Craig G. BartholomewBesprekingen

This book presents something toward a comprehensive statement of the biblical exegetical method known as theological interpretation. The authors suggest that this is moving away from both a “modern” emphasis on the historical backgrounds of the text(s) and its/their putative authors, as well as from a “postmodern” emphasis on perspective- and ideologically-driven conceptions of truth.

I generally align with the “postmodern” (a term which has, over the course of 50 years of use, admittedly become diffused in meaning). Because of this, I disagree with the suggestion that “reader-centered” approaches, or biblical interpretative methods which foreground the role of the reader in interpretation, must necessarily be relativistic. That is a kind of scarecrow argument. This being said, I resonate with the attack upon “author-centered,” or modernist/historical-critical/“scientifically-based” interpretation, because it proved generally to be bankrupt from the standpoint of religious belief, creating a wide gulf between religious and scholarly treatment of the Bible. This is ironic because historical criticism, again speaking generally, tried to bridge a wide historical gulf between the production of a text and its interpretation.

But I don’t think it is necessary to reach back, or to pretend to reach back, to “pre-modern” interpretation, or in my term “tradition-centered interpretation.” The toothpaste doesn’t go back in the tube. Rather, this is another aspect of “reader-centered” approaches: the readers, in this case, are theologically-minded Christians (and Jews, maybe).

Overall, this is a difficult read, and it is thoroughly contextualized for a (White) Western audience. This makes it a curious choice for my class of Korean pastors next month, but on the other hand it gives me a little more to talk about.½

Summary: Combines introductory discussions of the last twelve books of the Old Testament with an exploration of the theological themes of each book as well as the theological significance of the whole corpus.

The Twelve. The Minor Prophets. Those books at the end of the Old Testament some of us never get to read. They are minor after all? Only in size, but not import insist Craig Bartholomew and Heath Thomas. In this volume, they offer a discussion of scholarship, backgrounds, interpretation and theological themes of each book. They also offer a consideration of the theological themes and import both then and now of this collection of books.

They begin the work by considering the history of interpretation of these books from the early fathers up to contemporary scholarship. While discussing the proposal that these books should be considered as a redacted whole, they opt first to read these books individually and only then consider them as a whole, and this structures their treatment. They distinguish prophecy in the ancient world from other forms of communication: oracles, divination, and dreams. We also learn of the terminology used for prophets of Israel, their social location, and distinct from court prophets, their vocation of speaking the word of Yahweh, particularly to people who were straying from Yahweh’s ways.

The following chapters consider each of the twelve minor prophets. Nahum and Zephaniah, and Haggai and Malachi, are considered together. Each chapter on a book treats the book in context, offers an outline of the book, includes an extended section of interpretation following the outline (not verse by verse commentary but overview of each section’s content), and a discussion of key theological ideas in each book. In Hosea, for example, the authors land on themes of God as lover and lion, of the healthy inwardness of faith as focused on mercy and not sacrifice, and the breakdown of the social order, reflected in Hosea’s marriage.

Alongside the chapters of theological introduction are discussions of key passages in the minor prophets, many of New Testament import. These include discussions of the valley of decision in Joel, Jonah’s “canticle” in Jonah 2 and its place in the book, Micah 6:6-8 on what the Lord requires, and Zechariah 9:9-10 on the Davidic king’s entry into Jerusalem. Most illuminating in light of contemporary discussions was the chapter on Habakkuk 2:2-4 on the faith or faithfulness by which the righteous live. They consider both backgrounds and translations of the verses, concluding in the context of Habakkuk that “the faithful will trust Yahweh to the point of death, living in allegiance to him alone, believing that his grace and faithfulness will bring them life.”

Three final chapters summarize major themes of the minor prophets, consider the use of the minor prophets in the accounts of the ministry of Jesus, including times Jesus quotes the prophets, and finally, the theology of the minor prophets for today. In this last section, the authors focus first on the God who speaks and how critically humans need the word of the Lord. They offer trenchant remarks on how religion can function as a tranquilizer, not only in the day of the prophets, but in our own, making us insensible to our inhumanity toward others. They focus on income disparities in the U.S, the commodification of everything, and the globalization of the world economy, relying on unsustainable poverty to enrich others. They reflect on the Maker with whom Israel and we must reckon and the matrix of love, wrath, and justice of God within which we are all accountable. At the same time, we see the hesed of God, the God who longs for intimate relationship with humanity, evoking both our worship and witness, formed by continuing contemplation of God’s glory in the face of Christ.

This work offers both scholarly treatment of the texts of the minor prophets, drawing out their message, along with rich material for personal reflection. Recommended reading, with introductory works indicated, offer the student direction for further study. Bartholomew and Thomas have given us a solid resource that removes the obscurity of these lesser-read books, helping us see just how important their message was then and is now.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

1

In Hearing the Old Testament world-class scholars discuss how contemporary Christians can better hear and appropriate God’s address in the Old Testament. This volume is part of a growing interest in theological interpretation of the Old Testament.

