The direct background and context for the emergent Old Testament, says Gerstenberger (Old Testament, Philipps-U. Marburg), was the Persian Empire, an immense global, multinational state with its cultu
Although the Persians are seldom mentioned explicitly in the Hebrew Bible, the Persian period (539–331 B.C.E.) gave new shape to ancient Israel, as the biblical text evolved and the foundations of the
Good, solid, contemporary introductions to patristic authors and writings are difficult to find in the English-speaking world, and European volumes are expensive. This volume, which is Siegfried Schat
