Book List

REQUIRED BOOKS

Early Biblical Interpretation (Library of Early Christianity, Vol 3)
by James L. Kugel (Author), Rowan A. Greer (Author), Wayne A. Meeks (Editor) (Westminster John Knox Press, 1988) ISBN: 0664250130
Messianic Exegesis: Christological Interpretation of the Old Testament in Early Christianity
by Donald Juel (Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1992) ISBN: 0800627075

OTHER BOOKS

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
by G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson (Baker Academic, 2007)
The Bible As It Was
by James L. Kugel (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1997)
An enjoyable reading of the Torah that set it within the history of its ancient Jewish interpreters.
A Short History of the Interpretation of the Bible
by Robert M. Grant and David Tracy (Fortress, 1984)
A fine introduction to, as the title states, the history of the interpretation of the Bible. The first eight chapters are relevant to this course.

·         According to the Scriptures: The Sub-Structure of New Testament Theology

by C. H. Dodd (Scribner's, 1953)

Could perhaps be regarded as the seminal study of the modern era on the use of the OT in the NT.

·         New Testament Apologetic: The Doctrinal Significance of the Old  Testament Quotations 

by Barnabas Lindars (SCM, 1961)

Extremely significant and influential book that focuses on aspects of Jesus’ life and the scriptural background of how they were presented in the NT.

The Old Testament in the New: An Introduction
by Steve Moyise (Continuum, 2001) ISBN: 0826454143
A useful introductory text with some overview essays and specific chapters devoted to the use of the OT in the books of the NT.
From Prophecy to Testament: The Function of the Old Testament in the New
edited by Craig A. Evans (Hendrickson Publishers, 2004) ISBN: 1565637658
A collection of thirteen essays reflecting a variety of approaches and textual foci.
Early Christian Interpretation of the Scriptures of Israel
edited by Craig A. Evans and James A. Sanders (JSNTSS 148, Sheffield, 1997)
A collection of 21 essays under the categories of “Methods and Canons,” “The Gospels,” “Acts, Epistles, and Revelation.”
The Theology of Jewish Christianity
by Jean Daniélou (London, Darton, Longman & Todd, 1964)
An incredible survey of theological themes and their biblical and exegetical background as can be ascertained from the earliest expressions of Jewish Christianity.
Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul
by Richard B. Hays (Yale University Press, 1993) ISBN: 0300054297
“How did Paul interpret Israel’s Scriptures?” The approach is marked “by reading the letters as literary text shaped by complex intertextual relations with Scripture.”
The Use of the Septuagint in New Testament Research
by R. Timothy McLay (Eerdmanns, 2003) ISBN: 0802860915
A well organized and clear introduction to the topic, especially in its attention to the interaction of the Greek and Hebrew versions of the Old Testament and their impact on New Testament language and theology.

SPECIALIZED STUDIES

The Last Trial: On the Legends and Lore of the Command to Abraham to Offer Isaac As a Sacrifice: The Akedah 1899-1984 (Jewish Lights Classic Reprint)
by Shalom Spiegel, Judah Goldin (Jewish Lights Publishing, 1993) ISBN: 187904529X
A very important book dealing with Genesis 22. Though it only briefly crosses paths with the NT, it is a splendid study of the kind of exegesis that does occur in the NT.
A Biblical Text and Its Afterlives: The Survival of Jonah in Western Culture
by Yvonne Sherwood (Cambridge, 2000)
A very thorough and enjoyable study of the interpretation of Jonah throughout history, including NT and Early Church period.
The Septuagint as Christian Scripture: Its Prehistory and the Problem of Its Canon
by Martin Hengel (Baker, 2002)
If you plan to do any work on the background of the Septuagint, this is an important book to read.
The Old Testament in Early Christianity: Canon and Interpretation in the Light of Modern Research
by E. Earle Ellis (Mohr, 1991)
Major sections on “The OT Canon in the Early Church ,” “OT Quotations in the New: A Brief History of the Research,” Biblical Interpretation in the NT Church,” “Jesus and His Bible,” “Typological Interpretation—and Its Rivals.”
A Galilean Rabbi and His Bible: Jesus’ Use of the Interpreted Scripture of His Time
by Bruce D. Chilton (Glazier, 1984)
Introductory material and study on “Jesus’ Style of Preaching as Scripture Fulfilled,” but main part of book is study of “Jesus and the Targum to Isaiah.”
The School of St. Matthew
by Krister Stendahl (Gleerup, 1954)
An early and influential study of the interpretation of Scripture in Matthew.
Glory at the Right Hand: Psalm 110 in Early Christianity
by David M. Hay (Abingdon, 1973)
A published dissertation detailing the use of how Ps 110 was found to be so significant for the understanding of Jesus.
The Psalms in the New Testament
edited by Steve Moyise and Maarten J. J. Menken (Clark, 2004)
Twelve essays, most focusing on the use of the Psalms in a particular NT book.
The Old Testament in the Gospel Passion Narratives
by Douglas J. Moo (Almond, 1983)
A published dissertation that includes quite a bit of important background and specifics.
Psalm 22 (LXX 21) and the Crucifixion of Jesus
by Mark G. Vitalis Hoffman (UMI, 1997)
"How did the early Christians find Psalm 22 to be meaningful in understanding the crucifixion of Jesus?" Excerpts available at: http://www.crossmarks.com/dissertation/titlepage.htm
The Apostolic Fathers: An Essential Guide
by Clayton N. Jefford (Abingdon, 2005)
A brief, helpful introduction to the Apostolic Fathers and includes a chapter on “Connections to Scripture.”
Rabbinic Literature: An Essential Guide
by Jacob Neusner
As nice an introduction to the rabbinic literature as you will find. It includes a chapter on “Rabbinic Literature and the Christian Scriptures.”