Editors Craig G. Bartholomew and David J. H. Beldman offer a coherent and carefully planned volume, a truly dialogical collaboration full of up–to–date research and innovative ideas. While sharing a desire to integrate their Old Testament scholarship with their love for God—and, thus, a commitment to listening for God’s voice within the text—the contributors display a variety of methods and interpretations as they apply a Trinitarian hermeneutic to the text. The breadth, expertise, and care evidenced here make this book an ideal choice for upper-level undergraduate and seminary courses.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

The authors of “Beyond the Modern Age” offer perspicuous critiques on the edifices and ashes of modernity. The treatises being put forward in the book, at the cultural and economic level, are at once ambitious, generous, and hope-filled. With the manifold societal crises facing the world today, one would long that their message is heeded by more, especially those who wield public power.

A drawback in the middle section (Part Two) mars the book’s eloquence, though. There, the authors include extensive quotations from works of Philip Rieff, René Girard, et al. These quotes are made at length but, given the philosophical nature, are still extracted from their own contexts. Meanwhile, the authors spend not adequate efforts interacting with what they have quoted and thus blurring the overall message they want to convey.

All in all, an important alternative vision to human future and a refreshing antidote to the profusion of monotonous economic discourses.

Summary: An overview of the big story of the Bible, broken into 30 readings of roughly 30 minutes in length, accompanied by charts, diagrams, and illustrations.

Paige Vanosky, a co-author of this book describes its beginning with a request from an ecumenical women’s group, asking if she could “explain the story of the Bible in just thirty minutes?” This, in turn led to a chronological study of the message of the Bible with women’s groups and her collaboration with theologian Craig G. Bartholomew in development of The 30-Minute Bible, a collection of thirty short readings tracing the big story of scripture through six acts:

Act One: God Establishes His Kingdom: Creation
Act Two: Rebellion in the Kingdom: The Fall
Act Three: The King Chooses Israel: Salvation Initiated
Act Four: The Coming of the King: Salvation Accomplished
Act Five: Spreading the News of the King: The Mission of the Church
Act Six: The Return of the King: Redemption Completed

The largest portion of the readings are devoted to Act Three (15 readings covering Old Testament history from the fall to the intertestamental period) and Act Four (7 on John and the ministry of Jesus in the gospels).

The readings are straightforward, clear, and free of technical language. Here is an excerpt from Chapter Two (Act One) on the Creation:

“If, like us, you love art, Genesis 1 is like being taken to the most extraordinary exhibition you have ever seen. But imagine if, even as you are exploring the exhibition with wide eyes, a friend comes up to you and asks, “Would you like to meet the artist?” Of course, your answer would be, “Yes.” This is exactly what the Bible does in its opening chapters. Yes, the creation is wonderful, but even more wonderful is the One who made it, and a major aim of the Bible is to introduce us to the Creator God. What is the Creator like? The opening words begin to provide our answer."

CRAIG G. BARTHOLOMEW AND PAIGE P. VANOSKY, P. 15

At the conclusion of each chapter of four to six pages, short scripture readings related to and often referenced in the readings. The authors encourage reading these passages in a modern translation. In my own reading, I found I could read each chapter and the scripture passage in about twenty minutes, although one might want to take a little more time for reflection, so the title is accurate.

This is not a comprehensive introduction to every book in scripture, although a helpful chart outlines the organization of the books in our Bibles. The Old Testament portion focuses on historical narratives, with scattered references to the writings and the prophets. Likewise, in the New Testament, the greatest attention is to the gospels and Pauline works, Acts, and Revelation. The authors suggest online and written resources that help in going deeper.

The readings do include charts, chronologies, maps and diagrams that help provide background context. One of the most delightful features are the illustrations by Br. Martin Erspamer, allowing for a visual as well as textual engagement of the story. I was particularly taken by the art piece showing Jesus with Mary in the garden after the resurrection.

I’ve worked with many intimidated as they try to read the Bible. They got lost in Leviticus or numbed by Numbers. They lack a sense of how all the books of scripture cohere. Even for many who have some familiarity with the Bible, they know the stories, but lack a sense of the big story of God, how this is for everyone, and relates to all of life. The authors point out how all of us live within Act Five, Spreading the News of the King, looking forward to Act Six, the Return of the King. Knowing the story within which we live is life-shaping, speaking to our sense of purpose, what we value most dearly, how we relate to the different communities we are part of, and how we think about the substance of our work. This compact book leads the reader into discovering that story. I wish I had this to pass along years ago and I look forward to using it with groups in the future.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Excellent - a first-class commentary

Old Testament Wisdom Literature: A Theological Introduction is a collaborative work by Craig G. Bartholomew and Ryan P. O’Dowd printed in 2011, examining and discussing the genre of wisdom literature with specific concentration on Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. The work begins with a discussion of wisdom literature in the Ancient Near East and the use of poetry in these writings. Each of the three books mentioned above are treated in an overall fashion and then one specific aspect or passage unique to that book is discussed. The work concludes with a threefold discussion: “Jesus, the Wisdom of God,” “The Theology of the Old Testament,” and “The Theology of Wisdom Today.” One is grateful to the authors for having an author, subject, and scripture index included in the work, all of which gives the reader an welcome pathway for referring to the discussion of detailed subjects.

