“Perhaps more than any other volume, this collection of essays demonstrates the breadth of James Crenshaw’s incisive work on the prophetic and wisdom texts of scripture. Crenshaw brings to the ancient text a judicious, historically informed perspective and, at the same time, an unwavering conviction that the biblical world has much to say to our twenty-first–century world.”
— William P. Brown, Columbia Theological Seminary
“James Crenshaw is certainly one of the most important scholars of biblical wisdom and prophetic literature in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Characterized both by insightful readings of primary texts and a deep engagement with the scholarship of others, Crenshaw’s works are essential reading for anyone who would enter the conversation on these topics.”
—Carol A. Newsom, Candler School of Theology
“No scholar of this generation has deliberated more thoughtfully on questions of ultimate importance in biblical literature than James Crenshaw. This collection brings together his essays on wisdom, psalms, and prophecy primarily over the last twelve years or so, many of which are just gems. My only regret about it is that he did not include some of his equally fine essays from the 1970s.”
— John J. Collins, Yale Divinity School
“These previously published articles range from probing analyses of biblical concepts (e.g., ‘Qoheleth’s Understanding of Intellectual Inquiry’) to personal reflections on his faith and writings (‘Reflections on Three Decades of Research’). They exhibit the unfailing honesty we expect of Crenshaw, but also rewarding insights into texts and theology. While the majority pursue topics in the wisdom corpus, several pursue issues in prophetic literature (Jeremiah, Joel, and the Twelve) and a couple in the Torah. Consequently, this volume could well serve as a complement to an introduction to the Old Testament.”
-- Paul L. Redditt, Georgetown College