Introduction to the Apocrypha: Jewish Books in Christian Bibles
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
An ambitious introduction to the Apocrypha that encourages readers to reimagine what “canon” really means
Challenging the way Christian and non-Christian readers think about the Apocrypha, this is an ambitious introduction to the deuterocanonical texts of the Christian Old Testaments. Lawrence Wills introduces these texts in their original Jewish environment while addressing the very different roles they had in various Christian canons. Though often relegated to a lesser role, a sort of “Bible-Lite,” these texts deserve renewed attention, and this book shows how they hold more interest for both ancient and contemporary communities than previously thought.
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- Introduces these texts in their original Jewish environment.
- Shows how they hold more interest for both ancient and contemporary communities.
- Challenges the way Christian and non-Christian readers think about the Apocrypha.
A work of first-rate scholarship that makes ancient Jewish apocrypha, ranging beyond the traditional Greek and Latin collections, accessible to the non-specialist audience. I cannot see teaching my Bible courses without it.
—Benjamin G. Wright, Lehigh University
In this comprehensive introduction, Wills shows that neither ‘canon’ nor ‘apocrypha’ is a simple, consistent idea. This should now be the standard introduction to the Apocrypha.
—John J. Collins, Yale University
Introductions to the Apocrypha used to be dull, dutiful little books. Not any more! In this engaging study Wills demonstrates the sophistication and significance of these compositions. In addition, he dismantles the prevailing Eurocentric construction of ‘apocrypha’ and embraces a long overdue global perspective.
—Carol A. Newsom, Emory University