Sister Dianne Bergant invites readers to explore the First Testament through the lens of the people who populate it. Here we learn about the relationship between God and God's chosen people from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, Deborah, David, Solomon, Moses, Isaiah, Aaron, Zadok, Woman Wisdom, Job, Ruth, and many more. In the process we learn the history and relevance of ancient Israel while learning about the ancestors, judges, kings, prophets, priests, wise ones, mysterious figures, rebels, lovers, and healers who bring the First Testament to life and speak to us today. Book jacket.
Bergant, one of today's most highly regarded Catholic Scripture scholars, turns her attention to the book of Genesis, highlighting issues of gender, social status, economic class, and integrity of creation. In this important new commentary, Bergant explores the biblical text but also points out some of the social biases of the original community, an awareness that is crucial for an adequate understanding of the text. She offers a wealth of insights into this richly theological narrative. (back cover).
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." What Saint Jerome said centuries ago is surely still true today; any serious theological study must be grounded in Scripture. While there are plenty of biblical scholars today, few authors are able to introduce Scripture to students the way Dianne Bergant does. Bergant invites readers to genuinely engage Scripture, to enter the world of the text and explore some of the age-old questions that arise in every generation: ' What does it mean to say that the Word of God is both divine and human? ' Why is biblical history so important to the study of Scripture and theology? ' Why are there different literary forms in the Bible? ' Why the competing voices and apparent contradictions? In language that is clear and compelling, Bergant explores the answers to these and other questions. She surveys the world of the Bible and biblical scholarship in an introduction that is sure to spark enthusiasm and further interest. This volume in the Engaging Theology series instills solid knowledge of Scripture and, thereby, knowledge of Christ, demonstrating that "the Bible is an inexhaustible source of challenge and delight, of inspiration and guidance, and a testimony to ultimate meaning and value.
The book of Psalms plays a significant role in the public and private prayer of both the Jewish and Christian communities today, helping to shape the minds and hearts of modern believers. In two commentaries, one covering Psalms 1-72 and the other Psalms 73-150, Dianne Bergant examines the theological and historical circumstances from which the psalms originated. She reveals how the psalms were intended for instruction as well as prayer, and helps us experience their lyrical nature. In a fresh encounter with these poems of lament, hymns of praise, and prayers of thanksgiving, readers gain a new appreciation for these ancient texts, remembering that God - who dwells with us still - is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy" (Pss 145:8).
The book of Psalms plays a significant role in the public and private prayer of both the Jewish and Christian communities today, helping to shape the minds and hearts of modern believers. In two commentaries, one covering Psalms 1-72 and the other Psalms 73-150, Dianne Bergant examines the theological and historical circumstances from which the psalms originated. She reveals how the psalms were intended for instruction as well as prayer, and helps us experience their lyrical nature. In a fresh encounter with these poems of lament, hymns of praise, and prayers of thanksgiving, readers gain a new appreciation for these ancient texts, remembering that God - who dwells with us still - is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy" (Pss 145:8).
The Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries series offers compact, critical commentaries on all the books of the Old Testament. In addition to providing fundamental information on and insights into Old Testament writings, these commentaries exemplify the tasks and procedures of careful, critical exegesis so as to assist students of the Old Testament in coming to an informed engagement of the biblical texts themselves. These commentaries are written with special attention to the needs and interests of theology students, but they will also be useful for students in upper-level college or university settings, as well as for pastors and other church leaders. Each volume consists of four parts: -- an introduction that addresses the key issues raised by the writing; the literary genre, structure, and character of the writing; the occasional and situational context of the writing, including its wider social and historical context; and the theological and ethical significance of the writing within these several contexts-- a commentary on the text, organized by literary units, covering literary analysis, exegetical analysis, and theological and ethical analysis-- an annotated bibliography-- a brief subject index Bergant's commentary opens to students and pastors the visceral poetry of Lamentations, a book that plumbs the depth of biblical Israel's despair over the destruction of Jerusalem. The security of Jerusalem signaled divine protection of the whole nation, so Jerusalem's destruction was perceived as a sign that God had abandoned the entire people. The book of Lamentations is a cry to God for mercy. The horrors detailed within its five short chapters reveal the extent of human cruelty and the resiliency of the human spirit to endure such cruelty. Unlike many biblical books, Lamentations ends on an unresolved note. Will God eventually hear the cry of the people? Will God, as in days gone by, step in with mercy and salvation?
