Perspectives on the Old Testament

Perspectives on the Old Testament: Diverse Approaches from Ancient to Contemporary Times provides students with an overview of various approaches towards the study of the Old Testament, ranging from ancient to contemporary times. The anthology features diverse viewpoints from notable scholars in the discipline and highlights a variety of issues and concerns raised by biblical scholars. The selected readings provide students with a critical examination of the original texts through multiple lenses, demonstrating the diversity and fluidity of interpretations of the Old Testament.

The text’s threefold structure loosely parallels the Jewish version of the Old Testament, with the first section addressing perspectives on the Pentateuch/Torah and the second addressing those on the Old Testament prophets. The articles in these sections present students with an explanation of the key themes and theologies found in the biblical texts. The final section of the anthology features biblical interpretations from populations generally overlooked in the discipline, including women, people of color, and queer communities.

Designed for novice student of biblical texts, Perspectives on the Old Testament is well suited for courses in anthropology, philosophy, gender studies, and religious studies, especially those that focus on Christian theology, black spirituality, feminist spirituality, and queer spirituality.