Said to contain the words of the earliest of the biblical prophets (8th century BCE), the book of Amos is reinterpreted by James Linville in light of new and sometimes controversial historical approaches to the Bible. Amos is read as the literary product of the Persian-era community in Judah. Its representations of divine-human communication are investigated in the context of the ancient writers' own role as transmitters and shapers of religious traditions. Amos's extraordinary poetry expresses mythical conceptions of divine manifestation and a process of destruction and recreation of the cosmos which reveals that behind the appearances of the natural world is a heavenly, cosmic temple.

This learned volume offers a close reading of chapters 3 to 6 of the book of Amos, and attempts to locate biblical study and theological reflection within the complex cultural context of Latin America. The author prefaces his study with a wide-ranging survey of the continuing debate over the proper use of the Bible as a model for the structures of society. The author's particular focus is Latin America, and through sociological and textual analysis, he seeks to define the role of the prophetic biblical voice in this society and presses for a recognition of moral complexities and a constant questioning and self-evaluation from those who would claim to speak for God in society.

In 1955 John D. W. Watts presented the faculty lectures at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Ruschlikon. Amos and prophetic studies have not been the same since. Three years later, in 1958, Vision and Prophecy in Amos appeared as an instant must in studies on Amos and on biblical prophecy in general. Watts' form-critical analysis of the visions of Amos became an immediate classic in its field. Long out of print, this new edition of Vision and Prophecy is available for all students and scholars of biblical prophecy. Moreover, Watts has added new material on Amos. He explores Amos forty years later both in terms of its literary whole and in the context of the Book of the Twelve.

Often called "minor prophets," these first great classical prophets spoke to issues that dominated their times--love, redemption, fidelity, renewal, authority, justice, righteousness, and inclusivity--and that continue to have great relevance today. Books in the Westminster Bible Companion series assist laity in their study of the Bible as a guide to Christian faith and practice. Each volume explains the biblical book in its original historical context and explores its significance for faithful living today. These books are ideal for individual study and for Bible study classes and groups.

One in an ongoing series of esteemed and popular Bible commentary volumes based on the New International Version text.

An excellent exegetical commentary. Available in Libronix format or in paperback. 350 pages. www.bible.org

Eminently qualified to write this groundbreaking book, Philip King is known as both an archaeological and biblical authority. Defining biblical archaeology as the "process of correlating archaeological evidence with the biblical record," he sees the function of this discipline as the illumination of the events recorded in the Bible in order to clarify the text. In Amos, Hosea, and Micah, King offers an enlightening and elegant commentary on the eight-century prophets from an archaeological perspective.

Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--University of Michigan, 2007.

Taken together, the Twelve Prophets offer a panoramic view of Israel's religion during one of the most critical periods in the Israelites' history. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah are the figures considered in this first of Peter C. Craigie's two-volume work. Although differing in substance as well as style, these prophetic books are united in their common purpose: the declaration of the word of God to the people of God. Carrying forward brilliantly the pattern established by Barclay's New Testament series, the Daily Study Bible has been extended to cover the entire Old Testament as well. Invaluable for individual devotional study, for group discussion, and for classroom use, the Daily Study Bible provides a useful, reliable, and eminently readable way to discover what the Scriptures were saying then and what God is saying today.