Written in Hebrew by ancient Israelites over the course of many centuries, the Bible is a collection of literature of multiple genres: narrative, poetry, history, and prophecy.

Its books reveal a historic people and have served as a basis for literature, law, and belief in Western society to this day. "Understanding the Bible: Old and New Testaments" considers the Bible as a work of literature that has the capacity to transcend time.

Although the origin and development of biblical books are discussed, the primary focus is on providing a coherent reading of the text that has been handed down to us. The history of that transmission, which includes centuries of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic commentary, will be charted. That interpretive heritage is presented to shed light on how it has shaped the intellectual and artistic heritage we have today.