Biblical Exegesis, Third Edition: A Beginner's Handbook

By John H. Hayes, Carl R. Holladay, C. Holladay

Book Overview

John Hayes and Carl Holladay have thoroughly revised and expanded this best-selling textbook, adding new chapters on emerging methods of interpretation and the use of computer technology for exegesis. All bibliographies have been updated, and Scripture has been converted to the NRSV. This new edition retains the features of the early editions: a minimum of technical terms, solid introductory guidelines in exegetical methods, and a valuable presentation of exegetical theory and practice. It is ideal for general introductory exegesis courses, introductions to the Old and New Testaments, and introduction to preaching, as well as for pastors and lay leaders.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0664227759
• ISBN13: 9780664227753
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Biblical Exegesis

This is a book for a preaching class and is an easy read compared to some that I have read.

Excellent

This is an excellent source of information done in a way that enables understanding for a beginner student of the Bible.

Great Overview of the Field

This is a great introduction to the discipline of BE. It has a lot of breadth to give a novice a good flavor of multiple facets of BE without going into too much depth and drowning one in technical terms and methodology. Very nice overview for beginners. In the first chapter, the authors introduce the field itself, provide basic definitions and historical perspectives/evolution of the field. In the following chapters they discuss each of the major techniques or approaches to biblical criticism. Once again, the book isn't trying to be an in-depth, all-encompassing resource, it provides a very high level, but good overview of the field and each individual discipline. Most chapters have thorough and well organized bibliographies for further study of individual topics, which is very useful. Here are the titles of the chapters: 1 Introducing exegesis 2 Textual criticism (the quest for the original wording) 3 Historical criticism (the setting in time and space) 4 Grammatical criticism (the language of the text) 5 Literary criticism (the composition and rhetorical style of the text) 6 Form criticism (the genre and life setting of the text) 7 Tradition criticism (the stages behind the text) 8 Redaction criticism (the final viewpoint and theology) 9 Structuralist criticism (the universals in the text) 10 Canonical criticism (the sacred text of Synagogue and Church) 11 Integrating exegetical procedures 12 Employing the fruits of Biblical Exegesis

Great Beginning!

I am using Hayes' book as one of my required texts for a university class I'm currently teaching on biblical hermeneutics. It delivers precisely what the book is titled: A Beginner's Handbook. I highly recommend it as a beginner's introduction to the complex task of exegesis; why we do it, and suggestions for how we can do it today.

This Should Be on Every Bible Scholar's Shelf

Actually, this book probably IS on every Bible Scholar's shelf! At least it is on the shelf of most English speaking pastors and seminary graduates. As the name suggests, it offers a beginner's guide to the deeper side of Bible study. It describes a style of Bible study that will bring a clearer understanding of Scripture to anyone who can grasp it. And most people will be able to grasp it. The terms are not overly difficult.