by Martin O'Kane, University of Wales, Lampeter
First published in the Scripture Bulletin (The Catholic Biblical Association Of Great Britain)

This is a most welcome and important book, celebrating the life, scholarship and contribution of the late Professor Michael Prior who was Chair for many years of the Catholic Biblical Association and Professor of Biblical Studies at St. Mary's University College, Strawberry Hill, London. The four divisions of the book reflect the valuable work of someone who was both Catholic priest and internationally renowned academic: Part 1 includes articles and essays written by Michael over many years on the Gospel of Luke, his initial area of research. Part 2 focuses on Michael's work as 'pilgrim', his work with Palestinian Christians and the London based Living Stones organisation. Part 3 includes some very challenging and thought-provoking articles on the biblical justification of the State of Israel - and the lessons to be learned for other societies too (see especially his excellent essay 'The Bible as an Instrument of Oppression'). Part 1V brings together Michael's moral critique of Zionism and his exploration of terminology such as 'antizionism' and 'antisemitism'.

For over 30 years, Michael Prior made a most significant and unique contribution to Catholic Higher Education in the UK, to international biblical scholarship and to the safe guarding of human rights and social justice. For those of us who knew him and his selfless commitment to the causes he espoused, the loss (caused by his sudden death in 2004) has been truly devastating. He was an inspirational figure in an age when biblical scholars, often centred on their own academic careers, frequently forget the social obligations that the teaching of the Bible commissions us to do. This book summons all biblical scholars back to examining how the Bible can be mis-read and mis-construed and how this can bring real misery to real people. It is a very challenging book and a very necessary book. Duncan Macpherson deserves enormous praise and credit for the way he has painstaking edited this book, bringing together a lifetime of work by Michael Prior. It is indeed a lasting memory to Michael and should be a constant challenge to all biblical scholars and students. I recommend it very strongly as a textbook for both undergraduates and postgraduates and as a subject for research seminars for staff and research students of the Bible. It is indeed, a most fitting memorial to Michael.