwist--who produced a work of political imagination. This work is embedded mainly in the first four books of the Bible, best known for some of the most popular and influential biblical stories in Genesis and Exodus. The purpose of the book is to represent the whole of the original story with attention to its own meaning, without the influence of the other literary strands with which it was later supplemented. Therefore the work includes a fresh, complete translation of the text of the J writer, who produced the Bible's first history. The translation itself helps to establish more clearly than ever the integrity of the J writer. The concern here is WHEN and WHY this history was written, especially in light of the concerns for justice and prosperity. Throughout it is demonstrated HOW and WHY this history comes from the court of David; it is a royal history of David's subjects as though they were descended from pastoral nomads such as Abram, Isaac, and Jacob. It is argued that the intended audience of the history was probably those bedouin who regularly visited the court of David in Hebron and Jerusalem. Here is a bold and brilliant representation of the J writer's composition, perhaps as it was originally intended to be read or heard. This ancient tour de force takes on new life in the hands of these skilled interpreters. ""This is a well-structured and incisive presentation of a distinctive view of J as a work within the milieu of David's early 'bedouin' context. It presents a viable interpretation of J's location and bias applied effectively to a sustained reading of the document as a whole. There are few scholarly writings that treat their subject so lucidly and playfully and are a pleasure to read. Read this one "" --NORMAN K. GOTTWALD Robert B. Coote is a Professor of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California. David Robert Ord is pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Jonesville, Louisiana.

This is a book about an ancient writer, the J writer--the Yahwist--who produced a work of political imagination. This work is embedded mainly in the first four books of the Bible, best known for some of the most popular and influential biblical stories in Genesis and Exodus. The purpose of the book is to represent the whole of the original story with attention to its own meaning, without the influence of the other literary strands with which it was later supplemented. Therefore the work includes a fresh, complete translation of the text of the J writer, who produced the Bible's first history. The translation itself helps to establish more clearly than ever the integrity of the J writer. The concern here is WHEN and WHY this history was written, especially in light of the concerns for justice and prosperity. Throughout it is demonstrated HOW and WHY this history comes from the court of David; it is a royal history of David's subjects as though they were descended from pastoral nomads such as Abram, Isaac, and Jacob. It is argued that the intended audience of the history was probably those bedouin who regularly visited the court of David in Hebron and Jerusalem. Here is a bold and brilliant representation of the J writer's composition, perhaps as it was originally intended to be read or heard. This ancient tour de force takes on new life in the hands of these skilled interpreters. ""This is a well-structured and incisive presentation of a distinctive view of J as a work within the milieu of David's early 'bedouin' context. It presents a viable interpretation of J's location and bias applied effectively to a sustained reading of the document as a whole. There are few scholarly writings that treat their subject so lucidly and playfully and are a pleasure to read. Read this one "" --NORMAN K. GOTTWALD Robert B. Coote is a Professor of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, California. David Robert Ord is pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Jonesville, Louisiana.

Robert Coote describes the stages of growth of the book of Amos, discussing the process of the book's gradual formation. Chapter One introduces Coote's approach, rationale, and method for his analysis. Chapter Two deals with the oracles of doom, basically the oral legacy of the prophet himself. Chapter Three shows how the words of Amos were reactualized and composed in their seventh century setting. Chapter Four comes to grips with the book of Amos as a theological whole, as it now stands in the biblical canon. This book also serves as a useful resource for understanding pre-exilic prophecy because of the many similarities between Amos's message and other prophetic traditions which Coote highlights. Robert B. Coote is Professor of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Original text to be scanned is 5.5 x 8.5; please center for 6 x 9 trim.