With the publication of Genesis: In the Beginning, one of today's most highly regarded Catholic Scripture scholars turns her attention to one of the most important, fascinating, and challenging books of the Bible. In this important new commentary, Bergant explores the biblical text but also points out some of the social biases of the original community, an awareness which is crucial for an adequate understanding of the text. She offers a wealth of insights into how the contemporary reader can best understand the biblical message.
This commentary views the Song of Songs as a collection of love poems that pays tribute to mutual love, and it carefully examines features of Hebrew poetry in order to uncover the delicacy of their expression. It is unique in the attention that it gives to the obvious feminine perspective of the poems and to their ecosensitive character. Whether it is the woman in awe of the strength and splendor of her lover or the man praising her physical charms, the descriptions all call on elements from the natural world to characterize the feature being described.
The book of Psalms plays a significant role in the public and private prayer of both the Jewish and Christian communities today, helping to shape the minds and hearts of modern believers. In two commentaries, one covering Psalms 1-72 and the other Psalms 73-150, Dianne Bergant examines the theological and historical circumstances from which the psalms originated. She reveals how the psalms were intended for instruction as well as prayer, and helps us experience their lyrical nature. In a fresh encounter with these poems of lament, hymns of praise, and prayers of thanksgiving, readers gain a new appreciation for these ancient texts, remembering that God - who dwells with us still - is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy" (Pss 145:8).
This series looks at various sections of the Old Testament from the perspective of a worldview in which various groups of humans, and other parts of the natural world, are considered in a relational way. Covers all the wisdom books of the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Apocrypha.
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." What Saint Jerome said centuries ago is surely still true today; any serious theological study must be grounded in Scripture. While there are plenty of biblical scholars today, few authors are able to introduce Scripture to students the way Dianne Bergant does. Bergant invites readers to genuinely engage Scripture, to enter the world of the text and explore some of the age-old questions that arise in every generation: ' What does it mean to say that the Word of God is both divine and human? ' Why is biblical history so important to the study of Scripture and theology? ' Why are there different literary forms in the Bible? ' Why the competing voices and apparent contradictions? In language that is clear and compelling, Bergant explores the answers to these and other questions. She surveys the world of the Bible and biblical scholarship in an introduction that is sure to spark enthusiasm and further interest. This volume in the Engaging Theology series instills solid knowledge of Scripture and, thereby, knowledge of Christ, demonstrating that "the Bible is an inexhaustible source of challenge and delight, of inspiration and guidance, and a testimony to ultimate meaning and value.
This book will enrich all who love the psalms, especially psalmists and cantors, proclaimers of the Word and other liturgical ministers, Scripture sharing groups, and ministers of care.
Sister Dianne Bergant invites readers to explore the First Testament through the lens of the people who populate it. Here we learn about the relationship between God and God's chosen people from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, Deborah, David, Solomon, Moses, Isaiah, Aaron, Zadok, Woman Wisdom, Job, Ruth, and many more. In the process we learn the history and relevance of ancient Israel while learning about the ancestors, judges, kings, prophets, priests, wise ones, mysterious figures, rebels, lovers, and healers who bring the First Testament to life and speak to us today. Book jacket.
