Overview

Many Christians treat the first half of Leviticus with, at best, benign neglect. Bloody animal sacrifices? Rituals for skin diseases and genital discharges? Surely these things are irrelevant for a modern follower of Jesus. Our engagement with these texts often doesn't go beyond a pious ""thank God we don't have to do that anymore!"" But this isn't enough if we want to take the world of the Bible seriously. Scripture itself testifies that plenty of ancient worshippers found beauty and meaning in these laws--that they encountered God even in those sacrificial rituals that seem so bizarre to us. This book offers a constructive interpretation of Old Testament rituals for Christians today, even for the majority of us who don't practice them literally. Drawing on contemporary scholarship, as well as the long history of Jewish and Christian interpretation, the book explores how sacrifice was a way to experience worship, cleansing, and fellowship with God; what systems of ritual impurity teach us about embodied holy living; and how dietary regulations can train God's people in humility and reverence for God's good creation. It provides followers of Jesus with the tools to treat Leviticus as a valuable theological resource, not an embarrassment.

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9781666799125

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Reviews

I have heard it so many times: 'I began the year with a commitment to read through the Bible--until I got to Leviticus.' Abby Kaplan's honest and accessible scholarship, engaging style, and provocative reframing of Leviticus is essential for a holy and God-infused life. No longer do you have to skip through or even over the book of Leviticus. Kaplan's work is theologically and practically helpful for followers of Jesus. --Grady D. King, president, HOPE Network Ministries Who would have thought that a book dealing with Jewish practices of sacrifice, ritual purity, and dietary laws could be so engaging, so thought-provoking? Written from a respectful Christian perspective in an almost-whimsical style, this study takes a very careful look at these ritual practices and the various interpretations--both Jewish and Christian--that have been given them over the years. Congratulations to Kaplan for providing us with this readable, revealing work. --Paul L. Watson, professor of Bible, Amridge University, retired The book of Leviticus is the graveyard where yearly Bible-reading plans go to die. . . . That's why Abby Kaplan's book is such a breath of fresh air. With great writing, wonderful theology, and very accessible scholarship, Kaplan helps us see with fresh eyes what the ancient world was like and reintroduces us to rituals of the ancient world that make it come alive again. --Jonathan Storment, preaching minister, Pleasant Valley Church of Christ I have heard it so many times: 'I began the year with a commitment to read through the Bible--until I got to Leviticus.' Abby Kaplan's honest and accessible scholarship, engaging style, and provocative reframing of Leviticus is essential for a holy and God-infused life. No longer do you have to skip through or even over the book of Leviticus. Kaplan's work is theologically and practically helpful for followers of Jesus. --Grady D. King, president, HOPE Network Ministries Who would have thought that a book dealing with Jewish practices of sacrifice, ritual purity, and dietary laws could be so engaging, so thought-provoking? Written from a respectful Christian perspective in an almost-whimsical style, this study takes a very careful look at these ritual practices and the various interpretations--both Jewish and Christian--that have been given them over the years. Congratulations to Kaplan for providing us with this readable, revealing work. --Paul L. Watson, professor of Bible, Amridge University, retired The book of Leviticus is the graveyard where yearly Bible-reading plans go to die. . . . That's why Abby Kaplan's book is such a breath of fresh air. With great writing, wonderful theology, and very accessible scholarship, Kaplan helps us see with fresh eyes what the ancient world was like and reintroduces us to rituals of the ancient world that make it come alive again. --Jonathan Storment, preaching minister, Pleasant Valley Church of Christ

Author Information

Abby Kaplan is a member of the Murray Park Church of Christ. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and two sons.

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