Wendy Wilkinson
21 February 2000
Annotated Bibliography on on Matt 15:21-28

Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. N.Y, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1996. Raymond Brown's classic on the New Testament is a complete study in itself. Based on recent scholarly biblical criticisms it is easily accessible to both the student and biblical scholar, in the study of the New Testament it is the book to own.

Evans, Jill. Beloved & Chosen, Women of Faith. Norwich, England: Canterbury Press, 1993. Rev. Evans is a deacon in the Church of Wales. Her book is a comprehensive perusal of women in Christianity. She gives a brief biography of 300 different women through out the history of Christianity. The book includes women from scripture as well as women of the Church after the first century.

Kee, Howard Clark. Understanding the New Testament. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1993. An introduction to the New Testament, the book includes historical social and religious background for the area of Palestine. The development of Christianity is placed in the context of its world. The maps, pictures and glossary illuminate the text.

Malina, Bruce J. and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992. The authors intent is to shed more light on the social-religious context of the Gospels. Taking each Gospel verse by verse the authors explain the social context and meaning behind Jesus' actions and teachings. The book also addresses why each Gospel writer presented his own approach to Jesus' life and ministry.

Metzger, Bruce M. and Michael D. Coogan, eds., The Oxford Companion To The Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. Similar in style to other biblical encyclopedia, the Oxford Companion contains biblical topics listed alphabetically in essay form. Besides short essays on a comprehensive list of topics, the book contains composite entries of several essays written by scholars in their prospective field. Scripture references are to the NRSV Bible. The encyclopedia concludes with an extensive bibliography for more intensive study of the topics covered in The Oxford Companion.

McKenna, Megan. Not Counting Women and Children. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis, 1994. In this easily accessible book, Megan McKenna demonstrates her expertise as a story teller as she brings to life the invisible women of the Bible. Each chapter is an historical perspective of a woman in scripture who is only identified by her husband or the city that she is from. It is a liberating view of the women in the Bible.

Meier, John P. A Marginal Jew, Volume II. N. Y., N.Y.: Doubleday, 1994. ]ohn Meier's second book on the life of ]esus begins with ]esus' ministry. He examines the relationship between John the Baptist and ]esus noting how ]ohn's ministry influenced ]esus' own life. Meier presents Jesus as a "charismatic prophet, herald of God's kingdom and miracle worker." (cover notes)

Nolan, Albert. Jesus Before Christianity. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis, 1997. Albert Nolan, a Dominican priest, takes an historical look at the person of ]esus. He places ]esus in his historical religious and social setting, using those perspectives as a window onto Jesus' actions and teachings.

Sanders, E. P., The Historical Figure of Jesus. N.Y., N.Y.: Penguin Press, 1993. This book, similar to Howard Kee's, is a look at the historical ]esus and the rise of early Christianity within ]udaism.

Schuessler Fiorenza, Elisabeth . In Memory of Her. New York: Crossroad, 1994. This is Schuessler Fiorenza's masterpiece on feminist interpretation of the Bible based on liberation theology. She comprehensively examines the portrayal of women in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament. She gives a theological reconstruction of how women actively impacted early Christianity.

Soulen, Richard N. Handbook of Biblical Criticism, 2d ed. Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox, 1981. Soulen has produced a compact handbook of biblical criticism, theological terms, methodologies, and names of deceased biblical scholars and their works. The book is laid out in dictionary form with a paragraph or two of explanation per entry. A valuable inclusion is the guide to writing an exegetical paper in the appendix. Soulen conceived the book as an reference tool for a biblical exegesis class. It amply fulfills that description.

Stott, John. Men With a Message. Grand Rapid, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1994. This introduction to the New Testament by ]ohn Stott is a beautifully illustrated guide through the New Testament. Each chapter begins with a biography of the author of the following gospel or letter. While there are some questionable assumptions made, particularly in the chapter on Paul and his letters, the book's maps and charts are worth having for New Testament study.

Whitley, Katerina Katsarka, Speaking for Ourselves. Harrisburg, Pa.: Morehouse, 1998. Whitley has compiled monologues that she has done throughout the United States into a short narrative. Placing each woman in her historical context she brings their story to life. Questions for group discussion follow each story.