Encountering Ancient Voices: A Guide to Reading the Old Testament

Flexible, understandable, and filled with sound pedagogy--the ideal core text for teaching students how to read the Old Testament! A first-of-its-kind text to integrate the most recent research on the Hebrew Scriptures into a historical context. This is NOT a passive textbook. Instead, this is a text that focuses on reading strategies to encourage and empower students to read the Bible on their own. Dr. Carvalho helps students learn about the social and cultural contexts out of which these texts were produced, helps them understand the variety of interpretations of the text, and encourages students to claim ownership of their own interpretations. And she does all this while sparking students' interest in theological questions by connecting their queries to their everyday world. Features include: Active learning techniques help students to develop critical reading skills. A balance of classical concepts and contemporary approaches to interpretation allows students to connect theological questions to their everyday world. A contagiously enthusiastic, narrative voice avoids jargon, draws students in, and encourages them to stick with it. Outstanding pedagogical aids--like chapter overviews and summaries, a glossary, images, maps, and guided readings of key biblical texts as well as unique sidebars focusing on different aspects of, themes in, and methods for interpreting biblical text--make the concepts clear. Liberal use of contemporary experiences helps to explain ancient customs clearly. Excellent references to New Testament passages show students how the two books relate. Unique and interesting "In Case You Were Wondering" sections focus on questions students ask every day.