How can one read the Bible both critically and religiously? To answer that question, The Bible and the Believer enlists one Jewish, one Catholic, and one Protestant biblical scholar who explain and illustrate how to read the Hebrew Bible/Tanakh/Old Testament critically and religiously in light of their own religious traditions.

Preface ; Introduction: The Historical-Critical Reading of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament ; Chapter One: My Bible: A Jew's Perspective - Marc Zvi Brettler ; Response by Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. ; Response by Peter Enns ; Chapter Two: Reading the Bible Critically and Religiously: Catholic Perspectives - Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. ; Response by Peter Enns ; Response by Marc Zvi Brettler ; Chapter Three: Protestantism and Biblical Criticism: One Perspective on a Difficult Dialogue - Peter Enns ; Response by Marc Zvi Brettler ; Response by Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. ; Postscript ; Notes ; Glossary ; Index

"The three scholarly authors of The Bible and the Believer- one for each of the Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant traditions -challenge readers religiously and intellectually." --The Catholic Weekly "Arguing that historical analysis informs rather than compromises the Bible's religious significance, Brettler, Harrington, and Enns show how the Scriptures of Israel continue to speak, in both complementary and distinct ways, to Jews, Protestants, and Roman Catholics. This volume is a superb resource for the classroom, for ecumenical and interreligious conversations, and for anyone seeking lucid engagement with the text."--Amy-Jill Levine, co-author of The Meaning of the Bible: What the Jewish Scriptures and the Christian Old Testament Can Teach Us "Some believe that reading the Bible from an academic point of view precludes reading it from a believer's point of view. But in this absolutely fascinating new book, three world-class scholars-Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant-turn their faithful hearts and scholarly minds to the Hebrew Bible, and invite the reader into a spirited conversation about among the three authors and the three religious perspectives. Along the way, readers are drawn deeper into the Bible, and are reminded that God speaks to us through both our heart and our head."--Rev. James Martin, S.J., author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything "Fundamentalism and skepticism--these polar extremes incite and invite from the left and the right, and many follow their call. Thank God for a book like The Bible and the Believer, which proposes a higher and better way forward--not making an idol or fetish of the biblical text on the one hand, and not disregarding or minimizing it on the other, but reverently and critically reading the text with hearts and minds fully engaged. Offering respectful dialogue and thoughtful reflection, The Bible and the Believer is a needed resource for all people of biblical faith."--Brian D. McLaren, author of Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road? "Each essay provides a wonderful entry into the richness of each tradition's perspectives on reading the Bible critically."--CHOICE

Selling point: Written by three well-known biblical scholars. Selling point: Shows how critical and religious approaches from different traditions can help better one's own understanding of the Hebrew Bible/Tanakh/Old Testament.

Marc Zvi Brettler is the Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies at Brandeis University. He is the author of How to Read the Jewish Bible and co-editor of The Jewish Study Bible and The Jewish Annotated New Testament. Peter Enns teaches Biblical Studies at Eastern University. He is the author of The Evolution of Adam and Inspiration and Incarnation. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. is a Professor of New Testament at Boston College. He is the author of Meeting St. Mark Today and How Do Catholics Read the Bible?.

Selling point: Written by three well-known biblical scholars. Selling point: Shows how critical and religious approaches from different traditions can help better one's own understanding of the Hebrew Bible/Tanakh/Old Testament.