In recent years, both religious and secular scholars have applied modern literary criticism to the Bible. This reference contains an annotated bibliography of more than 1,700 titles representative of this union of biblical studies and contemporary literary theory. Its scope includes the most influential theoretical works of literary criticism, significant studies of the religious content and context of literary works, and a comprehensive listing of literary criticism applied to the Scriptures. The many cross-references and the detailed author, title, and subject indexes greatly enhance this book's usefulness.

An insightful introductory essay offers a critical assessment of contemporary literary theory and its application to biblical studies. The bibliography then begins with a selection of those works that established the intellectual basis of modern literary theory. The next section surveys those writings that exemplify contemporary theoretical perspectives. The work then treats critical writings that discuss the application of literary theory to the Bible. The heart of this reference is a comprehensive, annotated listing of literary and critical studies of biblical texts. The book concludes with an examination of scholarship that seeks to evaluate the reception of modern literary criticism in the world of biblical studies. Anyone interested in the Bible as literature, or in the impact of the Bible on literature, will appreciate the value of this indispensable tool.