A General Introduction to the Bible

An updated version of the popular original. It satisfies the exacting demands placed on any good Bible introduction. Excellent scholarship. Clearly written.

NORMAN GEISLER (Th.B., William Tyndale College; A.B., Wheaton College; M.A., Wheaton College Graduate School; Ph.D., Loyola University) holds a position at the newly formed Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Southern California. Norman is the author or co-author of more than 65 books including A General Introduction to the Bible, Christ: The Theme of the Bible, and From God To Us: How We Got the Bible. He has also written hundreds of articles. He and his wife of 53 years, Barbara, have six children, thirteen grandchildren, and one great grandchild. They live in North Carolina. WILLIAM E. NIX (A.B., Wayne State University; A.M., University of Michigan; Ph.D., University of Oklahoma) is an editorial and educational consultant based in Dallas, Texas. He is author of Transforming Your Workplace for Christ and co-author of From God to Us and A General Introduction to the Bible with Dr. Norman Geisler. He has also written several articles. Dr. Nix resides in Texas.

TABLE OF CONTENTSPhotographs / 9Charts / 10Foreword to the Revised Edition / 11Foreword to the First Edition / 13Preface to the Revised Edition / 15Preface to the First Edition / 17Part One: Inspiration of the Bible1. The Structure and Divisions of the Bible / 212. Definitions of Revelation and Inspiration / 333. Scriptural Claims for Inspiration in General / 494. Specific Claims of Inspiration in the Old Testament / 655. Supporting Claims for the Inspiration in the Old Testament / 776. Specific Claims for the Inspiration of the New Testament / 897. The Continuation of the Doctrine of Inspiration to the Reformation / 998. Doctrines of Inspiration Since Reformation / 1139. Divergent Views of the Revelation and Inspiration in the Modern World / 13310. Contemporary Theories of Revelation and Inspiration / 16511. Evidences for the Inspiration of the Bible / 191Part Two: Canonization of the Bible 12. Determination of Canonicity / 20313. The Discovery and Recognition of Canonicity / 22114. Development and History of the Old Testament Canon / 23515. The Old Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha / 25716. Development and History of the New Testament Canon / 27717. The New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha / 297Part Three: Transmission of the Bible18. Languages of the Bible / 32119. Writing Materials / 33120. Manuscript Transmission, Preparation, and Preservation / 34321. Old Testament Manuscripts / 35722. New Testament Manuscripts / 38523. Papyri, Ostraca, Inscriptions, and Lectionaries / 40924. Patristic Witness of the Text of Scripture25. Development of Textual Criticism / 43326. Restoration of the Scripture Text / 465Part Four: Translation of the Bible27. Translations Containing the Old Testament Text / 49328. Translations Containing Both the Old and New Testament Texts / 51129. Latin Versions of the Old and New Testament Texts / 52530. The Bible in English / 53931. Modern English Versions and Translations of Scripture / 55932. Modern Speech Versions and Translations of Scripture / 575General Conclusion / 603Appendix / 605Glossary / 637Bibliography / 645Index of Subjects / 683Index of Persons / 697Index of Scripture / 709