Peter Kirby

Primary Sources in Translation

There's no substitute for reading the texts for yourself.

The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha (or via: amazon.co.uk)

The RSV used here is praised as an accurate and nonsectarian translation. This edition comes with scholarly notes.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Abegg and Flint

The oldest known Bible translated for the first time into English.

The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (or via: amazon.co.uk)

This is the most popular edition of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jewish texts from around the turn of the common era discovered at Qumran.

The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments (or via: amazon.co.uk) by James H. Charlesworth et. al.

This is the first volume of a comprehensive two-volume collection of ancient Jewish literature. Anyone who is interested in ancient Judaism should have these volumes along with the Dead Sea Scrolls. The first volume contains the following: Apocalypse of Abraham, Apocalypse of Adam, Testament of Adam, 2 Baruch, 3 Baruch, Apocalypse of Daniel, Apocalypse of Elijah, 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, 3 Enoch, Apocryphon of Ezekiel, Fourth Book of Ezra, Greek Apocalypse of Ezra, Questions of Ezra, Revelation of Ezra, Vision of Ezra, Testament of Job, Testament of Moses, Apocalypse of Sedrach, Treatise of Shem, Sibylline Oracles, Testament of Solomon, Testaments of the Three Patriarchs, Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, and Apocalypse of Zephaniah.

The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: Expansions of the 'Old Testament' and Legends, Wisdom and Philosophical Literature, Prayers, Psalms, and Odes, Fragments of Lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works (or via: amazon.co.uk) by James H. Charlesworth et. al.

This is the second volume of a comprehensive two-volume collection of ancient Jewish literature. Anyone who is interested in ancient Judaism should have these volumes along with the Dead Sea Scrolls. The second volume contains the following: Life of Adam and Eve, Ahiqar, Letter of Aristeas, Aristeas the Exegete, Aristobulus, Artapanus, 4 Baruch, Cleodemus Malchus, More Psalms of David, Demetrius the Chronographer, Eldad and Modad, Eupolemus, Pseudo-Eupolemus, Ezekiel the Tragedian, Fragments of Pseudo-Greek Poets, Pseudo-Hecataeus, Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers, Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah, Ladder of Jacob, Prayer of Jacob, Jannes and Jambres, Joseph and Aseneth, History of Joseph, Prayer of Joseph, Jubilees, 3 Maccabees, 4 Maccabees, Prayer of Manasseh, Syriac Menander, Orphica, Philo the Epic Poet, Pseudo-Philo, Pseudo-Phocylides, The Lives of the Prophets, History of the Rechabites, Odes of Solomon, Psalms of Solomon, and Theodotus.

Popular Overviews of the Bible

Look ma, no footnotes!

The Unauthorized Version: Truth and Fiction in the Bible (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Robin Lane Fox

A respected secular historian provides a fresh look at the questions of historicity.

Ken's Guide to the Bible by Ken Smith

See the review by clicking on the link.

All-in-One Bible Commentaries

Don't have room in the house for commentaries on each individual book?

The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (or via: amazon.co.uk)

Don't be fooled by the nihil obstat . . . this is a great reference, if you can muster the strength to lift it!

The Harpercollins Bible Commentary (or via: amazon.co.uk)

Another mammoth volume . . . just think, by getting these two books you will already have two scholarly perspectives on any biblical passage that comes up in discussion.

Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

Let's all get more familiar with the Jewish scripture.

The Hebrew Scriptures (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Samuel Sandmel

Sandmel was an extraordinary Jewish scholar who produced an insightful introduction.

Reading the Old Testament (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Lawrence Boadt

Recommended by Apikorus and Celsus.

Introduction to the Old Testament (or via: amazon.co.uk) by J. Alberto Soggin

Full of technical detail and critical argumentation.

The Hebrew Bible Today (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Steven L. McKenzie & M. Patrick Graham

Not an introduction so much as a discussion of some critical issues, including the documentary hypothesis.

The Books of Moses

Who Wrote the Bible? (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Richard E. Friedman

A defense of the JEPD documentary hypothesis on the Torah, basically as established by Wellhausen long ago.

The Pentateuch (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Joseph Blenkinsopp

The overview of the history of source criticism is in itself worth the price of admission.

Apocryphal Books

The Catholic Deuterocanon consists of seven books--Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees--as well as septuagintal additions to Daniel and Esther, all of which are printed as Scripture with the rest of the Old Testament. The Eastern Orthodox canon includes Psalm 151, the Prayer of Manasseh, 1 Esdras, and 3 Maccabees as well. The Protestant Apocrypha, which is not Scripture, adds 2 Esdras and 4 Maccabees, compared to the Orthodox canon. Confused yet? Then get these books.

Introducing the Apocrypha (or via: amazon.co.uk) by David A. deSilva

I checked several introductions to the Apocrypha, and this one consistently had more useful information. Completely up to date too.

An Introduction to Early Judaism (or via: amazon.co.uk) by James C. VanderKam

VanderKam covers both the Apocrypha and the most important Pseudepigrapha, with chapters on the historical background of the texts.

Mini-Max Israel Debates

What history can be salvaged from salvation history?

The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman

A level-headed introduction to the matter.

What Did the Biblical Writers Know, and When Did They Know It? (or via: amazon.co.uk) by William G. Dever

A response to those who would like to view the Hebrew Bible as a hellenistic romance.

Prelude to Israel's Past (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Neils Peter Lemche

A minimalist perspective to compare with Dever. [- Celsus]

Archaeology of the Biblical World

Don't call it "biblical archaeology" to an archaeologist!

Archaeology and the Bible (or via: amazon.co.uk) by John C. H. Laughlin

"Absolutely readable, with an introduction to how archaeological method developed, contemporary debates, new methods and discoveries, avoids the polemics of minimax debates (while giving the minimalists a fair hearing), and lots of pictures to boot! And all in less than 200 pages!" - Celsus

Archaeology of the Land of the Bible: 10,000-586 B.C.E. (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Amihai Mazar

Archaeology of the Land of the Bible: The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian Periods (732-332 B.C.E.) (or via: amazon.co.uk) by Ephraim Stern

"A solid series covering Palestine from Prehistory to Persia. Readable, and quite comprehensive. These are more or less 'orthodox' or mainstream views of the field. My only gripe is they don't have matching covers." - Celsus

The Religions of Ancient Israel (or via: amazon.co.uk)

A voluminous and up-to-date textbook for serious inquirers. It's well worth every penny though. [- Celsus]