Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation

by Oxford University Press, USA

Overview

The two-volume Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation (OEBI) fills a crucial need in the field of biblical studies by providing detailed, comprehensive treatments of the latest approaches to and methods for interpretation of the Bible written by expert practitioners. It will provide a single source for authoritative reference overviews of scholarship on some of the most important topics of study in the field of biblical studies. As with all high quality reference works, it provides a solid foundation that students and scholars can use to orientate themselves before venturing into original research.

The Encyclopedia contains nearly 120 entries, ranging in length from 3,000 to 5,000 words. It is organized in an A-to-Z format. Each entry is signed, contains a bibliography for further reading, and is cross-referenced to other useful points of interest within the Encyclopedia. It also features a topical outline of contents and an extensive index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199832262
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	10/15/2013
Series:	Oxford Encyclopedias of the Bible Series
Pages:	1164
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 11.60(h) x 3.80(d)

About the Author

Editor-in-Chief Steven L. McKenzie is Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at Rhodes College. He is the author of a number of books and articles dealing with biblical interpretation including the OUP titles King David: A Biography and How to Read the Bible, as well as All God's Children: A Biblical Critique of Racism, Covenant, and Introduction to the Historical Books. He wrote the notes for 1-2 Samuel in the NOAB (3rd and 4th eds.) and for 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings in OUP's Access Bible. He has served on the editorial boards of Catholic Biblical Quarterly and Journal of Biblical Literature and is currently associate editor of Vetus Testamentum.

Table of Contents

List of Articles
Preface
Abbreviations used in this Work
Entries
Topical Outline of Contents
Directory of Contributors
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The editors are to be commended for having commissioned contributors to write groundwork entries....I was impressed with the overall quality of the entries...The Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation represents a splendid achievement by providing a comprehensive panorama of contemporary biblical interpretation. It shows how works from the previous centuries have initiated trajectories of biblical interpretation that continue today."—Review of Biblical Literature

"The contributors' annotations of their extensive bibliographies are an invaluable complement to the essays themselves. The roster of editors and contributors is varied and distinguished, and the selection of topics is as eclectic as one might wish. A superb index of 100-plus pages greatly enhances this set's usefulness. This is an extremely ambitious project that has the potential to foster broader and more sophisticated study in the field. Highly recommended."—CHOICE

"The Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation (OEBI) is an invaluable resource for scholars, and especially those in biblical studies. Steven McKenzie and his editorial team have produced a volume that combines accessibility, clarity, and eruditeness. The contributors include both well-established and emerging scholars from a variety of fields and from different global and cultural vantage points. Each of the essays, organized alphabetically, is a few thousand words in length and includes a — many times annotated — bibliography. The second volume helpfully includes at the end a list of contributors and their essays, an index, and a topical outline of contents." —FIDES et HUMILITAS

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2014
The 119 signed essays in this collection cover various approaches to interpretation of the Bible. While some entries, such as those on form criticism, reader response criticism, and evangelical interpretation, are expected, several entries provide insight into more unusual topics, such as performance criticism, womanist interpretation, and translation techniques. Other entries survey biblical interpretation from parts of the world besides American/European and faith traditions beyond Christianity. The 116 world-class scholar contributors focus on at most two areas of expertise each. As a result of this breadth, related terms receive complementary treatment and entries explore various viewpoints within an approach. As with any multiauthored work, the quality and readability can vary; however, most entries are understandable by lay readers and undergraduate students familiar with basic approaches to biblical interpretation. The inclusion of modern scholarship and recent developments in the field sets this work apart from other general Bible encyclopedias. Each essay concludes with a bibliography of major works, with many of the listed works annotated, extending the essay and creating additional value. VERDICT This fantastic set provides an excellent overview for readers beginning to explore a style of criticism while expanding their framework of approaches to the Bible and will interest lay scholars, students, and professional scholars. Although too specialized for smaller public libraries, it is very appropriate for larger public libraries and academic institutions (even those with subscriptions to Oxford Biblical Studies Online, which also houses all of the content).—Ray Arnett, Fremont Area Dist. Lib., MI

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