Understanding the Bible: Old and New Testaments by Wayne Douglas Smith, Ph.D.

This book considers the Bible as a work of literature that has the capacity to transcend time and place. Although the origin and development of biblical books are discussed, the primary focus is on providing a coherent reading of the text that has been handed down to us. The history of that transmission, which includes centuries of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic commentary, will be charted. That interpretive heritage is presented to shed light on how it has shaped the intellectual and artistic heritage we have today.