History and Language Commentaries

Larry L. Burriss

Hello.

I've been asked to lead a Bible study that deals with the history, language, controversies, etc., about each of the books of the Bible.  The general outline is a brief overview of theology followed by history ("Martin Luther didn't want this book included in the canon because...."  "This book was written after the fall of ...."), language ("Notice the anagrams in this passage....."  "See the change from this word to that word in referring to...."), construction ("See how the first chapters deal with this, but the last five deal with that."), etc.  A quick glance through the various commentaries give a great deal of information about, for example, each verse, but I'm looking for more of a non-theology overview of the books.  

 

Any ideas? 

Mark Smith

Larry, what you are looking for is something from the field of Biblical Introductions. These are almost always divided up between the testaments, so you'd want an Old Testament Introduction and a New Testament Introduction. Logos offers some fine ones that would probably be of help to you.

New Testament Introduction by Donald Guthrie is solid.

A Survey of Old Testament Introduction by Gleason Archer will be of help.

Logos has others.

http://www.logos.com/products/search?q=introduction&Topic=Biblical+Studies&Topic_Biblical+Studies=Bible+Backgrounds&Resource+Type=Introductions

http://www.logos.com/products/search?q=testament+introduction&Topic=Biblical+Studies

BKMitchell

I'd recommend:

"The Hebrew Bible: A Socio-Literary Introduction" by
Gottwald, Norman K.   Fortress Press (Link)

If you're short on cash just get this one:

"Harper's Bible Commentary" by
Mays, James Luther.,
Harper & Row, Publishers.,
Society of Biblical Literature. Harper & Row
  |  1996, c1988. (link)

Larry L. Burriss

Thanx!! These will work great.