Description: The new edition retains the features of the first edition: a minimum of technical terms, solid introductory guidelines in exegetical method, and a valuable presentation of exgetical theory and practice. The new edition is even more ideal for general introductory courses in Old and New Testament, exegesis courses on specific books, homiletics and preaching courses, and coures flocusing on historical topics.
Review Summary: Good Survey Of The Methods Of Critical Bible Study
Date: 2008-02-23
Details: Hayes and Holladay give a succinct yet thorough survey of exegesis and Biblical Exegesis in particular. Anyone wanting a basic understanding of the general approaches used in the scholarly study of the Bible will find this book useful. Those of us who want to study the Bible seriously need to have a basic understanding of how to know the words that were used in the original; how to work to understand what the words mean and how they were intended; and how to connect with the historicity and the history of the texts. Biblical Exegesis - A Beginner's Handbook is a fine introduction to these three processes and much more. Very much worth the read.
Robert Curtis
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Review Summary: Excellent
Date: 2007-06-28
Details: This is an excellent source of information done in a way that enables understanding for a beginner student of the Bible.
Review Summary: Great Overview of the Field
Date: 2007-04-04
Details: This is a great introduction to the discipline of BE. It has a lot of breadth to give a novice a good flavor of multiple facets of BE without going into too much depth and drowning one in technical terms and methodology. Very nice overview for beginners.
In the first chapter, the authors introduce the field itself, provide basic definitions and historical perspectives/evolution of the field. In the following chapters they discuss each of the major techniques or approaches to biblical criticism. Once again, the book isn't trying to be an in-depth, all-encompassing resource, it provides a very high level, but good overview of the field and each individual discipline. Most chapters have thorough and well organized bibliographies for further study of individual topics, which is very useful. Here are the titles of the chapters:
1 Introducing exegesis
2 Textual criticism (the quest for the original wording)
3 Historical criticism (the setting in time and space)
4 Grammatical criticism (the language of the text)
5 Literary criticism (the composition and rhetorical style of the text)
6 Form criticism (the genre and life setting of the text)
7 Tradition criticism (the stages behind the text)
8 Redaction criticism (the final viewpoint and theology)
9 Structuralist criticism (the universals in the text)
10 Canonical criticism (the sacred text of Synagogue and Church)
11 Integrating exegetical procedures
12 Employing the fruits of Biblical Exegesis
Review Summary: Great Beginning!
Date: 2007-01-05
Details: I am using Hayes' book as one of my required texts for a university class I'm currently teaching on biblical hermeneutics. It delivers precisely what the book is titled: A Beginner's Handbook. I highly recommend it as a beginner's introduction to the complex task of exegesis; why we do it, and suggestions for how we can do it today.
Review Summary: Great Book
Date: 2006-02-27
Details: This is a very helpful book for Beginners and anyone who needs to get direction on how to look at scripture more intently. Using this book will guide you into finding a deeper understanding of scripture by taking you through the exegesis (pulling out the meaning)process.
out of 6 Reviews
