From
Eden to the New Jerusalem by T. Desmond Alexander
Biblical theology is a discipline of theology that
brings together the best of a biblically faithful hermeneutic while looking at
the overarching story in the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. Often, especially in covenant theological circles,
the overwhelming emphasis is on the covenant structure of the Bible and how
these covenants ultimately lead towards the new covenant, culminating in
Christ. While this approach is very
good, often other themes in Scripture fall by the wayside, such as throne,
garden, city, and the restoration of all things in Christ. T. Desmond Alexander, in his book, From Eden to the New Jerusalem, in his
succinct and pointed manner draws our attention to the big ideas of Scripture
that form the basis of biblical theology from the sacred garden to the holy
city, and the throne of God to the establishment of the living God’s dwelling
with men in the final chapter.
Early on in the first chapter, Alexander points out that
the Garden of Eden is portrayed as a sanctuary in which, “The Lord God walks in
Eden as he later does in the tabernacle and the river flowing from Eden is reminiscent
of Ezekiel 47:1-12, which envisages a a river flowing from a future Jerusalem
temple and bringing life to the Dead Sea” (23).
From these points Alexander makes the conclusion that Adam and Eve acted
in a priestly manner because they met God in a holy place, a place endued with
grandeur and glory that reflected all the wonderful attributes of God’s
character. Further, the parameters of
Eden were to be extended over all the Earth, so that the sanctuary was to be
enlarged as the nation of Israel was formed, thereby encompassing and making
the average Israelite a royal priest in the service of God. This service was not just to be a Levitical
priest’s duty but was to fall under the task of subduing the earth.
Desmond rightfully points to the fall of Adam and Eve as
having deleterious consequences for the face of humanity. Not least of these consequential sins was the
promotion of violence. He writes, “The
divine ordering of creation is rejected by the human couple, with disastrous consequences
for all involved. Harmony gives way to
chaos. As the early chapters of Genesis
go on to reveal, people exercise dominion in the cruelest of ways. Violence towards other creatures, both human
and animal, is the hallmark of fallen humanity” (79). The shedding of blood from Cain on towards
the ways in which God’s heart was grieved that he made man all point to
escalation of violence. On this
fifteenth anniversary of 9/11, we still feel the costliness of violence and the
terror that ensues from such egregious acts.
Alexander’s emphasis on the throne of God, the
restoration of all creation, and his helpful work in the last two chapters of
Revelation go a long way in giving the reader a better grasp of a narrative
biblical theology.
Thanks to Kregel Academic for the copy of this book in
exchange for an honest review.
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