In the first volume of this work, Dianne Bergant leads readers in an exploration of the earliest years of Israelite history, from the accounts of creation in Genesis through the divided Kingdom of David. Already drawn into the drama of Israel's beginnings, readers of Israel's Story, Part One will be eager to pick up this second volume and continue the journey. Those who have not read the first volume can easily enter Part Two and save Part One for a later time. From the theological significance of the Davidic monarchy to the prophetic call to covenant faithfulness, from the Babylonian exile to the influence of Greek culture on Jewish thought and practices, from the oral culture to the written word that is now the Old Testament 'Israel's Story, Part Two allows readers to delight in and appreciate more fully both the depth and diversity of our ancestors in faith. Bergant, in these two volumes, stands before readers as the teacher who makes history come alive, in this case helping us discover that Israel's story is our Christian story as well. Includes a glossary and timeline. Dianne Bergant, CSA, PhD, is professor of Old Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She has published numerous works, including Song of Songs in the Berit Olam series and Preaching the New Lectionary, both published by Liturgical Press.
The underlying premise of this study is captured in the first verse of Psalm 24, which states that "the earth is the LORD's" and no one else's. This is a major theological tenet that undergirds the biblical tradition. Insights from contemporary science prompt us to look anew at our understanding of the natural balance within the universe and at humankind as a manifestation of life within that universe. Theology calls us to reexamine the role that worship plays in our acknowledgment of these realities. After a discussion of some scientific principles, the book examines several biblical themes in order to discover how they might help to fashion a liturgical perspective that is faithful to biblical faith and contemporary in its eco-sensitivity.
The book of Psalms plays a significant role in the public and private prayer of both the Jewish and Christian communities today, helping to shape the minds and hearts of modern believers. In two commentaries, one covering Psalms 1-72 and the other Psalms 73-150, Dianne Bergant examines the theological and historical circumstances from which the psalms originated. She reveals how the psalms were intended for instruction as well as prayer, and helps us experience their lyrical nature. In a fresh encounter with these poems of lament, hymns of praise, and prayers of thanksgiving, readers gain a new appreciation for these ancient texts, remembering that God - who dwells with us still - is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy" (Pss 145:8).
The underlying premise of this study is captured in the first verse of Psalm 24, which states that "the earth is the LORD's" and no one else's. This is a major theological tenet that undergirds the biblical tradition. Insights from contemporary science prompt us to look anew at our understanding of the natural balance within the universe and at humankind as a manifestation of life within that universe. Theology calls us to reexamine the role that worship plays in our acknowledgment of these realities. After a discussion of some scientific principles, the book examines several biblical themes in order to discover how they might help to fashion a liturgical perspective that is faithful to biblical faith and contemporary in its eco-sensitivity.
This book explores Old Testament history, theology, and stories, bringing a clear presentation of the God who acts and the people of the covenant, from the creation accounts of Genesis to the fall of the Northern Kingdom and its prophets. Dianne Bergant, CSA, is professor of Old Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She is author of the Preaching the New Lectionary series and general editor of The Collegeville Bible Commentary (Old Testament) published by Liturgical Press. She was also editor of The Bible Today from 1986-1990.
This commentary, which uses the lectionary approved by the NCCB in 1998, is a literary-liturgical reading of the four lections, including the psalm response, of each Sunday and major feast of the liturgical year cycle C. It explicitly situates the interpretation of each day within the theology of its respective liturgical season, theology that is drawn from the specific themes of the readings of that particular year rather than from general theological themes otherwise associated with the season. The lections are also read in sequential order, from the first Sunday of that season to the last, thus providing another way of interpreting the riches of the readings. Book jacket.
This book will enrich all who love the psalms, especially psalmists and cantors, proclaimers of the Word and other liturgical ministers, Scripture sharing groups, and ministers of care.
The Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries series offers compact, critical commentaries on all the books of the Old Testament. In addition to providing fundamental information on and insights into Old Testament writings, these commentaries exemplify the tasks and procedures of careful, critical exegesis so as to assist students of the Old Testament in coming to an informed engagement of the biblical texts themselves. These commentaries are written with special attention to the needs and interests of theology students, but they will also be useful for students in upper-level college or university settings, as well as for pastors and other church leaders. Each volume consists of four parts: -- an introduction that addresses the key issues raised by the writing; the literary genre, structure, and character of the writing; the occasional and situational context of the writing, including its wider social and historical context; and the theological and ethical significance of the writing within these several contexts-- a commentary on the text, organized by literary units, covering literary analysis, exegetical analysis, and theological and ethical analysis-- an annotated bibliography-- a brief subject index Bergant's commentary opens to students and pastors the visceral poetry of Lamentations, a book that plumbs the depth of biblical Israel's despair over the destruction of Jerusalem. The security of Jerusalem signaled divine protection of the whole nation, so Jerusalem's destruction was perceived as a sign that God had abandoned the entire people. The book of Lamentations is a cry to God for mercy. The horrors detailed within its five short chapters reveal the extent of human cruelty and the resiliency of the human spirit to endure such cruelty. Unlike many biblical books, Lamentations ends on an unresolved note. Will God eventually hear the cry of the people? Will God, as in days gone by, step in with mercy and salvation?
