Contemporary Studies in Scripture—a new series from Greg Kofford Books February 06 2014

We are pleased to announce Contemporary Studies in Scripture, an exciting new series from Greg Kofford Books featuring authors whose works engage in rigorous textual analyses of the Bible and other LDS scripture. Written by Latter-day Saints for a Latter-day Saint audience, these books utilize the tools of historical criticism, literature, philosophy, and the sciences to celebrate the richness and complexity found in the standard works. This series will provide readers with new and fascinating ways to read, study, and re-read these sacred texts.*

 

The inaugural title for this series will be David Bokovoy's Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis—Deuteronomy, available for purchase in paperback, hardcover, and e-book on March 4, 2014.

For the last two centuries, biblical scholars have made discoveries and insights about the Old Testament that have greatly changed the way in which the authorship of these ancient scriptures have been understood.

In the first of three volumes spanning the entire Hebrew Bible, David Bokovoy dives into the Penateuch, showing how and why textual criticism has led biblical scholars today to understand the first five books of the Bible as an amalgamation of multiple texts into a single, though often complicated narrative; and he discusses what implications those have for Latter-day Saint understandings of the Bible and modern scripture. Subsequent Authoring the Old Testament titles will examine these issues in the histories and writings of Old Testament prophets. 

272 Pages
$26.95 (paperback) ISBN 978-1-58958-588-1
$70.00 (hardcover) ISBN 978-1-58958-675-8

This title will also be available in e-book for the Amazon Kindle, Apple iBook, Barnes and Noble Nook, and Kobo eReader

Advance praise for Authoring the Old Testament:  

  • “Authoring the Old Testament is a welcome introduction, from a faithful Latter-day Saint perspective, to the academic world of Higher Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. . . . [R]eaders will be positively served and firmly impressed by the many strengths of this book, coupled with Bokovoy's genuine dedication to learning by study and also by faith.” — John W. Welch, Editor BYU Studies Quarterly
  • “Bokovoy provides a lucid, insightful lens through which disciple-students can study intelligently LDS scripture. This is first rate scholarship made accessible to a broad audience—nourishing to the heart and mind alike.” — Fiona Givens, co-author, The God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of Life 
  • “Authoring the Old Testament opens up a much-needed dialog on the historical-critical approach for Latter-day Saints.... In my view, this book is a must for those seeking to incorporate the best of biblical scholarship in their personal or professional scripture study.” — Brian Hauglid, author, A Textual History of the Book of Abraham: Manuscripts and Editions 
  • “As clear an introduction to historical and source criticism as Friedman’s Who Wrote the Bible and Baden’s The Composition of the Pentateuch, Bokovoy’s Authoring the Old Testament: Genesis—Deuteronomy provides an important resource in making many of the intricacies of higher criticism available to Latter-day Saint readers in an accessible fashion.... [T]his book should be basic reading for serious LDS students of the Bible.” — Eric D. Huntsman, Coordinator of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Brigham Young University
  • “Bringing fresh insights to the Old Testament, a book like this for a Latter-day Saint audience is long overdue.... Charting a middle path between conservative inerrancy and secular dismissal of biblical texts, this book refreshingly expounds on the nature of ancient and modern scripture.” — Taylor G. Petrey, Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Assistant Professor of Religion, Kalamazoo College

    The author is available for signings, interviews, and public appearances to promote and discuss the book. For more information about this or other titles in this series, or to request a review copy of Authoring the Old Testament, please contact Brad Kramer at 801.572.7417 or at bradk@koffordbooks.com 

    *Forthcoming titles in the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series include: