Testament: The Bible and History

by John Romer

Book Overview

As modern interpretations of Biblical events from The Passion to The Da Vinci Code clearly prove, the profound influence of the Bible continues unabated. It remains the lynchpin of our civilization. But is it history, myth, or some of both? John Romer, archaeologist and scholar of ancient history, provides answers to this most compelling question.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805009396
• ISBN13: 9780805009392
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 367 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 7.9" x 10.2"

Customer Reviews

Some good & Interesting ideas to think about

John Romer it seems just can't write a bad book. This one concerning the story of the Bible is just fascinating to me. Especially on the history of the Early Church, what with the politics and ecomonics that helped shape the Book of God that we use today. If you approach it with an open mind you will find some really thought provoking ideas presented. Altogether I really enjoyed it and commend it to you!

A history of sacred words

John Romer's Testament: The Bible and History is an accessible, interesting account of both the Bible in history, and the history of the development of the sacred text. Romer explores various issues according to the timeline of events, incorporating issues of archaeology, textual redaction, philosophy and sociology into the discussion.Romer subscribes to the basic, academically-accepted division of authors for the Hebrew scriptural development (J, P, D, etc.). But instead of simply recounting the theories, he interjects personality into his discussion, talking about Ezra as a strong possibility for redactor, and going into the issues, personally and religiously, that would have impacted his work at compilation and redaction.Romer also recounts a lot of legendary material. The gravesite of Eve, the pools and ponds of Abraham (including the carp of Abraham that is still caught and eaten to this day), the various sites identified as pilgrimage sites by Romans and then later Crusaders -- these bring up lots of extra-biblical folklore that is truly interesting when coupled with the Biblical text. 'In popular imagination they [Abraham's people] are condemned to bend under the Egyptian lash, make pyramids and palaces. But this vision, both of ancient Egypt and the foreigners who came to live there, is largely false, and serves only to distort our understanding of the Egyptian stories in the Old Testament.... For just as the ancient Egyptians in their day had thought the rest of the world to be somewhat primitive, so many Western historians have similarly regarded the ancient Egyptians; a part of an old colonial dream of sensuous cruelty mixed with simpleness. It is certainly a world that neither the ancient Egyptians nor Abraham ever knew.'Romer does not say things like this to discredit or discount the biblical testimony; far from it, Romer is probably more sympathetic to the idea of divine inspiration than many modern scripture scholars. But he is careful to distinguish interpretation from text, historical development from poetical extension, and let both the historical record and the biblical texts speak for themselves, sometimes in harmony and sometimes in discord.Romer's recounting of the original writing and compilation of the Hebrew scriptures is very interesting. The original need for a 'bible' arose in the face of repeated destructions, exiles, and, particularly, the destruction of the Temple, twice. 'The vice-like pressure of these two national disasters forced into being the Hebrew Bible, which is also the Christian Old Testament. But these disasters also affected the very identity of the God that the ancient books defined. For ancient gods changed when they were uprooted. These gods, with their cults and rituals, were bound into the life and character of the cities and civilisations in which they were first worshipped.' The Bible became a way for the preservation of this way of life and worship, and in the end provided the primary means for

Essential Reading

Romer is quite a writer. If you have seen the television series, this book will provide further enriching detail, and should not be missed. Since he had to cover a few thousand years worth of history, Romer has packed each page with detail, presenting the reader with the sometimes daunting task of gleaning all of it before moving on to the next page. I found at times that I needed to reread pages, but not due to confusion. Rather, I felt a need to make sure that I got all of the material clear in my head so that I would remember it once the book was sitting on the shelf. Kind of the intellectual equivalent of using your finger to get that last bit of frosting off of the dessert plate. Romer is particularly talented at dropping you into the location, the time, and the culture that existed at the scene, and is careful to discuss motivations and feelings along with the technical detail. Indeed he helped me to understand many of the subtle nuances of the translation efforts of the bible, and how they related to church politics of the day. This is required reading for adult bible study, and a wonderful read to boot. I recommend that you read this prior to Wide As the Waters by Bobrick, as it presents essential background material. If you've already read Wide As The Waters, well . . . then . . . you should read this anyway!

Brilliant, an "intelligent" study of the bible

This is a brilliant book, an "intelligent" study of the bible by an historian. Also buy the video. This is my bible on the bible.