Why non-Catholics should order 'A Catholic Intro to OT'

Kevin Clemens
Kevin Clemens Member Posts: 354 ✭✭✭
edited November 20 in Resources Forum

Pre-Order here: A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament (1060 pages)

Why might non-Catholics be particularly interested in Brant Pitre and John Bergsma's Catholic Intro to the OT from Ignatius Press? Three reasons come quickly to mind:

1. Reception History - Each book has a section entitled "___ in the Living Tradition." In these, the authors highlight important ways that each OT book has been read throughout the history of the Church, with particular emphasis on patristic and medieval authors.

2. Typology and the NT use of the OT - At the end of each OT book's chapter, there is a chart detailing when every selection from the OT book appears in the Lectionary, with a short explanation of how it relates to the NT text from the Gospels with which it is paired.

3. Great overview of Deuterocanonicals - At over 1000 pages in print, this is a fine one-stop-shop for those interested in a historically robust and faithfully Catholic interpretation. Furthermore, for those who are working with a 39 book OT Canon and are less familiar with the Deuterocanonical books, this would be a great first stop to dig a little deeper into these seven books. (For instance, the treatments of 1-2 Maccabees and the Wisdom of Solomon are both 23 pages in the print edition, and are easily read in a sitting). 

Others who have used this excellent book should feel free to chime in with their additional thoughts.

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