The Scribe Bible

Enoch has been described as the most important ancient Jewish writing not to have been included in the Old Testament. It was composed in the apocalyptic genre which, broadly speaking, refers to works containing a revelation in the narrative form given by a heavenly figure to a human being concerning the nature of the cosmos and the secrets of God's divine purpose for humanity and the creation and its renewal. This book is an apocryphal text that is mentioned by some New Testament letters (Judas, Hebrews, and 2nd of Peter). Until the elaboration of the Vulgate, around the year 400, the first followers of Christ mentioned it openly in their texts and accepted it as real. After the Vulgate, he fell into oblivion. However, the book is very interesting and seems real. Enoch's book has been preserved only in one copy, in its entirety, in Ethiopia, and for this reason, it is also called Ethiopian Enoch.

The Message is a contemporary rendering of the Bible from the original languages, crafted to present its tone, rhythm, events, and ideas in everyday language.

The Message is a contemporary rendering of the Bible from the original languages, crafted to present its tone, rhythm, events, and ideas in everyday language.

For many years it has been recognized that the key to explaining the production of the Bible lies in understanding the profession, the practice and the mentality of scribes in the ancient Near East, classical Greece and the Greco-Roman world. In many ways, however, the production of the Jewish literary canon, while reflecting wider practice, constitutes an exception because of its religious function as the written "word of God", leading in turn to the veneration of scrolls as sacred and even cultic objects in themselves. "Writing the Bible" brings together the wide-ranging study of all major aspects of ancient writing and writers. The essays cover the dissemination of texts, book and canon formation, and the social and political effects of writing and of textual knowledge. Central issues discussed include the status of the scribe, the nature of 'authorship', the relationship between copying and redacting, and the relative status of oral and written knowledge. The writers examined include Ilimilku of Ugarit, the scribes of ancient Greece, Ben Sira, Galen, Origen and the author of Pseudo-Clement.

"The authors answer common questions about the writing, copying, canonizing, and translating of the Bible and give readers tools to interpret the evidence about God's word"--

We think of the Hebrew Bible as the Book--and yet it was produced by a largely nonliterate culture in which writing, editing, copying, interpretation, and public reading were the work of a professional elite. The scribes of ancient Israel are indeed the main figures behind the Hebrew Bible, and in this book Karel van der Toorn tells their story for the first time. His book considers the Bible in very specific historical terms, as the output of the scribal workshop of the Second Temple active in the period 500-200 BCE. Drawing comparisons with the scribal practices of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, van der Toorn clearly details the methods, the assumptions, and the material means of production that gave rise to biblical texts; then he brings his observations to bear on two important texts, Deuteronomy and Jeremiah. Traditionally seen as the copycats of antiquity, the scribes emerge here as the literate elite who held the key to the production as well as the transmission of texts. Van der Toorn's account of scribal culture opens a new perspective on the origins of the Hebrew Bible, revealing how the individual books of the Bible and the authors associated with them were products of the social and intellectual world of the scribes. By taking us inside that world, this book yields a new and arresting appreciation of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The story of Silas, the man behind the spotlight who recorded many of the New Testament scriptures read today, is told in a novella that lets readers grasp the scriptures in a whole new light.

The complete biblical historical fiction compilation by the New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and A Voice in the Wind. The Bible is filled with inspiring stories of unlikely candidates God chose to quietly change eternity. This bestselling compilation in one volume contains five novellas about such peoplemen who stood behind heroes of the faith. Aaron. Caleb. Jonathan. Amos. Silas. Each faithfully sought God in the shadows of His chosen leaders. They answered Gods call to serve without recognition or fame. And they gave everything, knowing their reward might not come until the next life. Be challenged by these faithful men whose stories we must never forget. Aaronthe priest who stood in Moses shadow but had the courage to cover his brothers fears. Calebthe warrior whose words stirred mens hearts and brought Gods people to the Promised Land. Jonathanthe prince whose humility led him to befriend the man who would become king in his place. Amosthe prophet who heard when God called and spoke to a nation unwilling to listen. Silasthe scribe who surrendered his wealth to record Gods Word, even as those around him were silenced. Each novella includes an in-depth Bible study perfect for personal reflection or group discussion.