Getting the Old Testament: What It Meant to Them, What It Means
for Us Steven L. Bridge Hendrickson Pub (July 2009) Click on
image to enlarge As readers of texts written in antiquity we
frequently find ourselves in the position of one who overhears a
conversation without the benefit of its context. The likelihood
of humorous (or tragic) misunderstanding is palpable. In Getting
the Old Testament: What It Meant to Them, What It Means for Us ,
Steve Bridge examines a number of important texts and genres
found in the Old Testament. By bringing what is known of their
original historical and literary context to light, he clearly
demonstrates how important it is to know the cultural background
of those to whom a text was originally addressed. Bridge helps
us as modern readers to grasp the intended significance of these
ancient texts. Using modern illustrations from Bart Simpson to
fortune cookies, and discussing texts from Genesis to Jonah to
Ecclesiastes, Bridge succeeds in making difficult texts come
alive for the