This compact commentary concentrates n the cultural, historical, literary, and religious issues of th Scriptures an summarizes varied explanations of the Bible inuse in the community of Roman Catholic scholars....

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The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are texts not discovered in the Dead Sea itself, but in caves and holes along the northwest shore of the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1963, has had an enormous impact on human intellectual life, in particular the fields of biblical studies and archaeology. The Dead Sea Scrolls have influenced not only the study of the Old Testament or the Hebrew Scriptures, but also the history of Judaism in Judea, the study of the ancient languages of Aramaic and Hebrew, and the interpretation of many New Testament writings. Since 1957, Joseph Fitzmyer has done considerable study and research on the Dead Sea Scrolls along with having published extensively on this topic. The result is informative, interesting, and insightful reading that will appeal expecially to students of the Bible and those interested in ancient archaeology.

Highlights:

Succinct description of the Dead Sea Scrolls along with their significance and importance both for biblical studies and ancient archaeology.
Author s expertise. He has done extensive research, study, and scholarly writing on the Dead Sea Scrolls since 1957.
Helpful reading resource for students of the Bible and those interested in history and ancient archaeology.
Accompanying photos and illustrations that complement the presentation....

The book seeks to establish the properly oriented use of the historical-critical method as the mode of ascertaining the sense of the written Word of God.

Pastors, preachers, students in biblical disciplines, and scholars will appreciate the discussion of the role of the Bible in Catholic life since Vatican Council II, the discussion that the Biblical Commission devoted to the historical truth of the Gospels, the relation of the historical-critical method of interpreting Scripture to the life of the Church, and a serious discussion of the "senses" of Scripture. The book ends with a tribute to Raymond E. Brown, SS, as a renowned representative of biblical interpretation.

Unique aspects of this collection of essays:
- Emphasis on the historical-critical method that is often impugned today
- Recalling of a Scripture controversy in Rome because of this methodology
- Importance of proper biblical interpretation in life of the Church...