Date: March 1, 2022
Media Contact: Curtis Prather
Tel: (703) 461-1782
Email: cprather@vts.edu
(ALEXANDRIA VA) – Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) announces the publication of The Prophets: Introducing Israel’s Prophetic Writings (Introducing Israel’s Scriptures) (2022, Fortress Press) co-written by Stephen L. Cook, Ph.D., with authors John T. Strong and Steven S. Tuell.
“In a time when so many assumptions about life and faith are being actively re-examined, the ancient words of the biblical prophets have so much to teach us,” said the Rev. Melody Knowles, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs and associate professor of Old Testament. “With creativity and skill, Stephen Cook and his colleagues brilliantly bring these words to light and clarify their call on our lives.”
The prophets remain figures of enduring interest and importance in contemporary Judaism, Christianity, and even secular society. The Prophets introduces students to the rise of prophecy in ancient Israel, possible ancient Near Eastern parallels, the messages of individual prophets, and the significance of the compositional and editorial history of the prophetic writings. The book guides students into leading questions and issues in contemporary scholarship, and surveys different contemporary approaches to the messages of the prophets. Part 1 introduces the prophets and prophecy in context. The rise of prophecy, the role of the prophet, key themes, and the fate of prophecy are explored. Part 2 profiles Israel’s prophets during the eighth century, the exile, and the post-exilic period. This section also looks at each book of the prophets and how the prophetic writings fit within the complete Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. Additionally, these chapters provide insights into interpreting the prophetic writings today, including Jewish and Christian interpretations, prophecy and prediction, and the secular legacy of Israelite prophecy.
The textbook includes numerous images, charts, and maps to enhance the experience of the students.Stephen L. Cook is Catherine N. McBurney Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at VTS and the author of several books in Hebrew Bible studies, including Prophecy and Apocalypticism (Fortress, 1995). He resides in Alexandria, Virginia.John T. Strong is professor of religion at Missouri State University and the coeditor, with Margaret S. Odell, of The Book of Ezekiel: Theological and Anthropological Perspectives (2000) and, with Steven S. Tuell, Constituting the Community: Studies on the Polity of Ancient Israel (2005). He resides in Springfield, Missouri.Steven S. Tuell is James A. Kelso Professor emeritus of Hebrew and Old Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the author of The Law of the Temple in Ezekiel 40-48 and commentaries on 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezekiel, and Nahum. He resides in Wexford, Pennsylvania.###
Founded in 1823 as a beacon of hope in a country new and finding its way, Virginia Theological Seminary has led the way in forming leaders of the Episcopal Church, including the Most Rev. John E. Hines (VTS 1933, D.D. 1946), former presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church; the Rt. Rev. John T. Walker (VTS 1954, D.D. 1978), the first African-American bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; and theologian, author and lay preacher Ms. Verna J. Dozier (VTS D.D. 1978). Serving the worldwide Anglican Communion, Virginia Theological Seminary educates approximately 25% of those being ordained who received residential theological education. Visit us online: www.vts.edu.