Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study (Encountering Biblical Studies)
Considering these works, it seems fair to say that the  publisher's "Encountering Biblical Studies" series will make a  useful contribution to a reader's biblical knowledge. The  series, designed for undergraduate college courses in religion  but useful for educated lay readers as well, is written from a  very conservative or evangelical perspective and provides good  examples of that approach. Aside from expository volumes like  Hagner's, which address individual books of the Bible, the  series consists of two surveys treating the Old and New  Testaments plus two collateral volumes of readings aimed at  placing the Testaments in historical context. With Readings from  the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study,  Arnold and Beyer (coauthors, Encountering the Old Testament)  provide a selection of 91 documents from other cultures  surrounding Israel and thus inform the reader of the wider  cultural, religious, and social context in which the Old  Testament documents were composed. Each selection is preceded by  brief comments that make clear the background and content of the  text. They are arranged in the same order as the books of the  Old Testament and are collected under headings such as "Creation  and the Flood" and "Law Codes." An excellent selection by the  editors helps the reader compare and contrast biblical material  with other readings from the same region.   The book by Hagner (George Eldon Ladd Professor of New  Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary) is not a verse-by-verse  exposition but a chapter-by-chapter summary of the major themes  of the New Testament Book of Hebrews. Hagner also includes  commentary on how this applies to the Christian life. Each  chapter is preceded by an outline, a list of supplemental  reading from other biblical books, and suggested objectives for  student learning. At the end of each chapter is a list of study  questions, key terms, and a bibliography for further reading. A  select bibliography, glossary, Scripture index, and subject  index add to the usefulness of the volume. Both books are  recommended for libraries looking to supplement their collection  of evangelical books related to the study of the Bible.David  Bourquin, California State Univ., San BernardinoCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.