"This is the easiest endorsement I've ever written. Sandra Richter's The Epic of Eden is perhaps the most instructive, formative, and accessible introduction to the Old Testament available in written form. Her nuanced and careful read of ancient meditative literature—with a knack for penetrating application for the modern reader—will have a deep and lasting impact on the person who picks it up. This should be required reading for any person who loves the Old Testament."
A. J. Swoboda, associate professor of Bible and theology at Bushnell University, pastor of Faith Center, and author of A Teachable Spirit
"For nearly two decades, students, lay readers, teachers, and church leaders have found in Sandra Richter's The Epic of Eden an introduction to the Old Testament that is scholarly but not tedious, understandable yet still serious, clear while also thoughtful. The book found an immediate and growing audience in classrooms, Bible study groups, and churches around the world. Now, Richter has given us an updated, refreshed edition of her masterpiece, incorporating new learning and addressing contemporary questions without losing the almost magical appeal of the original edition. This volume belongs on the desk of anyone who longs not merely to grasp the Old Testament but to gain a strategic view of the entire Bible."
Lawson G. Stone, chair of the department of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary
"I have been recommending Sandra Richter's The Epic of Eden as my go-to introduction to the Old Testament for years! I assigned it as a textbook when I taught Old Testament survey, and I've been telling everyone interested in the topic about this amazing book! This is why I'm so thrilled for this second edition and will be enthusiastically shouting it from the rooftops. The Epic of Eden is the perfect one-stop-shop to understanding and applying the first two-thirds of the Bible."
Preston Sprinkle, host of the Theology in the Raw podcast and author of From Genesis to Junia
"As women who love to invite other women to read the Bible for themselves, we are grateful for and encouraged by Sandra Richter's thoughtful, accessible scholarship. The Epic of Eden is an invaluable tool for anyone interested in reading and understanding the Old Testament."
Amanda Bible Williams and Raechel Myers, cofounders of She Reads Truth and general editors of the She Reads Truth Bible
"In The Epic of Eden, Sandra Richter helps the church recover its theological memory and redemptive identity. Richter's colorful and imaginative work not only illuminates the historical and covenantal framework of Scripture but also models the kind of cultural awareness desperately needed within the contemporary church's diverse ethnic and national landscape. She shows us that God reveals himself through culture without canonizing any culture, making this volume especially valuable for leaders seeking to cultivate biblically grounded, globally conscious discipleship. As the pastor of a multicultural and multiethnic church, I deeply appreciate how this culturally aware biblical theology helps us overcome our 'Christian Alzheimer's disease' by rediscovering the Old Testament as vital to our redemptive story while also equipping the church for contextualized discipleship and spiritual formation."
Darryl A. Williamson, lead pastor of Living Faith Bible Fellowship
"Sandra Richter has produced the finest available on-ramp to the Old Testament that relates readers to their life and faith. She provides unparalleled access to a selected wealth of information and insight regarding the message, world, and value of this marvelous book. The new edition retains the beauty and power of expression of the earlier work. It thoroughly updates the research and presentation and provides a full and readable understanding of the essence of the Old Testament. I look forward to using this work to introduce the coming generation of Bible readers to a love of and passion for the Scriptures."
Richard S. Hess, distinguished professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Denver Seminary
"In The Epic of Eden, Sandra Richter does what many scholars hope to do but few accomplish: She invites readers to understand Scripture's primary themes and figures in the context of pertinent and accurate historical-cultural background. The success of Richter's book and related curriculum and conferences attest to the public craving for just this kind of synthesis."
Tim Laniak, senior professor of biblical studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and global ambassador for the president at Our Daily Bread Ministries