Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture

Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture

Author: Mary Ann Beavis

Publisher:

Published: 2017-11-03

Total Pages: 642

ISBN-13: 9781910928332

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Consumers of culture in the modern world -- whether high culture or popular culture -- discover before long that the Bible, its tales and its characters and its idioms, is woven into the culture. Most of us wish we knew the Bible better, and are often at a loss to know what the biblical source or reference is to phrases or ideas we encounter. The editors of this unique volume have seen the need for an easy-to-use reference guide for those needing to track down information on characters, phrases, places, and concepts originating in the Bible. They assembled 200 scholars to write 1000 encyclopaedia entries on such biblical backgrounds to Western culture. The contributors to the volume have in mind readers without the specialization of formal biblical studies, and even those not familiar with the Bible's basic content. The presentation is twofold: entries begin with discussion of biblical terms in their original settings, and then illustrate occasions when those terms reappear in later cultural artefacts. This volume is then a dictionary of the reception of the Bible in later Western artistic and intellectual expression. There is a great deal here to explore and discover; turning these pages will prove illuminating not only as an introduction to biblical literature but also as a demonstration of the Bible's persistent contributions to our cultural heritage.


Book Synopsis Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture by : Mary Ann Beavis

Download or read book Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture written by Mary Ann Beavis and published by . This book was released on 2017-11-03 with total page 642 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Consumers of culture in the modern world -- whether high culture or popular culture -- discover before long that the Bible, its tales and its characters and its idioms, is woven into the culture. Most of us wish we knew the Bible better, and are often at a loss to know what the biblical source or reference is to phrases or ideas we encounter. The editors of this unique volume have seen the need for an easy-to-use reference guide for those needing to track down information on characters, phrases, places, and concepts originating in the Bible. They assembled 200 scholars to write 1000 encyclopaedia entries on such biblical backgrounds to Western culture. The contributors to the volume have in mind readers without the specialization of formal biblical studies, and even those not familiar with the Bible's basic content. The presentation is twofold: entries begin with discussion of biblical terms in their original settings, and then illustrate occasions when those terms reappear in later cultural artefacts. This volume is then a dictionary of the reception of the Bible in later Western artistic and intellectual expression. There is a great deal here to explore and discover; turning these pages will prove illuminating not only as an introduction to biblical literature but also as a demonstration of the Bible's persistent contributions to our cultural heritage.

Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture

Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture

Author: Mary Ann Beavis

Publisher: Sheffield Phoenix Press Limited

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 642

ISBN-13: 9781907534799

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Consumers of culture in the modern world - whether high culture or popular culture - discover before long that the Bible, its tales and its characters and its idioms, is woven into the culture. Most of us wish we knew the Bible better, and are often at a loss to know what the biblical source or reference is to phrases or ideas we encounter. The editors of this unique volume have seen the need for an easy-to-use reference guide for those needing to track down information on characters, phrases, places, and concepts originating in the Bible. They assembled 200 scholars to write 1000 encyclopaedia entries on such biblical backgrounds to Western culture. The contributors to the volume have in mind readers without the specialization of formal biblical studies, and even those not familiar with the Bible's basic content.


Book Synopsis Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture by : Mary Ann Beavis

Download or read book Dictionary of the Bible and Western Culture written by Mary Ann Beavis and published by Sheffield Phoenix Press Limited. This book was released on 2012 with total page 642 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Consumers of culture in the modern world - whether high culture or popular culture - discover before long that the Bible, its tales and its characters and its idioms, is woven into the culture. Most of us wish we knew the Bible better, and are often at a loss to know what the biblical source or reference is to phrases or ideas we encounter. The editors of this unique volume have seen the need for an easy-to-use reference guide for those needing to track down information on characters, phrases, places, and concepts originating in the Bible. They assembled 200 scholars to write 1000 encyclopaedia entries on such biblical backgrounds to Western culture. The contributors to the volume have in mind readers without the specialization of formal biblical studies, and even those not familiar with the Bible's basic content.

