Reference Works

Entrance

The group of books collectively known as the Bible has been studied as a source of discussion, debate and inspiration since its creation. These Bible studies were traditionally either theological (religious) or historical (archaeological) in nature but in the 20th Century a new approach emerged that sought to study the Bible as a literary object. This guide is intended to assist those taking this most recent approach.

A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature
Call Number: PR149.B5 D53 1992
Location: Reference - 1st Level North
The Bible has had a significant impact on English Literature and this volume is filled with essays that document and discuss various Biblical themes and personalities and how they have been represented in literary works from Medieval to Modern.
The Macmillan Bible Atlas
Call Number: G2230 .A2 1993
Location: Map Library Reference - 1st Level South
A standard source with historical maps documenting changes and Biblical events from the Canaanite period through the times of Jesus and the Apostles. Located in the Map Library Room with a variety of other geographical resources useful in Bible research. Feel free to consult our Map Librarian for further assistance.
The Oxford Bible Commentary
Call Number: BS491.3 .O94 2001
Location: Reference - 1st Level North
These commentaries are meant to be read side by side with a copy of the Bible. Most Bible commentaries are multi-volume sets but this one is condensed into a single less daunting volume. While it is obviously not as in depth as more expansive sets it does give a good overview on both the Old and New Testaments.
A Dictionary of the Bible
Call Number: BS440 .B73 2004
Location: Reference - 1st Level North
A concise 400 page paperback explaining important biblical terms.
The Oxford Guide to Ideas & Issues of the Bible
Call Number: BS440 .O94 2001
Location: Reference - 1st Level North
There are many helpful features to this book, including a 40 page section on "Translations" as well as discussions on "The Bible as Literature", "Apocalyptic Literature" and "Wisdom Literature".
Encyclopedia of Early Christianity
Call Number: BR162.2 .E53 1997
Location: Reference - 1st Level North
This is a two-volume set with several potentially helpful essays including "Canon," "Interpretation of the Bible," and "Vulgate."
Israel in Exile by Ranen Omer-Sherman
Publication Date: 2006
Israel in Exile is a bold exploration of how the ancient desert of Exodus and Numbers, as archetypal site of human liberation, forms a template for modern political identities, radical skepticism, and questioning of official narratives of the nation that appear in the works of contemporary Israeli authors.
Apocalypse, Prophecy, and Pseudepigraphy by John J. Collins
ISBN: 9780802872852
Publication Date: 2015-10-03
Thematic essays organized in five sections, Apocalypse, Prophecy, and Pseudepigraphy complements and enriches Collins’s well-known book The Apocalyptic Imagination.
The Pauline Effect by Jennifer R. Strawbridge
Publication Date: 2015
Identifies and examines the most representative Pauline texts within writings of the ante-Nicene period: 1Cor 2, Eph 6, 1Cor 15, and Col 1.