Introduction to the Bible [Paperback]

Father Laux's INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE is a very useful, instructive assessment of the Bible, biblical history, and "secular" history of the Ancient Middle East. Father Laux gives readers very good historical background to the Bible, and readers whether they are Catholic or not can benefit from this book.

This reviewer disagrees with Father Laux on The Documentary Hypothesis of the Torah or first five books of the Bible. In spite of this fact, this disagreement does not undermine the value of the book. Had Father Laux lived long enough to examine the Dead Sea Scrolls and other recently discovered sources, he may have modfied his views. Father Laux is obviously a partisan of Catholcism and the Catholic Church. Anyone who critisizes him for that is wasting their time. Father Laux was very clear about his religious loyalties. Readers should know this in no way detracts from the value of the book.

Father Laux's presentation of other books of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament is very enlightening. He gives readers the political forces and challenges faced by the Ancient Hebrews, and he explains the religious disputes among different Judean factions. The book gives readers a concise view of Ancient Hebrew social history which in turn gives the reader a better understanding of irate Ancient Hebrew Prophets who railed against social injustice, violations of religious codes, and blatent hypocracy. Father Laux's placing the Prophetic Books and Books of Poetry in proper historical context make reading the Bible easier and with more understanding.

One feature of Father Laux's book was his handling of Hebrew poetry such as Job, the Pslams, Proverbs, etc. Father Laux did a masterful job in enlightening readers to this part of the Bible. While this reviewer disagrees with Father Laux's intrepretation of the book titled Canticles of Canticles or Song of Songs, Father Laux's commentary is very good.

Father Laux gives readers escellent coverage of the Apocrophy. Readers may know that the Catholic Bible has seven books that are not in most Protestant bibles. These books are Judeth, Tobit or Tobius, Ecclesiasticus not to be confused with Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, and First and Second Maccabees. His explanation of why the Early Church Fathers accepted these books as canonical is clear and understandable. His remarks re St. Jerome (346-420)inclusion of these books in St. Jerome's Vulgate Bible gives readers good reasons of why the Catholic Church includes these books.

Father Laux's explanation of the New Testament is just as good as his explanation of the Old Testament. He gives the reader some insight to the use of the Aramaic and Greek languages. He explains the Synoptic problem and offers intelligent solutions. A very valuable part of his explanation of the New Testament is his careful description of the differences of the "Jewish" Christians who originated in Judea and the Gentile Christians who originated outside of Judea. He cites the differences between Jewish traditions and those of the Greeks and Romans. One can follow the Pauline Epistles and other sections of the New Testament easier by referring to Father Laux's book.

Father Laux was sure but not arrogant in writing this book. When biblical scholars are not sure or he (Father Laux) is not sure, he is honest enough to admit it. He gives different views and logically explains his own views. Father has placed useful maps in this book to assist readers. He has sections titled Suggestions for Further Study which present thoughtful questions to readers as well as useful bibliogrpahies.

Any reader interested in a solid understanding of the Bible would do well to carefully read this book. This reviewer read it because he was impressed with Father Laux's CHURCH HISTORY. Father Laux's INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE is a valuable to anyone who wants to know more about the Bible

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