Edmon L Gallagher

The deuterocanonical books, otherwise called the Apocrypha, have been a part of Christian Bibles for as long as there has been a Christian Bible. For just as long, there have been disputes about their authority. Are they canonical Scripture, or merely edifying literature? These opposing positions can be found in the Church Fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries, who in turn influenced the entire subsequent discussion. The deuterocanonical books were almost always considered beneficial, often canonical, though there emerged with the Reformation in the sixteenth century Christian writers who disputed even the value of these books, suggesting that they might pose dangers to the faithful. The Apocrypha through History surveys the entire history of this issue, with a concentration on materials in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (for the earlier period) or English and German (for the later period). Edmon L. Gallagher explores the origins of the deuterocanonical books and their reception in Judaism and Christianity, with separate chapters on the New Testament, the patristic period, the Latin West, the Greek East, the Reformation, and the English Bible. At each stage, the book investigates who considered the deuterocanonical books to be fully canonical--or not--and why? The Apocrypha through History provides a thorough yet accessible examination of one aspect of the history of the Bible, concluding with a chapter reflecting on whether it makes a difference if one's bible includes the deuterocanonical books.

This study of the book of Daniel in the Old Testament elucidates its theological meaning with a concern for Christian edification. Gallagher situates the book in its ancient Jewish context, considers the history of interpretation, and applies the text to the modern world. Such a task is relatively straightforward-though not without its own surprises-for Daniel's first six chapters, which contain justly famous stories about resistance to empire and its allures that have captivated Sunday school children for generations. The last six chapters of Daniel are another story, often either ignored by Christians or the object of obsessive speculation about the End Times. Gallagher navigates these difficult waters by insisting that readers pay attention to the big picture of the visions, the meaning of which can be discerned with some confidence, rather than wrangling about obscure points. Above all, the apocalyptic visions depict the ultimate victory of God over the forces of evil, including death. After a brief but helpful introduction to Daniel, there follows one lesson for each of Daniel's twelve chapters. Packed with historical information, devotional illustrations, and reflection questions, plus original drawings by Josiah Gallagher illustrating each chapter, this book would work well for personal or small group studies of Daniel's powerful vision of radical faith in a hostile world.

Approaching Christian Scripture Faithfully: Twenty Attempts offers a series of thought-provoking expositions in four categories: Old Testament Essays, New Testament Essays, Essays on the Church, and a Miscellaneous section. Though each essay has been previously published in various contexts, as a unit they model both exegetical skill and faith-building application. Gallagher invites readers to think at a higher level. His loyalty to Scripture is evident. The reader will find Approaching Christian Scripture Faithfully both engaging and challenging.

"Ed Gallagher combines academic understanding with practical ministry application, and the result is a book that will bless Bible class teachers, preachers, and anyone who desires a deeper understanding of Luke's Gospel. The footnotes and charts provide excellent resources for future study without detracting from the book's readability. There are insights here that will challenge us to learn, reflect, and grow in our faith. The Gospel of Luke: Explorations in Christian Scripture promises to be an effective tool for Bible class and personal study for years to come."-Andrew Phillips, Pulpit Minister Graymere Church of Christ (Columbia, Tennessee)This series of studies on the Gospel of Luke (thirteen chapters with an introduction and a discussion guide) aims to help Christians glean more from the longest of the canonical Gospels. Luke's presentation of Jesus provides important and beloved stories about the Lord, including the lengthiest account of his birth and childhood, a distinctive account of his death and resurrection, and much unique material arising from his teaching, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This book would be ideal for a church Bible glass, small group, or Christian book club. Readers are sure to love more both the Third Gospel and the Savior whose life it narrates.

As the story goes, a few centuries before the birth of Jesus, seventy Jewish sages produced a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures at the request of an Egyptian king. While some Jews believed this translation was itself inspired Scripture, even more significantly, the authors of what would later be called the New Testament relied on this translation as they quoted Scripture. Then in the centuries that followed, many Christians argued that God had provided the Septuagint as the church's Old Testament. But what about all the differences between the Septuagint and the Hebrew Bible? And what about the extra books of the Septuagint-the so-called Apocrypha or deuterocanonical literature? Written with students in mind, Translation of the Seventy explores each of these issues, with a particular focus on the role of the Septuagint in early Christianity. This fresh analysis of the New Testament's use of the Septuagint and the complex reception of this translation in the first four centuries of Christian history will lead scholars, students, and general readers to a renewed appreciation for this first biblical translation.

The Bible took shape over the course of centuries, and today Christian groups continue to disagree over details of its contents. The differences among these groups typically involve the Old Testament, as they mostly accept the same 27-book New Testament. An essential avenue for understanding the development of the Bible are the many early lists of canonical books drawn up by Christians and, occasionally, Jews. Despite the importance of these early lists of books, they have remained relatively inaccessible. This comprehensive volume redresses this unfortunate situation by presenting the early Christian canon lists all together in a single volume. The canon lists, in most cases, unambiguously report what the compilers of the lists considered to belong to the biblical canon. For this reason they bear an undeniable importance in the history of the Bible. The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity provides an accessible presentation of these early canon lists. With a focus on the first four centuries, the volume supplies the full text of the canon lists in English translation alongside the original text, usually Greek or Latin, occasionally Hebrew or Syriac. Edmon L. Gallagher and John D. Meade orient readers to each list with brief introductions and helpful notes, and they point readers to the most significant scholarly discussions. The book begins with a substantial overview of the history of the biblical canon, and an entire chapter is devoted to the evidence of biblical manuscripts from the first millennium. This authoritative work is an indispensable guide for students and scholars of biblical studies and church history.