OX COMP BIBLE OC

The Bible has had an immeasurable influence on Western culture touching on virtually every aspect of our lives. It is one of the great wellsprings of Western religious ethical and philosophical traditions. It has been an endless source of inspiration to artists and writers and for countless generations it has been a comfort in suffering; a place to reflect on the mysteries of birth death and immortality. Its stories and characters are an integral part of the repertoire of every educated adult forming an enduring bond that spans thousands of years and embraces a vast community of believers and nonbelievers.The Oxford Companion to the Bible provides an authoritative one-volume reference to the people places events books institutions religious belief and secular influence of the Bible. Written by more than 250 scholars from some 20 nations and embracing a wide variety of perspectives the Companion offers over seven hundred informative entries. These range from brief identifications (who is Dives? Where is Pisgah?) to extensive interpretive essays on topics as diverse as the Bible''''s influence on music immortality ethics grace baptism and the Holy Spirit. The contributors also explore biblical views of modern issues such as homosexuality marriage and anti-Semitism and the impact of the Bible on the secular world. Of course the Companion can also serve as a handy reference the first place to turn to find factual information on the Bible. Readers will find fascinating informative articles on all the books of the Bible - including the Apocrypha Dead Sea Scrolls and many other ancient texts. Virtually every figure who walked across the biblical stage is identified here ranging from Rebekah Rachel and Mary to Joseph Barabbas and Jesus. The Companion also offers entries that shed light on daily life in ancient Israel and the earliest Christian communities with fascinating articles on feasts and festivals clothing medicine units of time houses and furniture. Finally there are twenty-eight pages of full-colour maps providing an accurate detailed portrait of the biblical world.A vast compendium of information related to scriptures here is an ideal complement to the Bible an essential volume for every home and library the first place to turn for information on the central book of Western culturecludes:Aaron Angels Apocrypha Assyria Baptism Chapter and Verse Divisions Cherub Dead Sea Scrolls Feminism and the Bible Freud and the Bible Leaven the Gospel According to Luke Miriam Music and the Bible the Book of Ruth Suffering Tabernacle Zion.