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Books for Pastors: Biblical Studies

Posted on September 25, 2023June 30, 2023 by ptsblog
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What are some books that every pastor should read?

PTS faculty were asked this question in spring 2023. Consider these 13 recommendations for biblical studies and interpretation:

Interpretation and Hermeneutics

  • Ellen F. Davis and Richard B. Hays, The Art of Reading Scripture
  • Brent A. Strawn, The Incomparable God: Readings in Biblical Theology
  • John Thompson, Reading the Bible with the Dead: What You Can Learn from the History of Exegesis that You Can’t Learn from Exegesis Alone

Spirituality of Interpretation

  • Rachel Held Evans, Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again
  • Anna Carter Florence, A is for Alabaster: 52 Reflections on the Stories of Scripture

Womanist Interpretation

  • Gay Byron and Vanessa Lovelace, ed, Womanist Interpretations of the Bible: Expanding the Discourse
  • Mitzi Smith, I Found God in Me: A Womanist Biblical Hermeneutics Reader
  • Nyasha Junior, An Introduction to Womanist Biblical Interpretation

Old Testament Interpretation

  • Ellen F. Davis, Getting Involved with God: Rediscovering the Old Testament
  • Patrick D. Miller, The Way of the Lord: Essays in Old Testament Theology

New Testament Interpretation

  • Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, The Bible With and Without Jesus
  • Michael Gorman, Becoming the Gospel
  • Liz Theoharis, Always With Us?: What Jesus Really Said about the Poor

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