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

Author: Leland Ryken

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2010-05-11

Total Pages: 1086

ISBN-13: 0830867333

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A Christianity Today 1999 Book of the Year Every reader of the Bible has encountered the powerful, comforting and sometimes puzzling imagery of Scripture. These concrete pictures with their hidden force have struck sharp and lasting impressions on our minds. Their imprint has etched itself on the language and grammar of Christian faith and Western culture. Why then do traditional Bible dictionaries and reference works offer so little help to explorers of the Bible's galaxy of verbal pictures? They excel in describing the climate, borders and location of Galilee or Sinai. But they are often blind to the artistic expressions and deaf to the musical meanings that echo from within the world of the biblical text. The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is the first contemporary reference work dedicated to exploring the images, symbols, motifs, metaphors and literary patterns found in the Bible. More than that, it examines the Bible's universal archetypes or master images--including the plot motifs and character types that recur throughout life, literature and the Bible. This unique dictionary explores the dazzling variety in which the Word of God comes dressed in clothes of everyday life. It traces the trail of images from Eden to the New Jerusalem. It captures the plotted patterns of biblical narrative. It surveys the imaged texture of each book of the Bible. In short, The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is an inviting, enlightening and indispensable companion to the reading, study, contemplation and enjoyment of the Bible.


Book Synopsis Dictionary of Biblical Imagery by : Leland Ryken

Download or read book Dictionary of Biblical Imagery written by Leland Ryken and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2010-05-11 with total page 1086 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Christianity Today 1999 Book of the Year Every reader of the Bible has encountered the powerful, comforting and sometimes puzzling imagery of Scripture. These concrete pictures with their hidden force have struck sharp and lasting impressions on our minds. Their imprint has etched itself on the language and grammar of Christian faith and Western culture. Why then do traditional Bible dictionaries and reference works offer so little help to explorers of the Bible's galaxy of verbal pictures? They excel in describing the climate, borders and location of Galilee or Sinai. But they are often blind to the artistic expressions and deaf to the musical meanings that echo from within the world of the biblical text. The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is the first contemporary reference work dedicated to exploring the images, symbols, motifs, metaphors and literary patterns found in the Bible. More than that, it examines the Bible's universal archetypes or master images--including the plot motifs and character types that recur throughout life, literature and the Bible. This unique dictionary explores the dazzling variety in which the Word of God comes dressed in clothes of everyday life. It traces the trail of images from Eden to the New Jerusalem. It captures the plotted patterns of biblical narrative. It surveys the imaged texture of each book of the Bible. In short, The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is an inviting, enlightening and indispensable companion to the reading, study, contemplation and enjoyment of the Bible.

The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible

The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible

Author: John J. Pilch

Publisher: Liturgical Press

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 9780814625279

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2000 Catholic Press Association Award Winner! Interpreting the Bible respectfully is a cross-cultural enterprise. For those who seek to understand the Bible as a document from the ancient Mediterranean world and communicate it to people in other cultures, The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible is an ideal tool. Scripture expert John Pilch gives the modern Bible reader an appreciation for the world in which each book of the Bible originated and an in-depth look at the Mediterranean personalities who populate the pages of the Bible. With more than 100 distinctive, Middle-Eastern notions, from Abba" to "Work," this collection provides a cultural system of shared interpretations of persons, things, and events relating to the Mediterranean region. By applying a social-scientific approach to interpreting the Bible, Pilch shows how a multi-cultural understanding, enriched with the discoveries and insights taken from contemporary anthropological studies, can bemused to examine the distinctive, Middle Eastern cultural world of the Bible. Since each article discusses a variety of persons, things, and events under its title, the alphabetized tale of contents presents a comprehensive list of these subjects for ready reference. Uppercase entries identify complete articles; lowercase entries list some of the related topics treated in the articles. A bibliography is provided at the end of each major article. A list of basic resources at the end of the volume presents a selection of dictionaries, atlases, and similar books for supplemental information on each topic. Preachers, readers, RCIA participants and students alike will appreciate the index to the Sunday Lectionary readings for the full three-year cycle that is provided and its citation of the words defined in the dictionary that appear in the given readings. Includes illustrations of appropriate entries. Entries include: ABBA Agriculture Alternate Reality ANGER Animals Antonia Fortress Bailey Beard Bread Blindness Boat Burial Carpenter Caves Centurion Christians CLOTHES COINS Corban COSMETICS AND JEWELRY Culture DANCE DEATH DECEPTION AND LYING DRINKING AND EATING Earrings Eating Emotions Evil Eye Eyes Fishing FORGIVENESS Fortresses Frankincense Goats Good Shepherd HAIR Hands HEALING Heaven HOLY MAN Honey Honor and Shame HOUSE HUMOR Individualism Insider/Outsider Israelite Jewelry JEWS ANDCHRISTIANS John the Baptist Judeans Laughter Life Literary Forms Lying MILITARY Milk MUSIC Mother Nazirite NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION Oath Oil Perfume Peter's House Poor PRAYER Puns Rabbi Revenge Roads Salt Satan Sea SECRECY Shalom Shame SHEEP AND GOATS SICKNESS Sign Sin Singing SKY SMELLS AND TASTES Sorghum Space SPIRITS Stonemason SYMBOLISM Tastes Teeth Tents Translation TRAVEL Vengeance Water WEATHER Wheat Wine Wool WORK


