The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible

The field of biblical studies is dynamic, with new discoveries, new methodologies, and new perspectives continually enhancing the interpretation of the Bible. There is thus a need for an up-to-date, comprehensive, authoritative, and balanced series of reference works for biblical scholars and students. The two-volume Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible is the first in this series of specialized reference works, each addressing a specific subfield within biblical studies. The series aims to produce high-level scholarly reference works that are accessible and in-depth, going beyond the basics to provide more specialized coverage.

Books of the Bible provides a single source for authoritative reference overviews of scholarship on some of the most important topics of study in the field of biblical studies. The Encyclopedia contains almost 150 in-depth entries, ranging in length from 500 to 10,000 words, on each of the canonical books of the Bible, major apocryphal books of the New and Old Testaments, important noncanonical texts, and thematic essays on topics such as canonicity, textual criticism, and translation.

Books of the Bible has extensive cross-references to other useful points of interest within the Encyclopedia, and comprehensive lists of abbreviations and an index for ease of use. Illustrations of various types supplement the text and enhance its appeal. Bibliographies for all entries further add to its usefulness.

• The synoptic outline of contents and index are exclusive to the print edition. The lists of abbreviations will not be available on OBSO. Articles commissioned for Books of the Bible (and other titles in the series) will be published in Oxford Biblical Studies Online as they are produced, helping to make OBSO the most comprehensive resource available for the study of biblical texts and the biblical world.
• Nearly 150 signed A-Z entries, by more than 100 international scholars, make this the authoritative resource on the subject.
• In-depth entries on each canonical book of the NRSV, including a valuable section on reception history.
• Thorough coverage of the major apocryphal and pseudepigraphal books plus entries on important text collections, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library, provide information on the history of composition and interpretation.
• Selection of thematic articles on important topics of study such as canonicity, textual criticism, and translation.
• Includes a synoptic outline of contents arranged by conceptual category, plus a general index to aid and guide research.
• Approximately 100 black and white illustrations, maps, and line drawings.
• Comprehensive lists of abbreviations of the books of the Bible, pseudepigraphical and apocryphal works, Qumran texts, Nag Hammadi codices, and more in each volume.