The old testament a very short introduction michael coogan on amazoncom free shipping on qualifying offers eminent biblical scholar michael d coogan offers here a wide ranging and stimulating exploration of the old testament. From the opening pages of this very short introduction the old testament is presented as a collection of literature of one particular ancient people the hebrews which by some inadvertent accident of history has survived to this day unlike most other ancient collections of literature. From the opening pages of this very short introduction the old testament is presented as a collection of literature of one particular ancient people the hebrews which by some inadvertent accident of history has survived to this day unlike most other ancient collections of literature the religious aspect the old testament is downplayed and . The old testament a very short introduction michael coogan very short introductions offers here a wide ranging and stimulating exploration of the old testament illuminating its importance as history literature and sacred text. The old testament a very short introduction explains the differences between the bible of jewish tradition and the old testament of christianity and also examines the different contents of the bibles used by roman catholics eastern orthodox christians and protestants it explores the use of invented dialogue and historical fiction in the old testament and the presence of mythic elements