332 THE BIBLE TODAY

various narrative sources on the life of the Prophet and the emergence of Islam), and the kinds of authority ascribed by Christians and Muslims both to Jesus and Muhammad and to each religion’s sacred texts. The end result is very informative; in addition, Peters provides a helpful “map” of the various sources available for further study on this subject. While, as the title of this book indicates, there are parallels between Jesus and Muhammad and the religions they founded, Peters’s study also delineates the profound differences to be found at almost every turn between these two religious systems.

John J. Pilch, Flights of the Soul: Visions, Heavenly Journeys, and Peak Experi-ences in the Biblical World. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans (www.eerdmans.com), !"##. Pages, xiii + !$%. Paper, &!'."".

Veteran readers of The Bible Today will remember John Pilch’s enticing articles over many years exploring the social and cultural world of the Bible. This volume explores a related interest of Pilch, who is visiting professor of New Testament at Georgetown University, namely, the impact of what he calls “alternate states of consciousness” on the biblical literature, particularly the many accounts of dreams, visions, and extraordinary experiences on the part of biblical characters. The chapters in the book are drawn from previously published articles that originally appeared in a variety of journals and cover topics such as Ezekiel’s visions, Paul’s ecstatic visions, the trans(guration of Jesus, and the resurrection appearances. Readers who appreciate Pilch’s explorations of this mysterious world will (nd this enjoyable and informative reading.

Cackie Upchurch, ed., Little Rock Catholic Study Bible. Collegeville MN: Liturgical Press (www.litpress.org), !"##. Pages, xv + !)$!. Paper, &'*.*+.

Here is a helpful new tool for Bible study, an outgrowth of the popular and highly respected Little Rock Scripture Study program. It follows the now fairly standard format of one-volume “study Bibles.” This volume contains the full New American Bible translation, including the newly revised Old Testament, along with the NAB’s of(cial and very helpful introductions and footnotes. In addition there are introduc-tory articles on various aspects of the Bible and how Catholics should approach it, as well as an introductory explanation of how this edition of the Bible might be put to best use. At the end of the volume there are additional resources, such as an article on the use of the Bible in the Lectionary, a series of maps, and a timeline of biblical events. The heart of the Bible’s study feature is found in numerous mar-ginal cross-references to biblical passages along with various sidebars and some illustrations clarifying personalities, events, or other aspects of particular passages calling for special explanation. Those using the Little Rock Scripture study program in particular will (nd this a wonderful supporting resource.

Albert Vanhoye, A Different Priest: The Epistle to the Hebrews. Miami FL: Convivium Press (www.conviviumpress.com), !"##. Pages, '+". Paper, &!).**.

The author of this commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews is a venerable Jesuit biblical scholar who served as Secretary of the Ponti(cal Biblical Commission and whose service to the church as a scholar was rewarded by his being named a

Donald Senior, CP 333

Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI. Vanhoye has had a lifelong interest in this elegant New Testament book, and in this commentary he focuses on the rhetorical style and literary structure of the text. He begins with an overall scan of the text’s structure (which, he notes, takes a homiletic form more than that of a letter) and then provides a section-by-section analysis, noting the rhetorical styles and concluding with a substantial section on the interpretation and meaning of the segment. This is a rich study that re,ects a lifetime of careful scholarship and profound re,ection on its subject.

Mark J. Zia, What Are They Saying About Biblical Inspiration? Mahwah NJ: Paulist Press (www.paulistpress.com), !"##. Pages, vi + ##'. Paper, &#).*+.

Here is another addition to this practical and helpful series. Zia, who is an Associate Professor of Theology at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, takes up a topic that has been too long in limbo, namely that of biblical inspiration. While funda-mentalist Christians have a clear and overly naïve view of biblical inspiration (God just dictated the text to the biblical author . . .), most recent biblical and theological scholarship simply avoids the topic. In the spirit of the series, Zia summarizes six authors’ approaches to the topic (including two Catholic scholars, James Burtchaell and Bruce Vawter). He concludes with his own suggestion, tying biblical inspiration to the context of the Eucharist and offering a helpful summary of the basic aspects of biblical inspiration found in the literature he has reviewed. Regarding, as it does, the Eucharist as both the possible origin and explanatory context for biblical inspi-ration, Zia’s work was probably completed prior to the publication of Denis Farkasfalvy, OCist, Inspiration & Interpretation (Washington DC: Catholic University of America Press [www.cuapress.cua.edu], !"#"), in which Farkasfalvy makes precisely that case. One of the outcomes of Zia’s survey is to demonstrate how Catholic biblical scholars and theologians in particular need to turn once again to this question, which is important for understanding the unique religious authority ascribed to the Scriptures.

Donald Senior, CP, serves as editor of The Bible Today and is the president of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he is also professor of New Testament studies. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Louvain in Belgium and is the author of numerous books and articles on the New Testament. In the fall of !""# he was appointed to the Ponti(cal Biblical Commission by Pope John Paul II.