The Bible has had a tremendous influence on world history and culture, but it is largely unfamiliar to many students. This book relates the Bible to a wide range of literary works commonly read by students and thus helps students understand these texts as well as the cultural and historical contexts surrounding them. Included are chapters on 20 themes, such as creation, family and friends, love and marriage, the hero, war, and death and the afterlife. Each chapter discusses the biblical significance of the theme, provides scriptural quotations and citations, and explores the biblical presence of the theme in literary works often read by students. Each chapter cites works for further reading, and the volume closes with a selected, general bibliography.


Each chapter discusses the biblical significance of the theme, provides scriptural citations and quotations, and relates the theme to frequently read literary works. Chapters suggest resources for further reading, and the volume closes with a selected, general bibliography. With the tremendous growth in courses on the Bible as literature, this book will be a welcome resource for students of literature, history, and religion.