Religious Studies Exegesis
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[edit] Guidelines for Exegesis:
The term “exegesis” can be intimidating. It comes from a Greek term meaning literally “leading out.” It means simply explaining what a biblical text means primarily in its original historical and literary context. Helpful introductions are:
- Barton, John. Reading the Old Testament: Method in Biblical Study. Rev. ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1996.
1984 Edition can be requested from CUC, Hood, or MSM BS1171.2 .B33 1984
Covers standard methods as well as more recent literary and postmodern approaches.
- Gorman, Michael J. Elements of Biblical Exegesis: A Basic Guide for Students and Ministers. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 2001. BS511.2 .G67 2001
A reader-friendly guide to exegesis with brief overviews of various approaches with excellent bibliography.
- Hays, John H and Carl R. Holladay. Biblical Exegesis: A Beginner’s Handbook. 3rd edition: Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007. BS476 .H35 2007
- Haynes, Stephen R. and Steven L. McKenzie, To Each Its Own Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and Their Application. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993. BS511.2 .T64 1993
[edit] Study Bibles
Study Bibles provide an excellent resource since they contain introductory essays, introductions to particular books, and notes on particular texts.
These first two are based on the Catholic translation found in The New American Bible.
- Donald Senior, ed. The Catholic Study Bible, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. BS192.3 .A1 2006 .N49;
- The College Study Bible. Winona, MN: St. Mary’s Press, 2006.
- The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version, including the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books. Revised Edition. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 2006. BS191.5.A1 2006 .S26
- The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. Nashville: Abington Press, 2003.
- The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. Augmented Third Edition, College Edition, BS191.A1 1977 .N43.
- New Revised Standard Version (Paperback) (Oxford University Press, 2007) BS425 .N453 1991
- Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds. The Jewish Study Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Excellent commentary from Jewish perspective with fine essays on different themes and on Jewish biblical interpretation. BS895 .J4 2004
[edit] One Volume Commentaries
These are commentaries on all the books of the Bible with extensive introductions and extended commentaries on individual sections and thematic essays.
- John Barton and John Muddiman, eds. Oxford Bible Commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
- Brian Blount, ed. True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007. Commentary on each New Testament book, with articles on African American biblical interpretation and treatments of African American art. BS2341.52 .T78 2007
- Raymond E Brown, Fitzmyer, J.A. and Murphy, R.E., eds. New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990.
Excellent resource.BS491.2 .N485 1990
- James D. G. Dunn, ed. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003. BS491.3 .E37 2003
- Robert J. Karris, O.F.M., ed. Collegeville Bible Commentary Collegeville. The Liturgical Press, 1997.
Published originally as collection of individual volumes, now gathered into one volume. Very helpful and readable.
- James L. Mays, ed., The HarperCollins Bible Commentary. Rev. edition. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1988.BS491.2 .H37 2000
- Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. Women's Bible Commentary. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998. Copies Available in Reference Stacks on 1st Floor and Circulating Collection on 2nd Floor BS491.2 .W66 1998
- William R. Farmer, ed. The International Bible Commentary: A Catholic and Ecumenical Commentary for the Twenty-first Century. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1998. BS511.2.I57 1998
[edit] Biblical Dictionaries
- Anchor Bible Dictionary. D. N. Freeman, ed. 6 volumes. New York: Doubleday, 1992, Most complete coverage of biblical material. Also available on CDRom. BS440 .A54 1992
- Collegeville Pastoral Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Carroll Stuhlmueller, ed. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1996.
Helpful and accurate description of terms.
- Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. D. N. Freedman, ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. BS440.E44 2000
- The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Paul J. Achtemeier, ed. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1996 BS440 .H235 1996
- The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, George Buttrick, ed. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962, 4 volumes with supplementary volume. BS440 .I63
- The New Interpreter’s Bible : general articles & introduction, commentary, & reflections for each book of the Bible, including the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books in twelve volumes. Nashville : Abingdon Press, 1994-2004.BS491.2 .N484 1994
- New Interpreter’s Bible. Katherine Doob Sakenfeld, ed. Nashville: Abington Press, 2006--.
3 Volumes have been published as of April 2008 BS440 .N443 2006
[edit] Concordances
A Concordance is a work that lists all the words that appear in the Bible and the verses where they are found. Such a resource is most helpful when studying a particular topic or theme. Some helpful concordances are:
- John R. Kohlenberger. The New American Bible Concise Concordance. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.BS425 .N365 2003
- John R.Kohlenberger. The NRSV Concordance Unabridged: Including the Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical Books. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1991. BS425 .K645 1991
- Another helpful resource is Gospel Communications Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com
Prepared by John R. Donahue, S.J, April 2008
