The first five books of the Bible are called the Torah, Hebrew for law or instruction. They are also called the Pentateuch, which is Greek for five scrolls. They are at the heart of Judaism. For Christians they are a major part of the Word of God. They tell the story God’s people from the creation of the world until its arrival under Moses to the promised land. Much of that story is familiar to us, but understanding the Pentateuch can still be challenging for modern readers. In this interview, Dr. John Bergsma will explain his pick of the books that can guide us through the Pentateuch.

Dr. John Bergsma is a Full Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Steubenville, Ohio. He served as a Protestant pastor for four years before entering the Catholic Church in 2001. He specializes in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among his various books are Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History and A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament (co-authored with Brant Pitre).

His recommended books are

1. Pentateuch as Narrative by John Sailhamer
2. The Old Testament of the Old Testament by R.W. Moberly
3. Murmuring Against Moses by Jeff Morrow and John Bergsma
4. A Father Who Keeps His Promises by Scott Hahn
5. The Book of the Torah by Thomas W. Mann

Read the interview at www.fivebooksforcatholics.com/the-pentateuch/

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