Book Synopsis The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible by : John J. Pilch

Download or read book The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible written by John J. Pilch and published by Liturgical Press. This book was released on 1999 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 2000 Catholic Press Association Award Winner! Interpreting the Bible respectfully is a cross-cultural enterprise. For those who seek to understand the Bible as a document from the ancient Mediterranean world and communicate it to people in other cultures, The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible is an ideal tool. Scripture expert John Pilch gives the modern Bible reader an appreciation for the world in which each book of the Bible originated and an in-depth look at the Mediterranean personalities who populate the pages of the Bible. With more than 100 distinctive, Middle-Eastern notions, from Abba" to "Work," this collection provides a cultural system of shared interpretations of persons, things, and events relating to the Mediterranean region. By applying a social-scientific approach to interpreting the Bible, Pilch shows how a multi-cultural understanding, enriched with the discoveries and insights taken from contemporary anthropological studies, can bemused to examine the distinctive, Middle Eastern cultural world of the Bible. Since each article discusses a variety of persons, things, and events under its title, the alphabetized tale of contents presents a comprehensive list of these subjects for ready reference. Uppercase entries identify complete articles; lowercase entries list some of the related topics treated in the articles. A bibliography is provided at the end of each major article. A list of basic resources at the end of the volume presents a selection of dictionaries, atlases, and similar books for supplemental information on each topic. Preachers, readers, RCIA participants and students alike will appreciate the index to the Sunday Lectionary readings for the full three-year cycle that is provided and its citation of the words defined in the dictionary that appear in the given readings. Includes illustrations of appropriate entries. Entries include: ABBA Agriculture Alternate Reality ANGER Animals Antonia Fortress Bailey Beard Bread Blindness Boat Burial Carpenter Caves Centurion Christians CLOTHES COINS Corban COSMETICS AND JEWELRY Culture DANCE DEATH DECEPTION AND LYING DRINKING AND EATING Earrings Eating Emotions Evil Eye Eyes Fishing FORGIVENESS Fortresses Frankincense Goats Good Shepherd HAIR Hands HEALING Heaven HOLY MAN Honey Honor and Shame HOUSE HUMOR Individualism Insider/Outsider Israelite Jewelry JEWS ANDCHRISTIANS John the Baptist Judeans Laughter Life Literary Forms Lying MILITARY Milk MUSIC Mother Nazirite NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION Oath Oil Perfume Peter's House Poor PRAYER Puns Rabbi Revenge Roads Salt Satan Sea SECRECY Shalom Shame SHEEP AND GOATS SICKNESS Sign Sin Singing SKY SMELLS AND TASTES Sorghum Space SPIRITS Stonemason SYMBOLISM Tastes Teeth Tents Translation TRAVEL Vengeance Water WEATHER Wheat Wine Wool WORK

