Textual Knowledge: Teaching the Bible in Theory and in Practice is a book aimed at anyone who wishes to explore what it means to teach the Bible, one of the foundational texts of Western culture. In this volume the author explores the largest issues involved in Bible teaching: What are our purposes? What are the outcomes that we are looking for? How do we conceptualize the Bible as the subject matter? How do we develop theories of Bible teaching? And how do we move from theory to practice? Looking at a variety of alternative conceptions, Textual Knowledge helps offer clarity about a teacher's goals and practical advice about what it means to attain those goals.
In addition the book explores the relationship between knowledge of Bible and teaching the Bible. What kind of knowledge does the Bible teacher need to have? How must that knowledge of subject matter be structured and conceptualized? How might differing scholarly conceptions of the discipline influence teachers' ways of thinking about the Bible. Drawing upon recent research in the field of general education, the author draws connections to the domain of Bible education.
Asa book that embraces both theoretical issues and practical concerns, Textual Knowledge explores matters of central concern to Jewish educations in particular, but is relevant to educators from other religious traditions and for those teaching the Bible in secular institutions such as universities as well. At its heart the author seeks to improve Bible pedagogy - making it deeper, richer, more reflective and more powerful for students of any age and in any setting.