In Roman Catholic circles the novelty of contemporary scripture interpretation has been grasped on a surface level. Clearly, to most scholars, the gospels were not written by eyewitnesses and are not necessarily literal accounts of Jesus' words. Scholars assert that the Bible is a diversified library and not necessarily all history, and that many of the dogmas of the church go beyond what the original biblical authors and audience would have thought. To some liberally minded Catholics these assertions lessen the authority of doctrine and free them to search out totally new positions while ignoring what has been traditionally taught. To some more conservatively minded Catholics, horrified by the possibility of doctrinal breakdown, the only answer is to reject contemporary biblical exegesis with its historical and critical components and to hold on stubbornly to past attitudes toward scripture as if such attitudes were themselves doctrine. This book argues that neither reaction has grasped the novelty of scripture interpretation at a depth level. Centrist Catholic New Testament interpretation, while firm in its historical approach to the scriptures, often detects lines of development that form an intelligible connective between the biblical period and the doctrines of the later church. Indeed the implications of such a centrist exegesis place the authority for doctrine where it has always been in genuine Catholic thought (as opposed to biblical fundamentalism): not in the book but in the church interpreting the book. As it faces new situations, the church under the guidance of the Spirit gains new insights into the revelation to which the Bible bears witness.
Raymond E. Brown (1928 - 1998), a Sulpician priest, was Auburn Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary, New York. He was twice appointed a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, by Pope Paul VI in 1972 and by Pope John Paul II in 1996. He wrote extensively on the Bible and was known worldwide as an expert in Johannine literature.
With the whole Christian world looking on, we Catholics have entered a sometimes acrimonious debate with ourselves as to what should be expected of those who are in the special ministry of the Church, i.e., the priesthood--What manner of life should our priests live and what work should they do? Also under review is the role of the bishop, said traditionally to possess the fullness of the priesthood. We are asking whether the authority structure on all levels should be more collegial or democratic and what such a change would mean in light of the traditional theology of the episcopate. Ecumenically we are pondering our relationships to other churches in which there is no episcopate in apostolic succession." --from the Preface
This best-selling book is certain to remain in the forefront of Gospel exegesis for years to come. In it, Father Brown treats the Gospels, written thirty to sixty years after the life of Christ, as reflecting considerate theological and dramatic development and not simply as literal accounts of a historical event.
A long-awaited abridgement of Raymond Brown's classic and best-selling introduction to the New Testament Since its publication in 1997, Raymond Brown's Introduction to the New Testament has been widely embraced by modern readers seeking to understand the Christian Bible. Acknowledged as a paragon of New Testament studies in his lifetime, Brown was a gifted communicator who wrote with ease and clarity. Abridged by Marion Soards, who worked with Brown on the original text, this new, concise version maintains the essence and centrist interpretation of the original without tampering with Brown's perspective, insights, or conclusions. The biblical writings themselves remain the focus, but there are also chapters dealing with the nature, origin, and interpretation of the New Testament texts, as well as chapters concerning the political, social, religious, and philosophical world of antiquity. Furthermore, augmenting Brown's commentary on the New Testament itself are topics such as the Gospels' relationship to one another; the form and function of ancient letters; Paul's thought and life, along with his motivation, legacy, and theology; a reflection on the historical Jesus; and a survey of relevant Jewish and Christian writings. This comprehensive, reliable, and authoritative guidebook is now more accessible for novices, general readers, Bible study groups, ministers, scholars, and students alike.
At his sudden death in August 1998, Raymond E. Brown, S.S., was acknowledged internationally as one of the greatest New Testament scholars. Writings on the Gospel and Letters of John spanned his whole career. In tribute to his life and work, St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, Maryland, hosted a conference in October 2003, "Life in Abundance." The conference did not focus directly on the work of Brown, but followed his lead in discussing the state of Johannine studies, the relation of John to first-century Judaism, and Johannine theology and issues of interpretation. This volume brings together presentations by scholars on these subjects.
In this digest of his longer work, The Birth of the Messiah,Father Brown puts the adult Christ back into Christmas, treating the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke as the entire Gospel story in miniature.