Mercer Dictionary of the Bible

Mercer Dictionary of the Bible

Author: Watson E. Mills

Publisher: Mercer University Press

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 1108

ISBN-13: 9780865543737

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An encyclopedic guide to the interpretation and understanding of biblical literature. Though written by members of the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, the 1,450 original entries by some 225 contributors are diverse in viewpoint and devoid of theological prescription. They're


Book Synopsis Mercer Dictionary of the Bible by : Watson E. Mills

Download or read book Mercer Dictionary of the Bible written by Watson E. Mills and published by Mercer University Press. This book was released on 1990 with total page 1108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An encyclopedic guide to the interpretation and understanding of biblical literature. Though written by members of the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, the 1,450 original entries by some 225 contributors are diverse in viewpoint and devoid of theological prescription. They're

The Complete Dictionary of Bible Names

The Complete Dictionary of Bible Names

Author: Dr Judson Cornwall

Publisher: Bridge Logos Inc

Published: 2017-01-01

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 1610361113

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Containing every biblical name and its Hebrew or Greek nuances, your own relationship with God will be enriched as you gain an in-depth understanding of their meanings.


Book Synopsis The Complete Dictionary of Bible Names by : Dr Judson Cornwall

Download or read book The Complete Dictionary of Bible Names written by Dr Judson Cornwall and published by Bridge Logos Inc. This book was released on 2017-01-01 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Containing every biblical name and its Hebrew or Greek nuances, your own relationship with God will be enriched as you gain an in-depth understanding of their meanings.

The Bible in Western Culture

The Bible in Western Culture

Author: Dee Dyas

Publisher: Psychology Press

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 9780415326179

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With no prior Biblical knowledge required, the volume offers a framework of understanding for those studying Western literature, art, historical events, or for those just wanting to improve their general knowledge.


Book Synopsis The Bible in Western Culture by : Dee Dyas

Download or read book The Bible in Western Culture written by Dee Dyas and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2005 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With no prior Biblical knowledge required, the volume offers a framework of understanding for those studying Western literature, art, historical events, or for those just wanting to improve their general knowledge.

Global Dictionary of Theology

Global Dictionary of Theology

Author: William A. Dyrness

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2009-10-25

Total Pages: 996

ISBN-13: 9780830878116

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Theological dictionaries are foundational to any theological library. But until now there has been no Global Dictionary of Theology, a theological dictionary that presumes the contribution of the Western tradition but moves beyond it to embrace and explore a full range of global expressions of theology. The Global Dictionary of Theology is inspired by the shift of the center of Christianity from the West to the Global South. But it also reflects the increase in two-way traffic between these two sectors as well as the global awareness that has permeated popular culture to an unprecedented degree. The editorial perspective of the Global Dictionary of Theology is an ecumenical evangelicalism that is receptive to discovering new facets of truth through listening and conversation on a global scale. Thus a distinctive feature of the Global Dictionary of Theology is its conversational approach. Contributors have been called on to write in the spirit of engaging in a larger theological conversation in which alternative views are expected and invited. William A. Dyrness, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Juan F. Martinez and Simon Chan edit approximately 250 articles written by over 100 contributors representing the global spectrum of theological perspectives. Pastors, theological teachers, theological students and lay Christian leaders will all find the Global Dictionary of Theology to be a resource that unfolds new dimensions and reveals new panoramas of theological perspective and inquiry. Here is a new launching point for doing theology in today's global context.


