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Theology Book Recommendations


Intro/Overview


A Brief Intro to the Old Testament - Michael D. Coogan


A Brief Intro to the New Testament - Bart D. Ehrman

Written by an Atheist New Testament Scholar who is fairly well-respected in the Theology and Biblical Studies fields, even among the religious. Offers historical-critical and literary-critical overview of the New Testament. The publishing company has a tendency of releasing new versions with little to no changes, so down to the 4th edition should be just fine.


Inheriting Abraham - Jon D. Levenson

Compares how each of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) have adapted Abraham, and how this has sometimes been to the detriment of Judaism.


Jewish Bible Translations - Leonard Greenspoon

The history of Jewish Bible translations, from the Septuagint and Aramaic Targumim to Saadia Gaon's Arabic translation, to modern vernacular language translations, including those into English.


Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics - Margaret A. Farley

Lays out a consistent Sexual Ethics Framework without discriminating against homosexuals and argues for homosexual inclusion in the Church as well as reinterpretation of passages commonly used to condemn or discriminate against homosexuals. Gender fluidity and Transgender individuals are not mentioned because this was written in 2006, prior to the recent dialogue on Transgender individuals. Although written by a Protestant, this book was used at my Catholic University by a Catholic professor. It won the Grawmeyer Award.


The Bible With and Without Jesus - Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler

Covers differences in interpretation of the Tanakh/Old Testament between Christians and Jews.


Why Faith Matters and Why Be Jewish - David J. Wolpe

Two influential books for me that allowed me to grapple with combining modernity and faith. They also debunk many myths and inaccuracies used against religions. They are fairly short and not intended to be comprehensive, so they serve as introductions for those not well acquainted with religions or religious history.


The Bible and the Believer: How to Read the Bible Critically and Religiously - Marc Zvi Brettler, et al.


How to Read the Bible - Marc Zvi Brettler

Teaches you how to read the bible by taking into account historical context, Science, experience, etc. Gives really good overviews of each book of the Hebrew Bible/Tanakh, and outlines some of the problems that you might run into while reading the Bible.


Bibles


Jewish Study Bible (Oxford, 2nd ed.)

This is a great Bible that is historical-critical, literary-critical, and highlights Jewish readings of the Bible and traditional Jewish texts from midrashim, the Talmud, etc. Jon D. Levenson wrote the notes for the book of Genesis. It has great essays in the back as well. Loved not just by Jewish scholars but by many Christian scholars as well. It hasn't been updated for the revised RJPS version, because the RJPS has not come out yet. Instead, it still uses the NJPS.


HarperCollins Study Bible

I used this one for my Theology classes. It's historical-critical and literary-critical, and ecumenical. It uses a well-respected Bible version among scholars, the NRSV, although it hasn't been updated for the new NRSVue revision.


Catholic Study Bible (Oxford, 3rd ed.)

This is also from Oxford, just like the Jewish Study Bible. While it does have historical-critical and literary-critical notes, it also highlights Catholic readings of the Bible that are non-funamentalist. It uses the NABRE Bible version.


The New Oxford Annotated Bible (Oxford, 5th ed.)

Also historical-critical and literary-critical. More ecumenical than all of the above, but with less annotations than those above. Quite decent, but I would use the HarperCollins and Jewish Study Bible first to find what I want or need before going to this one.


The Jewish Annotated New Testament

This gives a Jewish perspective to the New Testament as well as introduces the New Testament to Jewish audiences (but not with the intention to convert Jews to Christianity - the editors are Jewish). Amy Jill-Levine, one of the editors, is a Jewish New Testament scholar that challenges anti-Jewish readings of the Gospels and parables of Jesus. She is also a feminist scholar. Marc Zvi Brettler, who edited this Bible along with Amy, also edited the Jewish Study Bible (along with Adele Berlin).


The Jewish Annotated Apocrypha

To complete the series, the Jewish Annotated Apocrypha gives Jewish perspectives on the OT apocryphal/deuterocanonical books. All of these books that are included in this Bible were written by Jews for Jews prior to Jesus and Christianity. They were not included in the Jewish Bible Canon for various reasons (sometimes because the available manuscripts of them at the time the Canon was being compiled were not in Hebrew). Some of these books give important perspectives on Second Temple Judaism, and one of the books has the story of Channukah (1 Maccabees).


The Koren Tanakh Magerman Edition (Koren Publishing, 2021)

This is a Modern Orthodox Jewish translation of the Tanakh. It is a completely new translation separate from the previous English translation done by KorenPub. All of the Torah was translated by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who died very shortly before this edition could be released. Modern Orthodox Jewish Scholars, as far as I am aware, tend to be more responsive toward modern Biblical Criticism and Scientific findings than other Orthodox Jewish Scholars.


