John J. Collins's Introduction to the Hebrew Bible is one of the most reliable and widely adopted critical textbooks at undergraduate and graduate levels alike, and for good reason. Enriched by decades of classroom teaching, it is aimed explicitly at motivated students, regardless of their previous exposure to the Bible or faith commitments. The approach is ecumenical, in the sense that it seeks not to impose any particular theological perspective but to provide information and raise questions that should be relevant to any student. Collins proceeds through the canon of the Old Testament and the Apocrypha, judiciously presenting the current state of historical, archaeological, and literary understanding of the biblical text, and engaging the student in questions of significance and interpretation for the contemporary world.
The fourth edition is supplemented in areas that go beyond historical criticism and answer questions crucial for students today. John J. Collins discusses the issues that arise when studying the Hebrew Bible that aren't always addressed in introductory textbooks. The issues discussed include gender, patriarchy, social justice, violence, race and ethnicity, environment, salvation and death, the messiah, and colonialism. In addition to the new essays, John J. Collins has updated bibliographies to include the most recent scholarship that students and professors need to know.