The Power and the Wisdom - Paperback

by John L. McKenzie (Author)

""In the composition of this book I experienced a growing conviction that the thing with which we believe we are familiar is not the New Testament; it is a conventionalized popular understanding of the New Testament. The simplicity of the New Testament can be deceptive. We have lived with it so long that its explosive power has become sweet reasonableness. I have noticed this not as a preacher but simply as a professional interpreter. It is our office to explain the text....The New Testament interpreter finds that he has the unpleasant task of liberating the text from certain encumbrances."" John L. McKenzie, from the preface

Author Biography

Father John L. McKenzie (1910-1991), an Old Testament biblical scholar who taught at Loyola University of Chicago, University of Chicago, Notre Dame and DePaul University, is considered one of the most influential post-WW2 scholars who oriented Catholic thinkers toward modern biblical scholarship. Beyond being a prolific writer of books and articles, he was the first Catholic president of the Society of Biblical Literature, and served as president for the Catholic Biblical Association and for Clergy and Laity Concerned.