Among all of the books of the First Testament, the Song of Songs is one of the most intriguing. On the one hand, its unabashed sensuality has captured the imagination and has endeared it to those who appreciate passionate human love. On the other hand, more demure readers have frequently been chagrined by their own fascination with its erotic character and have cloaked their interest under the guise of metaphorical reading. Both interpretations of the Song of Songs have been endorsed. Down through the ages, both Jewish and Christian interpreters have delighted in the exquisite imagery of the book's songs, but they have also frequently reverted to allegory in their interpretations. This commentary views the Song as a collection of love poems and carefully examines features of Hebrew poetry in order to uncover the delicacy of their expression. It is unique not only in the attention that it gives to the obvious feminine perspective of the poems but in their ecosensitive character. Although it is a tribute to mutual love, the principal frame of reference is the amorous disposition of the woman. Her words open and close the Song and her voice is dominant throughout. The imagery that the lovers use is drawn from nature. Whether it is the woman in awe of the strength and splendor of her lover or the man glorifying her physical charms, the descriptions all call on elements from the natural world to characterize the feature being described. Whatever they experience or know or even desire is somehow rooted in the natural world. Chapters are Superscription," "Mutual Yearning (1:2-2:7)," "An Opportunity Lost, Then Found (2:8-3:5)," "Ravished By Beauty (3:6-5:1)," "One of a Kind (5:2-6:3)," "The Admiration of all over (6:4-8:4)," and "Love Affirmed (8:5-8:14).
Judaism and Christianity are religions bound together by their claims to the same biblical covenant initiated by God with Abraham and his descendants. Yet, despite the inseparable connection between the election of Israel and that of the church, between the "old" and the "new" covenant, this shared spiritual patrimony has been the source of a type of violent sibling rivalry competing for the same paternal love and inherited entitlement. God, it seemed, had but one blessing to bestow. It could be given to either Jacob or Esau—but not both. In the twenty-first century, however, Jews and Christians are challenged to reconsider their theological assumptions by two inescapable truths: the moral tragedy of the holocaust demands that Christian thinkers acknowledge the violent effects of theologically de-legitimizing Jews and Judaism, and the pervasive reality of cultural and religious pluralism calls both Christian and Jewish theologians to rethink the covenant in the presence of the Other. Two Faiths, One Covenant? Jewish and Christian Identity in the Presence of the Other is a breakthrough work that embraces this contemporary challenge and charts a path toward fruitful interfaith dialogue. The Christian and Jewish theologians in this book explore the ways that both religions have understood the covenant in biblical, rabbinic, medieval, and modern religious writings and reflect on how the covenant can serve as a reservoir for a positive theological relationship between Christianity and Judaism—not merely one of non-belligerent tolerance, but of respect and theological pluralism, however limited.
The author of America magazine's "The Word" column (2002-2005) uses images from classical and popular culture and draws parallels between the contemporary Christian and our Old and New Testament forebears to bring vividly to life the Word of God as proclaimed in the Lectionary readings for each week. Readers will be moved by the lyric richness of her language and her direct yet dignified style to engage the Word for all seasons and to ponder the challenging questions she poses. +
These articles bring forward some of the thought of each book of the Roman Catholic canon by providing insight into major theological themes. The literary information gained aids in reading biblical material or in understanding troublesome concepts in a particular book. For that reason, it serves as an introduction to the biblical books.
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