Book Synopsis Global Dictionary of Theology by : William A. Dyrness

Download or read book Global Dictionary of Theology written by William A. Dyrness and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2009-10-25 with total page 996 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Theological dictionaries are foundational to any theological library. But until now there has been no Global Dictionary of Theology, a theological dictionary that presumes the contribution of the Western tradition but moves beyond it to embrace and explore a full range of global expressions of theology. The Global Dictionary of Theology is inspired by the shift of the center of Christianity from the West to the Global South. But it also reflects the increase in two-way traffic between these two sectors as well as the global awareness that has permeated popular culture to an unprecedented degree. The editorial perspective of the Global Dictionary of Theology is an ecumenical evangelicalism that is receptive to discovering new facets of truth through listening and conversation on a global scale. Thus a distinctive feature of the Global Dictionary of Theology is its conversational approach. Contributors have been called on to write in the spirit of engaging in a larger theological conversation in which alternative views are expected and invited. William A. Dyrness, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Juan F. Martinez and Simon Chan edit approximately 250 articles written by over 100 contributors representing the global spectrum of theological perspectives. Pastors, theological teachers, theological students and lay Christian leaders will all find the Global Dictionary of Theology to be a resource that unfolds new dimensions and reveals new panoramas of theological perspective and inquiry. Here is a new launching point for doing theology in today's global context.

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

Author: William D. Mounce

Publisher: Zondervan Academic

Published: 2009-12-15

Total Pages: 1544

ISBN-13: 0310859700

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For years, Vine’s Expository Dictionary has been the standard word study tool for pastors and laypeople, selling millions of copies. But sixty-plus years of scholarship have shed extensive new light on the use of biblical Greek and Hebrew, creating the need for a new, more accurate, more thorough dictionary of Bible words. William Mounce, whose Greek grammar has been used by more than 100,000 college and seminary students, is the editor of this new dictionary, which will become the layperson’s gold standard for biblical word studies. Mounce’s is ideal for the reader with limited or no knowledge of Greek or Hebrew who wants greater insight into the meanings of biblical words to enhance Bible study. It is also the perfect reference for busy pastors needing to quickly get at the heart of a word’s meaning without wading through more technical studies. What makes Mounce’s superior to Vine’s? The most accurate, in-depth definitions based on the best of modern evangelical scholarship Both Greek and Hebrew words are found under each English entry (Vine’s separates them) Employs both Strong’s and G/K numbering systems (Vine’s only uses Strong’s) Mounce’s accuracy is endorsed by leading scholars


Book Synopsis Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words by : William D. Mounce

Download or read book Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words written by William D. Mounce and published by Zondervan Academic. This book was released on 2009-12-15 with total page 1544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For years, Vine’s Expository Dictionary has been the standard word study tool for pastors and laypeople, selling millions of copies. But sixty-plus years of scholarship have shed extensive new light on the use of biblical Greek and Hebrew, creating the need for a new, more accurate, more thorough dictionary of Bible words. William Mounce, whose Greek grammar has been used by more than 100,000 college and seminary students, is the editor of this new dictionary, which will become the layperson’s gold standard for biblical word studies. Mounce’s is ideal for the reader with limited or no knowledge of Greek or Hebrew who wants greater insight into the meanings of biblical words to enhance Bible study. It is also the perfect reference for busy pastors needing to quickly get at the heart of a word’s meaning without wading through more technical studies. What makes Mounce’s superior to Vine’s? The most accurate, in-depth definitions based on the best of modern evangelical scholarship Both Greek and Hebrew words are found under each English entry (Vine’s separates them) Employs both Strong’s and G/K numbering systems (Vine’s only uses Strong’s) Mounce’s accuracy is endorsed by leading scholars

