Wednesday Giveaway - A Brief History of Old Testament Criticism

Ever come across a reference to “JEDP” while studying the Pentateuch? 

The acronym stands for the four sources that German Old Testament scholar Julius Wellhausen suggested lie behind the text of the Torah - specifically Yahwist or Jahwist (J), Elohist (E), Deuteronomist (D), and Priestly (P) sources which were contributed and edited over a long period of Israel’s history. 

Though Wellhausen’s Documentary Hypothesis has since face significant critiques, it set the conversation for many scholars of his generation and the effects of his work are still discernable in Old Testament studies to this day. 

These issues of critical scholarship are the topic of Mark Gignilliat’s new book - and this week’s giveaway - A Brief History of Old Testament Criticism. 

Throughout the book Gignilliat brings representative figures - such as Spinoza, de Wette, Wellhausen, Gunkel, and others - and their theories together to serve as windows into the critical trends of Old Testament interpretation in the modern period. 

This concise overview is ideal for classroom use. It lays a foundation and provides a working knowledge of the major critical interpreters of the Old Testament, their approaches to the Bible, and the philosophical background of their positions.

To enter this week’s giveaway, comment below with your answer to this question: How might our answer to a question like “who wrote the Pentateuch?” shape how we read the text? 

Also, a bonus entry is available if you comment a second time letting us know that you shared a link to this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog.

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*If you are reading this via Facebook, email, or RSS, please visit the blog to enter. Two winners will be determined by Random Integer Generator. Giveaway ends Thursday at midnight*