2009 Catholic Press Association Award Winner! A decade after the untimely death of renowned Scripture scholar Father Raymond E. Brown, SS, he continues to inspire and inform scholars and preachers, students and pastoral ministers, lay and ordained. It was only days after Father Brown's death that his final book was published by Liturgical Press. That book, Christ in the Gospels of the Ordinary Sundays, completed his six-volume series on preaching the Scriptures, a series that had begun in the mid-1970s with the publication of his popular An Adult Christ at Christmas. Those six volumes are collected here in one convenient commemorative edition to mark the tenth anniversary of Brown's death. Brown's work is left largely untouched, and readers will find that his wisdom is lasting. Yet Brown, being a scholar's scholar, would recognize the need for some enhancement in a work being republished some thirty years after the first volume appeared. Appropriately, then, this edition contains introductory essays by Brown's colleagues and friends John R. Donahue, SJ, and Ronald D. Witherup, SS, as well as useful indexes and a bibliography of resources for preaching the word of God in the context of the lectionary. As Witherup notes in his preface, Brown had the rare capacity to simplify complex biblical studies in a manner that did not 'dumb down ' the material but allowed it to be understood by a wide audience. . . . He did this in a fashion that was both inspiring and educational. That very broad audience 'those who grew up with Brown, so to speak, as well as a whole new generation of readers and preachers of the word 'will find this book to be a source of inspiration and knowledge that they will turn to again and again. Raymond E.Brown, S.S., (1928 -1998) was the Auburn Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He was author of some forty books on the Bible and past president of three of the most important biblical societies in the world. By appointment of two popes (Pal VI in 1972, John Paul II in 1996) Brown was a member of the Roman Pontifical Biblical Commission. Time magazine called him probably the premier Catholic Scripture scholar of the U.S.
Father Brown reflects here not only on those annunciations of Jesus' forthcoming birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, but also on the beautiful canticles, the Magnificat and the Benedictus, and on the origins of Jesus as given in the first words of the New Testament.
Father Brown has thoroughly revised, updated, and adjusted the commentary to the 1986 revised NAB translation of the Bible, making this edition of his best-selling book virtually a new work.
In this book, Raymond E. Brown makes the rich insights of the modern biblical exegesis available for reflection during the Easter season by commenting on the Gospel stories of the risen Christ. (Adapted from back cover).
One of the most fascinating aspects of biblical research today involves Near East discoveries and how they cast light on the Bible. Newspaper headlines are made by the Dead Sea Scrolls, or Gnostic Gospels, or an Inscription by Pontius Pilate, or unearthing the bones of a crucified Jew from the first century, or the Shroud of Turin. Here is a handy guide discussing some twenty-five of the most significant archaeological and documentary finds of our times, and explaining how they broaden our knowledge of the biblical world. For the general reader this is a most helpful companion to the 'New Testament Message' and 'Old Testament Message' series. The author, Raymond E. Brown, has been described by 'Time' as "probably the premier Catholic Scripture scholar in the U.S." The Sulpician priest, who is Auburn Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, has been awarded over a dozen honorary doctorates from American and European universities. He was commended by Pope Paul VI for his "learning, prudence, and Catholic regard for the Magisterium of the Church." In a revealing Introduction Brown reports that reading about such discoveries was the spark that moved him to commit his life to formal Bible study. These discoveries helped him to develop his cardinal principle of biblical interpretation: The Bible as "word of God" is a combination of divine inspiration and human time-conditioned perception. A knowledge of the civilizations and places in which God's people lived should convince open-minded Bible readers that the time-conditioning must be acknowledged if one is not to distort the Scriptures.
