This Strange and Sacred Scripture: Wrestling with Enduring Old Testament Questions

By Matthew R. Schlimm and Aubrey E. Buster

The Old Testament can seem strange and disturbing to contemporary readers. What should Christians make of Genesis 1-3, seemingly at odds with modern scientific accounts? Why does the Old Testament contain so much violence? How should Christians handle texts that assign women a second-class status? Does the Old Testament contradict itself? What should we make of texts that portray God as filled with wrath?

This new edition of a successful textbook, now updated throughout, reflects important advances in scholarship on topics such as immigration, trauma, and gender studies. Written by two gifted teachers, This Strange and Sacred Scripture

- combines pastoral insight, biblical scholarship, humor, and a healthy dose of humility;
- explores perennial theological questions raised by the Old Testament in a fresh way;
- provides strategies for reading and appropriating these sacred texts;
- shows how the Old Testament can shape the lives of Christians today; and
- helps readers appreciate the Old Testament as a friend in faith.

The first edition was named a Top Ten Book for Parish Ministry by the Academy of Parish Clergy. The second edition is even more useful for the classroom and for churchgoers who have questions about the Old Testament.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1540966356
• ISBN13: 9781540966353
• Release Date: August 2027
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Length: 320 Pages