"Patristic exegesis" involves the biblical scholarship of the period located between the gospel events and the fall of the Roman empire. In two volumes, scholars greatly transcend the bibliography as they examine, interpret, and evaluate the work of those who examined that early scholarship in the last hundred years. Written to include readers with a general interest in the field, these handbooks do not serve the ordinary purpose of providing an introduction to modern studies of patristic exegesis, but to place those studies properly in the spectrum of scholarship over time, showing how scholars viewed interpretive traditions, the development of catechesis and liturgy, and the foundations of the systems of theology. The first volume includes a section on general considerations, a survey of the last fifty years of research, and essays on Greek and Latin Christian literature of the second and third centuries and Mani and Manichaeism. The second volume includes sections on Greek Christian literature of the fourth, fifth, and sixth through eighth centuries; Latin Christian literature of the fourth, fifth, and sixth through eighth centuries; Syriac Christian literature; patristic exegesis in Armenian, Georgian, Coptic, and Ethiopian Christian literature; and an epilogue on studies of the Venerable Bede's use of scripture. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)