The Oxford Handbooks series is a major new initiative in academic publishing. Each volume offers an authoritative and up-to-date survey of original research in a particular subject area. Specially commissioned essays from leading figures in the discipline give critical examinations of the progress and direction of debates. Biblical studies is a highly technical and diverse field. Study of the Bible demands expertise in fields ranging from Archaeology, Egyptology, Assyriology, and Linguistics through textual, historical, and sociological studies to Literary Theory, Feminism, Philosophy, and Theology, to name only some. This authoritative and compelling guide to the discipline will, therefore, be an invaluable reference work for all students and academics who want to explore more fully essential topics in Biblical studies.

I. On the Discipline History of the discipline in the last 70 years: Old Testament, J. W. Rogerson History of the discipline in the last 70 years, Robert Morgan Archaeology, John Bartlett Ancient Near East: Mesopotamia, W. G. Lambert Ancient Near East: Egypt, Kenneth Kitchen Qumran studies, Philip Davies Study of the Graeco-Roman world, Peter Richardson Diaspora and rabbinic Judaism, Catherine Hezser II. Languages, translation, and textual transmission of the Bible Language and translation of the Old Testament, John Elwolde Language, translation, versions, and text of the Apocrypha, Michael Knibb Language and translation of the New Testament, Stanley E. Porter Ancient versions and textual transmission of the Old Testament, Gerard Norton Versions and textual transmission of the New Testament, Neville Birdsall III. Historical and social study of the Bible Introduction, Keith W. Whitelam Israel to the end of the Persian period, J. W. Rogerson Israel from the rise of Hellenism to 70 CE, Lester L. Grabbe The life and teaching of Jesus and the rise of Christianity, Craig A. Evans Priesthood, temple(s), and sacrifice, Robert Hayward Law, Gordon Wenham Scribes and synagogues, Lester L. Grabbe Movements, Judith M. Lieu Prophecy, Deborah Rooke Apocalyptic, Philip Davies Wisdom, Katharine Dell Novella, Eric Gruen Gospels, Richard Burridge Epistles, Judith M. Lieu IV. The composition of the Bible The growth of the Old Testament, Reinhard G. Kratz The growth of the Apocrypha, Alison Salvesen The growth of the New Testament, John Court Authors, books, and readers in the ancient world, Alan Millard V. Methods in biblical scholarship Archaeology, John Bartlett Textual criticism, Arie van de Kooij Form, source, and redaction criticism, Johannes P. Floss Rhetorical and new literary criticism, Margaret Mitchell Feminist and womanist criticism, Marie-Theres Wacker Social, political, and ideological criticism, Chris Rowland VI. The interpretation of the Bible Old Testament theology, Walter Brueggemann New Testament theology, J. D. G. Dunn Biblical theology, Bernd Janowski The Bible in ethics, Eryl W. Davies Jewish interpretation of the Bible, Jonathan Magonet VII. The authority of the Bible Canon, Lee Martin McDonald Fundamentalism(s), Harriet A. Harris Historical criticism and biblical authority, J. W. Rogerson