The Old Testament Book by Book

A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament: The Gospel Promised, Edited by Miles Pelt

This collection of essays on the books of the Old Testament is a wonderful introduction to gaining wisdom and understanding into the First Testament.  The authors, professors from RTS, from John Currid to Richard Pratt and many more, combine to grant the reader a look into the key theological and literary features of the 39 books of the Old Testament.  With standard categories elucidating the author, setting of the book, and theology, each chapter is full of solid readings of the texts.

With illuminating work and a particular eye toward the details of Genesis, Professor John Currid presents the reader with a focused and clear portrait of the first book of the Bible.  I appreciated John’s keen insight into the concept of the image of God in Genesis.  He writes, “Originally the word meant “something cut from an object,” as, for example, a piece of clay cut from a sculpture.16 In such a case there exists a concrete resemblance between the object and the image. Thus, most of its occurrences in the Old Testament refer to idols that physically represent a god (e.g., 2 Kings 11:18). It is also used of a statue of a king that he sets up in a land he has conquered, symbolizing his sovereignty over that land (e.g., Dan. 3:1). This usage helps to demonstrate that, in regard to the creation of mankind, humanity is God’s representative of God’s rule over the earth (60).”  With his wisdom and clear understanding of the OT, John helps us focus on the God of Genesis more than particular composition theories.

Two specific points come to the forefront in Willem Gemeren’s understanding of the book of Isaiah. One, Willem notes the complexity of the book of Isaiah, “Both evangelical and critical scholars are amazed at the complexity of Isaiah. The canonical shape of Isaiah is multilayered. In reading Isaiah, one is continually reading backward and forward while connecting expressions, themes, motifs, and patterns (figurations).20 The text is like a mirror as it reflects on what has been read and anticipates what lies ahead. A prospective and retrospective reading connects aspects of the text into an ever-growing web.” (301)  Not only is the complexity related to the historical situation where we look back and forward through exile and freedom, but themes of judgment and redemption often lay side by side in the same text.  Second, Willem engages the reader to see figuration in the book of Isaiah.  He writes, “Figuration takes place when we read any text in Isaiah in connection with the whole book. For example, Isaiah’s play on the word righteousness in 56:1 has two senses: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.” In the first line, righteousness is connected with justice, and in the second line, righteousness is parallel with salvation. The double sense of righteousness as justice and as salvation connects Isaiah 56–66 with Isaiah 1–39 and 40–55. This variation in the meaning may best be explained diachronically.” (305)  This rich reading of the book of Isaiah calls the reader to see the richly textured way Isaiah deals with specific concepts and categories, rather than each passage meaning the same thing when a certain word is used.

Although this is an immense work, the many authors combine to bring to light the most important features of each OT book, from its literary importance to the theological message of the book. 

You won’t want to miss this excellent work!

Thanks to Crossway for the copy of this book.