Understand the Old Testament Like Never Before with this Revised and Updated New Edition

Does studying the Old Testament feel overwhelming and confusing? Do the stories and events seem disconnected and hard to follow? Have you resolved to really understand the Old Testament but find it difficult to piece together?

You're not alone—many Christians struggle to make sense of this portion of the Bible. In The Epic of Eden, Sandra Richter brings clarity and structure to the Old Testament, giving readers the tools they need to understand it.

Richter skillfully organizes the people, events, and themes of the Old Testament into a cohesive and memorable history of God's redeeming grace. Her approach helps you see the Old Testament in a new light, connecting the dots and revealing the unity of God's redemptive plan.

In this revised and expanded new edition, you'll find fresh material throughout, including new chapters, a new introduction, updated timelines, the latest scholarship, and insights to support your understanding of the story of the Old Testament.

With The Epic of Eden, you will:



- Learn key facts and a clear timeline to connect events and people of the Old Testament cohesively.

- Discover fascinating details and fresh views that enhance your understanding of Scripture.

- See how the Old Testament connects to the New Testament, forming a unified story of God's grace.

- Deepen your love for God's Word by uncovering the beauty and unity of his story from Eden to the new Jerusalem.



Accessible for Christians at all stages of their faith journeys, The Epic of Eden will give you a deeper and fuller understanding of the Old Testament from a Christian point of view. As you learn to make sense of the Old Testament, your passion for studying the Bible will be renewed and strengthened. The Epic of Eden is a transformative resource for anyone ready to enrich their biblical knowledge and deepen their understanding of God's redemptive plan.



Sandra L. Richter (PhD, Harvard University) is the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College, a member of the Committee on Biblical Translation for the NIV, and widely recognized for her work in Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomistic history. She is best known in the church for The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament, the video courses that have grown from that project, and Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why ItMatters. Her newest project, Abigail and the Waterfall: Loving God's Good Earth, is a children's book about stewarding the gifts of God's creation.



List of Figures and Tables



Acknowledgments



Abbreviations



Introduction



1. Real People, Real Places, Real Faith



2. The Bible as the Story of Redemption



3. The Bible in Real Time and Space



4. The Concept of Covenant:The "General Law" that Holds Our Facts Together



5. God's Original Intent



6. God's Final Intent: The New Jerusalem



7. Noah



8. Abraham



9. Moses



10. David



11. The New Covenant and the Return of the King



Frequently Asked Questions



What Role Does the Law of Moses Play in the Christian's Life?



What About Modern-Day Israel?



How the Old Testament Became the Old Testament



Notes



Glossary



Scripture Index



"This is the easiest endorsement I've ever written. Sandra Richter'sThe Epic of Eden is perhaps the most instructive, formative, and accessible introduction to the Old Testament available in written form. Her nuanced and careful read of ancient meditative literature—with a knack for penetrating application for the modern reader—will have a deep and lasting impact on the person who picks it up. This should be required reading for any person who loves the Old Testament."



"For nearly two decades, students, lay readers, teachers, and church leaders have found in Sandra Richter's The Epic of Eden an introduction to the Old Testament that is scholarly but not tedious, understandable yet still serious, clear while also thoughtful. The book found an immediate and growing audience in classrooms, Bible study groups, and churches around the world. Now, Richter has given us an updated, refreshed edition of her masterpiece, incorporating new learning and addressing contemporary questions without losing the almost magical appeal of the original edition. This volume belongs on the desk of anyone who longs not merely to grasp the Old Testament but to gain a strategic view of the entire Bible."



"I have been recommending Sandra Richter's The Epic of Eden as my go-to introduction to the Old Testament for years! I assigned it as a textbook when I taught Old Testament survey, and I've been telling everyone interested in the topic about this amazing book! This is why I'm so thrilled for this second edition and will be enthusiastically shouting it from the rooftops. The Epic of Eden is the perfect one-stop-shop to understanding and applying the first two-thirds of the Bible."



"As women who love to invite other women to read the Bible for themselves, we are grateful for and encouraged by Sandra Richter's thoughtful, accessible scholarship. The Epic of Eden is an invaluable tool for anyone interested in reading and understanding the Old Testament."



"In The Epic of Eden, Sandra Richter helps the church recover its theological memory and redemptive identity. Richter's colorful and imaginative work not only illuminates the historical and covenantal framework of Scripture but also models the kind of cultural awareness desperately needed within the contemporary church's diverse ethnic and national landscape. She shows us that God reveals himself through culture without canonizing any culture, making this volume especially valuable for leaders seeking to cultivate biblically grounded, globally conscious discipleship. As the pastor of a multicultural and multiethnic church, I deeply appreciate how this culturally aware biblical theology helps us overcome our 'Christian Alzheimer's disease' by rediscovering the Old Testament as vital to our redemptive story while also equipping the church for contextualized discipleship and spiritual formation."



"Sandra Richter has produced the finest available on-ramp to the Old Testament that relates readers to their life and faith. She provides unparalleled access to a selected wealth of information and insight regarding the message, world, and value of this marvelous book. The new edition retains the beauty and power of expression of the earlier work. It thoroughly updates the research and presentation and provides a full and readable understanding of the essence of the Old Testament. I look forward to using this work to introduce the coming generation of Bible readers to a love of and passion for the Scriptures."