In these essays on the Gospel readings of the Ordinary Sundays, Fr. Raymond E. Brown seeks to fit the Sunday readings into an overall picture of each Gospel, showing how the Gospel shapes the narrative and its theological emphases.0
What is the best way of getting interested in Bible reading? Why not start with the passages that the Church reads to us in the seasons dedicated to the great events in the life of Christ: Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter? That would truly be Reading the Gospels with the Church. This book with its reflections on the Gospels of these seasons offers a wonderful entry into appreciation of the Bible. And since many mainline Churches have the same Gospel readings on Sundays, it is a book that can serve all. Time magazine called Raymond E. Brown, "probably the premier Catholic Scripture scholar in the U.S." Brown wrote major books on those portions of the Gospels used by the Church in its most sacred seasons, and no surer guide can be found to their wealth. Best of all, he here digests his thought in the attractive syle employed in Catholic Update--a style aimed at enabling all to understand. This book is a fascinating introduction to the riches of the Gospels.
Father Brown completes his look at the great seasons of the liturgical year, making the rich insights of modern biblical exegesis conveniently available to all, with this volume for the season from Easter to Pentecost. During this season the Church reads consecutively from the Acts of the Apostles, recounting the external life of the Church after Pentecost. The accompanying readings from the Gospel according to John portray the internal life of Christian disciples and promise a coming Paraclete to be sent by the Father. Father Brown's title A Once-and-Coming Spiritsignifies these two great biblical sources that he reflects on. He shows how these readings speak to our time as we live out the external history of a visible Church while internally drawing life from Jesus as branches on the vine. His comments offer an opportunity to appreciate the intent of the season after Easter and to prepare ourselves for the intensified gift of the spirit at Pentecost.
The last book of eminent Scripture scholar Raymond E. Brown, this work was published the day before his death in August, 1998. This book is a seven-day retreat with spiritual director John the Evangelist, author of the fourth Gospel. Through his artful appearance in the role of "translator" for John, Brown wove the evangelist's words into a week of prayer and deepening acquaintance, ending with a list of resources to help readers continue this relationship. Available now.
The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul, discerning the thoughts of the heart." "So proclaims the Letter of the Hebrews. Yet for many persons biblical word of God is less a sharp sword than a crutch, supporting rather than piercing them. Interpreted as they have 'always' heard it, Scripture tells exactly what they want to hear. Modern critical investigation of the Bible can change that radically." Raymond E. Brown, a Catholic Sulpician priest who died 25 years ago on August 8, 1998, wrote the above words for the original edition of this book. He was convinced that modern, historical-critical study of the Bible as the word of God was neither a threat to the Christian faith nor a denial of its spiritual and theological dimensions. On the contrary, his goal was to demonstrate Scripture's profound impact on the life of the Church, leading to ongoing conversation in every era. "I consider Raymond Brown the greatest biblical scholar America has ever produced. This important new edition of The Critical Meaning of the Bible, expanded beautifully by Ron Witherup, illuminates the Bible's central truths critically and meaningfully." —Paul N. Anderson "In this book the eminent scholar Raymond Brown raised critical issues and perspectives that we are still engaging with today. Ronald Witherup's helpful preface and insightful addenda update this important volume." —Michael J. Gorman "Mapping recent shifts in the history of Catholic Biblical Scholarship warrants renewed attention to this important updated version of Raymond Brown's work. As Ronald Witherup writes in his fresh and insightful preface, these issues are still current today." —Gina-Hens-Piazza
Discusses how the death of Jesus was portrayed in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John; includes information on what each of the authors was trying to convey in each passage.
The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul, discerning the thoughts of the heart. So proclaims te Epistle to the Hebrews. Yet for many persons the biblical Word of God is less a sharp sword than a crutch, supporting rather than piercing them. Interpreted as they have "always" heard it, scripture tells them exactly what they want to hear. Modern critical investigation of the Bible can change that radically, for now Christians and the churches are being told that the biblical authors did not always mean what they were thought to have meant when read through the spectacles of later interests. Because of its approach, some Protestants and Catholics believe the new biblical criticism is impious. Raymond Brown, a Catholic priest who is Auburn Professor of Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, argues strongly to the contrary. Critically interpreted, the Bible is all the more critical to Christians and the Church. The challenge of the scriptures is unleashed, "piercing to the division of soul, discerning the thoughts of the heart." - Back cover.
Father Brown has thoroughly revised, updated, and adjusted the commentary to the 1986 revised NAB translation of the Bible, making this edition of his best-selling book virtually a new work.
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