The Oxford Companion to the Bible

The Oxford Companion to the Bible

Author: Bruce M. Metzger

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 1993-10-14

Total Pages: 930

ISBN-13: 0199743916

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The Bible has had an immeasurable influence on Western culture, touching on virtually every aspect of our lives. It is one of the great wellsprings of Western religious, ethical, and philosophical traditions. It has been an endless source of inspiration to artists, from classic works such as Michaelangelo's Last Judgment, Handel's Messiah, or Milton's Paradise Lost, to modern works such as Thomas Mann's Joseph and His Brothers or Martin Scorsese's controversial Last Temptation of Christ. For countless generations, it has been a comfort in suffering, a place to reflect on the mysteries of birth, death, and immortality. Its stories and characters are an integral part of the repertoire of every educated adult, forming an enduring bond that spans thousands of years and embraces a vast community of believers and nonbelievers. The Oxford Companion to the Bible provides an authoritative one-volume reference to the people, places, events, books, institutions, religious belief, and secular influence of the Bible. Written by more than 250 scholars from some 20 nations and embracing a wide variety of perspectives, the Companion offers over seven hundred entries, ranging from brief identifications--who is Dives? where is Pisgah?--to extensive interpretive essays on topics such as the influence of the Bible on music or law. Ranging far beyond the scope of a traditional Bible dictionary, the Companion features, in addition to its many informative, factual entries, an abundance of interpretive essays. Here are extended entries on religious concepts from immortality, sin, and grace, to baptism, ethics, and the Holy Spirit. The contributors also explore biblical views of modern issues such as homosexuality, marriage, and anti-Semitism, and the impact of the Bible on the secular world (including a four-part article on the Bible's influence on literature). Of course, the Companion can also serve as a handy reference, the first place to turn to find factual information on the Bible. Readers will find fascinating, informative articles on all the books of the Bible--including the Apocrypha and many other ancient texts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, and the Mishrah. Virtually every figure who walked across the biblical stage is identified here, ranging from Rebekah, Rachel, and Mary, to Joseph, Barabbas, and Jesus. The Companion also offers entries that shed light on daily life in ancient Israel and the earliest Christian communities, with fascinating articles on feasts and festivals, clothing, medicine, units of time, houses, and furniture. Finally, there are twenty-eight pages of full-color maps, providing an accurate, detailed portrait of the biblical world. A vast compendium of information related to scriptures, here is an ideal complement to the Bible, an essential volume for every home and library, the first place to turn for information on the central book of Western culture.


Book Synopsis The Oxford Companion to the Bible by : Bruce M. Metzger

Download or read book The Oxford Companion to the Bible written by Bruce M. Metzger and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1993-10-14 with total page 930 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bible has had an immeasurable influence on Western culture, touching on virtually every aspect of our lives. It is one of the great wellsprings of Western religious, ethical, and philosophical traditions. It has been an endless source of inspiration to artists, from classic works such as Michaelangelo's Last Judgment, Handel's Messiah, or Milton's Paradise Lost, to modern works such as Thomas Mann's Joseph and His Brothers or Martin Scorsese's controversial Last Temptation of Christ. For countless generations, it has been a comfort in suffering, a place to reflect on the mysteries of birth, death, and immortality. Its stories and characters are an integral part of the repertoire of every educated adult, forming an enduring bond that spans thousands of years and embraces a vast community of believers and nonbelievers. The Oxford Companion to the Bible provides an authoritative one-volume reference to the people, places, events, books, institutions, religious belief, and secular influence of the Bible. Written by more than 250 scholars from some 20 nations and embracing a wide variety of perspectives, the Companion offers over seven hundred entries, ranging from brief identifications--who is Dives? where is Pisgah?--to extensive interpretive essays on topics such as the influence of the Bible on music or law. Ranging far beyond the scope of a traditional Bible dictionary, the Companion features, in addition to its many informative, factual entries, an abundance of interpretive essays. Here are extended entries on religious concepts from immortality, sin, and grace, to baptism, ethics, and the Holy Spirit. The contributors also explore biblical views of modern issues such as homosexuality, marriage, and anti-Semitism, and the impact of the Bible on the secular world (including a four-part article on the Bible's influence on literature). Of course, the Companion can also serve as a handy reference, the first place to turn to find factual information on the Bible. Readers will find fascinating, informative articles on all the books of the Bible--including the Apocrypha and many other ancient texts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, and the Mishrah. Virtually every figure who walked across the biblical stage is identified here, ranging from Rebekah, Rachel, and Mary, to Joseph, Barabbas, and Jesus. The Companion also offers entries that shed light on daily life in ancient Israel and the earliest Christian communities, with fascinating articles on feasts and festivals, clothing, medicine, units of time, houses, and furniture. Finally, there are twenty-eight pages of full-color maps, providing an accurate, detailed portrait of the biblical world. A vast compendium of information related to scriptures, here is an ideal complement to the Bible, an essential volume for every home and library, the first place to turn for information on the central book of Western culture.