Dr. Joel M. Hoffman )
teacher . translator . author Summer, 2014
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  • The Bible's Cutting Room Floor
  • The Book Tours
  • Travel Spotlight

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    Good news!

    My publisher has agreed to offer a special sneak peek of my forthcoming book, The Bible's Cutting Room Floor, to anyone who pre-orders the book now. Any pre-order counts, print edition or e-book, on-line or in person, and if you say you pre-ordered it, we trust you. So you can start reading right away.

    The eleven-page excerpt (taken from chapter 5 of the book) contains the complete second half of the Adam and Eve story, which was cut from the Bible but which survives thanks to a variety of ancient translations and copies. Read about Adam and Eve's struggle with exile, their fascinating dialog with Satan, and the lessons the book has for us today. I've even added bonus notes and discussion questions to accompany you as you read.

    Enjoy!


    -Joel

    		The Bible's Cutting Room Floor
    The Bible's Cutting Room Floor

    Curious about the book? Here's the jacket copy:

    "The Bible you usually read is the abridged version. Some holy writings were left out for political or theological reasons, others simply because of the physical restrictions of ancient book-making technology. At times, the compilers of the Bible skipped information that they assumed everyone knew. Some passages were even omitted by accident.

    In The Bible's Cutting Room Floor, acclaimed author and translator Dr. Joel M. Hoffman gives us the stories and other texts that didn't make it into the Bible even though they offer penetrating insight into the Bible and its teachings.

    The Book of Genesis tells us about Adam and Eve's time in the Garden of Eden, but not their saga after they get kicked out or the lessons they have for us about good and evil. The Bible introduces us to Abraham but it doesn't include the troubling story of his early life, which explains how he came to reject idolatry and become the father of monotheism. And while there are only 150 Psalms in today's Bible, there used to be many more.

    Dr. Hoffman deftly brings these and other ancient scriptural texts to life, exploring how they offer new answers to some of the most fundamental and universal questions people ask about their lives. An impressive blend of history, linguistics, and religious scholarship, The Bible's Cutting Room Floor reveals what's missing from your Bible, who left it out, and why it is so important."

    		The Book Tours
    Dr. Joel M. Hoffman Speaking

    It looks like the fall will take me coast to coast as I talk about The Bible's Cutting Room Floor, with events planned for the South, the West Coast, and of course locally in the New York area. I'll post details once they're finalized.

    I'd love to add your community to the tour. Let me know if you're interested.

    		Travel Spotlight

    This travel spotlight once again comes from my yard.

    It took me about a week to capture this image, because birds are so quick. In the end, I focused the camera on the bird feeder with one eye and used the other to watch the birds in the area. As soon as one started moving, I snapped the shutter. Who knew woodpeckers had talons like that?

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