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At the time that I wrote this volume, I don’t believe that anyone had yet written an Introduction to the Bible, at least in English, that included separate chapters on the Septuagint, Pseudepigrapha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls in order for any reader of any faith to have greater understanding of the historical relationship between the two Testaments; and early Christian origns. You could collect what was said about the Septuagint or Pseudepigrapha in most volumes in a pararagraph of fewer (not “less” for countables!) than five lines. I would be surprised if anything has changed.

There is a lengthy preview that gives you access to this volume and a good sample size of the content. I still believe in its contents.

Why it was Written

When I was teaching my Intro to the OT, almost all students in all environments would have read and understood the Hebrew scriptures or OT and the New Testament writings as if they were historical documents in the same way as reading a current history about WW1 or a memoire. Several students each year would have entered believing that Adam and Eve were actual humans. Each year, usually the second or third class, at least one student would become visibly upset either during or after class. What does it mean for us to consider such accounts still to be true?

My favorite story of such a student is Ry Siggelkow. He threw his Bible against the wall one day, while yelling, “what good is this then!” As registrar at the time too, I had initially admitted Ry under academic probation, though this was actually a second year class! I supervised his graduating paper and he eventually received his Ph.D. at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Contents of the Introduction

You will discover maps, questions, summaries, and seperate boxes where I raise subjects to think about in the same way that I did in the classes that were inhabited primarily by conservative evangelical students.

This volume, like my class, does not tell you what to think or believe. It is a guide to understandng the Christian scriptures that helps you to question and figure out what you believe for yourself.

It provides an overall summary and introduction to the Christian scriptures within their historical context. At the same time, it addresses various theological issues and how to better understand the use of the Hebrew and Greek Jewish sciptures in the New Testament writings. There are many times I address specific issues like inspiration or authorship and purpose of various writings like the Pentateuch, Daniel, certain books by Paul, Revelation etc. as well.

Tim’s Method and Approach

We look at what the text says and then we ask questions. We look at what can be known and compare what is in the Hebrew Jewish and New Testament scriptures and the material evidence known from ancient ruins with their geograghic neighbours and their known writings to ask questions and to learn. A teacher’s role is to help students learn to think for themselves and what they believe.

Every reader is struck by the disconnect between the Old and New Testaments. Well, that’s because you need to learrn from documents that were written in the period between the two! it isn’t rocket science, but you do have to be aware of and introduced to these other writings to understand the Christian Scriptures better.

R. Tim McLay

“Written (subtitles added after) April 21, 2022”