Translations: NRSVue, NJPS, RJPS (unreleased), NABRE


Bible Commentaries


Torah Queeries - Gregg Drinkwater

This gives LGBTQ+ commentaries on each parshah (traditional Jewish parts/sections which are read every week) of the Torah.


ParshaNut: 54 Journeys into the World of Torah Commentary - Rabbi David Kasher

I have not read this book yet, but it is written by a Rabbi that I respect. I occasionally watch this Rabbi's free Zoom classes, hosted by IKAR. While IKAR is non-denominational, he has said that IKAR's beliefs most resembles that of Conservative Judaism, a denomination that focuses on religious pluralism, and often questions traditional Halakhah and Jewish practices, but which still finds value in learning from those traditions.


From Creation to Babel: Studies in Genesis 1-11 - John Day


LGBTQ+ Books


A Rainbow Thread - Noam Sienna

This is an anthology of texts about or by LGBTQ+ individuals from the 1st century to 1969. The intention is to place LGBTQ+ individuals back into history by providing primary sources relating to them throughout history. All of the tests are also Jewish in nature.


Mishkan Ga'avah: Where Pride Dwells - Denise L. Eger

A Jewish Siddur for LGBTQ+ peoples.


Wrestling with God & Men - Rabbi Steven Greenberg

Written by an Orthodox Rabbi who came out as gay. Talks about Biblical interpretation of passages that have traditionally been used to condemn homosexuality and homosexual sex and offers alternative interpretations.


Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation - Simon LeVay

Not a religious book, but a very important book on the Science of sexual orientation.


Together in Love and Faith - Steven Croft

Written by the Anglican Bishop of Oxford. Outlines his experience with being a Bishop and talking with LGBTQ+ Church members. Also argues for the acceptance of LGBTQ+ members and same-sex marriages within the Church. A very important work that was released over a month ago.


Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics - Margaret A. Farley

Lays out a consistent Sexual Ethics Framework without discriminating against homosexuals, and argues for homosexual inclusion in the Church as well as reinterpretation of passages commonly used to condemn or discriminate against homosexuals. Gender fluidity and Transgender individuals are not mentioned because this was written in 2006, prior to the recent dialogue on Transgender individuals. Although written by a Protestant, this book was used at my Catholic University by a Catholic professor. It won the Grawmeyer Award.


Torah Queeries - Gregg Drinkwater

This gives LGBTQ+ commentaries on each parshah (traditional Jewish parts/sections which are read every week) of the Torah.


Halakhah


Halakhah: The Jewish Idea of Law - Chaim N. Saiman

Gives an interesting view of Halakhah-as-Torah and Halakhah-as-regulation, noting where Halakhah acts as non-applied (or unenforced) law. Also shows how Halakhah and Aggadah overlap, and the theological or philosophical underpinnings of Halakhah.


Evolving Halakhah: A Progressive Approach to Traditional Jewish Law - Rabbi Dr. Moshe Zemer


Feminism


Short Stories by Jesus - Amy-Jill Levine

Written by a Jewish Feminist New Testament Scholar.


A Feminist Companion to Matthew - Amy-Jill Levine


The Hidden History of Women's Ordination - Gary Macy

Another very important work about women's ordinations early on within the Christian Church.


History


Documents of the Christian Church (4th ed.) - Henry Bettenson and Chris Maunder


The Story of Christianity (Revised and updated)- Justo L. Gonzalez


Other Books


Christology: A Global Introduction - Veli-Matti Karkkainen


Charity - Gary A. Anderson

The development and view of charity and almsgiving in Second-Temple Judaism and beyond.


Hizuk Emunah ("Faith Strengthened") - Isaac Ben Abraham Troki

An interesting book written in the 16th century that defends Judaism against Christianity in the first half, and polemicizes against Christianity in the second half. An English translation was done in 1851.


The Prophets - Abraham Joshua Heschel


The Sabbath - Abraham Joshua Heschel


Heavenly Torah As Refracted through the Generations - Abraham Joshua Heschel


The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus - Amy-Jill Levine


The Love of God: Divine Gift, Human Gratitude, and Mutual Faithfulness in Judaism - Jon D. Levenson


Vulnerable Communion: A Theology of Disability and Hospitality - Thomas E. Reynolds


Enfleshing Freedom: body, race, and being - M. Shawn Copeland


The Sacraments: Historical Foundations and Liturgical Theology - Kevin W. Irwin


Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies - Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung


Fiction Books


My Name is Asher Lev - Chaim Potok

Chaim Potok was an editor for the Conservative Jewish Humash, Etz Hayim. This book is about a Chassidic Jew who becomes a painter and has to juggle between modernity and traditionalism.


As A Driven Leaf - Milton Steinberg

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