Christian Faith in the
Old Testament by Gareth Lee Cockerill
What happens when a seasoned New Testament scholar puts to
paper his study of the Bible for over thirty five years? In effect, what he creates is a beautiful
synthesis of tapping the ‘apostolic roots’ of the Old Testament. Yet, what turns out is much different than a
historical survey or an academic project but is consistent with goal of having
modern Christians search and apply the Old Testament Scriptures for their
present lives. With helpful diagrams, edgy
analysis, and an eye at every point to how these Scriptures are fulfilled in
Christ, Gareth has put together a wonderful resource for the church.
Highlights
The discussion regarding the Ten Commandments was most
beneficial because it brings together the meaning of Decalogue through the lens
of the two Greatest Commandments. Gareth
writes, “Figure 2 shows that the first four commandments (Ex. 20:1-11) explain
what the Greatest Commandment means by loving God with all our heart, soul, and
strength. The last six (Ex. 20:12-17)
shed light on what Leviticus 18:19 means by loving one’s neighbor as oneself……The
Ten Commandments, then, were an expansion of the two Greatest Commandments and
the fundamental principles upon which the old covenant was based.” (105) Figure 2 that Gareth mentions is that of a
house with the first four commandments being the foundation of the structure
while the last six commandments are the housing and the roof. At every point in the first four
commandments, God is concerned with being the sole object of worship. To love
the Lord your God is to deem him as the final and sole object of our affections,
mind, and will. Gareth constantly
references these first four commandments in light of the temptation of Israel
to follow her neighbor’s gods, assimilate into ANE culture without the
slightest hint of being separate. To
connect the Greatest Commandments with the Ten is most helpful because it makes
the point very clear; no one is able to fully engage his neighbor with love
unless his first love is directed toward God, both the rescuer and creator of
Israel. Neighborly love is dependent
upon a radical remembering of the mighty acts of God done in love (Deut.
7:6-8), so that love for others has a reference point from which to act.
Gareth points to the future awaiting salvation for God’s
people in the Old Testament. He writes, “Job
19:25-27 appears to affirm the resurrection of the righteous. Thus in its own way the book of Job joins the
rest of the Old Testament in looking forward to God’s coming great salvation.”
(180) The experience of suffering is paramount in the book of Job but doesn’t
eliminate the future hope that Job has for salvation. The evil that happens upon the Earth will run
its course with an end point in the future.
God is the one who will restore ‘all things in righteousness.’
(180) We are not left with fleeting hope
in the Old Testament, but intimations, hints, types and shadows of the things
to come with the appearing of the Messiah.
Gareth connects the coming of the Messiah with the Davidic King in
earlier chapters that help us see how God is unveiling within the biblical
story a larger narrative at work.
I really enjoyed this book and plan on using it in teaching
the Old Testament. It is eminently practical
and is a good resource to give to those wishing to do further study in the
first testament.
Thanks to BookLook and Thomas Nelson for the copy of this
book in exchange for review.
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