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Pack containing 1 copy each of Friendly Guide to Women in the Old Testament and Friendly Guide to Women in the New Testament.
Friendly Guide to Women in the Old Testament
This Friendly Guide to Women in the Old Testament provides an easy-to-follow introduction to the stories of women in a range of Old Testament writings for readers of the twenty-first century. It presents an opportunity to explore biblical texts and characters that can be challenging to modern readers, and to discover their relevance and meaning today.
In all their diversity, the women in this book play a vital part in the history of salvation, the great story of God’s involvement with humankind. The stories featuring these women have been considered as so important that they were told and re-told, written down, preserved over many centuries, and finally handed down to us as ‘Word of God’.
This Friendly Guide demonstrates that, even though there are more male than female characters in the Old Testament, women are as significant in bringing about God’s plans – or in hindering them – as are men, and sometimes even more.
Dr Janina Hiebel offers a clear and engaging portrayal of a wide range of women in the Old Testament, from the ‘first woman’ (Eve) in the garden of Eden story to such late legendary figures as Esther and Judith. As one might expect, the Bible devotes considerable attention to mothers: the joys and sorrows, the supports and threats they experienced in bearing children. Among and alongside these were women who acted as leaders of their society – prophets, judges, rulers, and teachers, as well as those who were victims of their society – suffering violence and even death. But the Bible story is not only about Israelite women. Hiebel identifies a number of foreigners who contributed to the advance of Israel’s cause or attempted to subvert it, at times violently. Overall, she provides a gripping read about women in the Old Testament that will challenge and transform a reader’s understanding of them.
Assoc. Professor Mark A O’Brien op
Friendly Guide to Women in the New Testament
This Friendly Guide introduces the reader to the multitude of women in the New Testament. All take their place in the story of Jesus and the development of the Jesus movement after the resurrection. They are mothers, daughters, sisters and wives living in the first century, with all of its limitations on their participation in public life. Yet they are present, remembered and influential from Jesus’ birth, through his public ministry to his passion
and death, and as first witnesses to the resurrection. This volume celebrates their contribution and hopes to inspire women and men today in their faithful service.
A Friendly Guide to Women in the New Testament explores in detail what we know of the women from the biblical text and elucidates their faith, courage and action in the mission of Jesus and also that of Paul and the early days of the developing faith communities. The Friendly Guide identifies and highlights the women who came to follow Jesus in his time or after the resurrection. It illuminates their faith, their sharing of their gifts and talents and their contribution as disciples, apostles, benefactors, deacons and household church hosts. At its conclusion, the Friendly Guide finds a beginning and
an invitation to the saints of today to take inspiration and encouragement from these early saints to proclaim the good news in today’s world.
RRP $59.90