Two thoughts appear in the “Introduction” that deserve special attention. First is the loss of wonder. It is the contention of the authors that our society and culture has moved to such a place that our sense of wonder been diminished. Further, that diminishing of wonder has somehow lessened our ability to appreciate the world around us as a source of wisdom – not just a source of information. Second, and closely related to wonder, is the loss of appreciation in the “vast and miraculous” (14) fact of our created reality. From the comfort and security mankind has in our modern abilities and facilities, to the increase of scientific pursuits and knowledge that catalogues and dissects every aspect of our world, we have lost something vital in the theology of wisdom that grows from a wonder of creation. If the wisdom literature does anything, it points us to a God that has revealed thru both general and special revelation the path of harmony in this life.

The chapters that present an overview of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes are excellent in presenting both information from a traditional standpoint and injecting information from more contemporary sources which makes for a balanced and informed commentary of these books. But, it is in the closer look at the unique aspects of these books that Bartholomew & O’Dowd distinguish their work. Following the chapter on Proverbs comes a chapter on “Women, Wisdom, and Valor” that focuses on chapter 31. Wisdom in this chapter is given by a woman on one hand (by the mother of King Lemuel, v.1-9), and exemplified by the public actions of the virtuous woman who is steeped in wisdom (v.10-31). The chapter “Where Can Wisdom Be Found?” is a discussion revolving around the ode to wisdom as recorded in Job 28. No matter how one views chapter 28 and its place in the narrative, this strophe provides rich ground for reflection upon man’s inability to find true wisdom without a recognition of God as Lord of all creation. The final selection of poetry considered is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – “For Everything There Is a Season” – which is one of the best known and most quoted passages from the book. The beauty of this passage points to the realization that God’s order in creation touches every aspect of a person’s life and activities. These side excursions add a depth to the overall theological discussions of the wisdom literature that is both enlightening and delightful.

Although the authors go into greater detail, it should be remembered that in ancient cultures wisdom was typically seen as being possessed by a god and dispersed to men by an intermediary – a wise man. Although seen by many as a sage or wise man, Jesus not only imparts the wisdom of God, he embodies the wisdom of God (Col. 2:2-3). As noted, the incarnation signals a dramatic shift in the biblical storyline. While the NT affirms the creation order espoused in the OT, the focus is turned to the mystery of God’s purpose as bound in the person of Jesus – the one who redeems creation. “In Christ, God himself has taken on the human role of redemption and blessing previously assigned to Israel and then given it back not just to Israel but also to all the nations and peoples of the world” (259).

Bartholomew & O’Dowd start with an overview of wisdom literature that provides a foundation for understanding and reading wisdom genre and its poetry, and then from that foundation a pointed discussion ensues regarding three prominent works from the Scriptures, and then finishes with an investigation of the deeper theological implications that can be gleaned from the genre for the Christian. An excellent resource for student and teacher alike, and a welcome addition to one’s theological library.

Quotes from the book:

“Genuine wisdom will be found only when we recover God’s design for his world” (16).

“Poetry thus restores the connections between the mind, the nature of being human and our place in nature, connections we badly need restored” (68).

“Everything in our culture tells us to build careers and economic security, but almost nothing tells us to build homes and to nurture a sense of being grounded in a particular place belonging to a particular people” (119).

“The mystery of suffering will always remain, but suffering as a vehicle used by God for transformation is a major clue to what God is doing in such experiences” (165).

“Ecclesiastes is a book of great pastoral relevance today when so many people struggle with the meaninglessness of life. Ecclesiastes affirms that struggle and vividly shows how tough it can be” (206).

“In the New Testament, wisdom and law still point the way to this whole and ordered life, as does the exalted Christ, who models for us the humility, endurance and obedience in death and victory in resurrection” (258).

“The problem, rather, is the human choice for folly rather than wisdom, that is, the problem is sin and positioning ourselves as God rather than worshiping God as creatures. In leading us again and again to that starting point of the fear of the LORD, wisdom offers us the way into a journey of transformative renewal …” (314).

Building on N.T. Wrights idea of the 5-Act play, Goheen and Bartholomew paint in broad brush the full scope of the biblical story (in six acts) in order to help us locate ourselves in the Biblical story. Helpful things here but relatively basic. Good for people who haven't read their bible yet.

Excellent - a first-class commentary

This is the first book I've read on a "theology of place." That is both a good and a bad thing. It is good in that it helped to coalesce many concepts that had been floating around in mind in new and helpful ways. It is a bad thing in that I have no real point of comparison to other "theologies of place," and therefore no real sense of scale other than my own enjoyment.

But I DID enjoy it. Bartholomew's surveys of the biblical text, philosophy, and theology are breath-taking in their sweep and command, though it seemed apparent to me that Bartholomew is most at home in the biblical text. There were also a few points where I felt his introductions of key thinkers were a bit too abbreviated...but, again, I was reading this as my introductory text; someone well-read in the "theology of place" would no doubt recognize many names and ideas that were mysterious to me.

I found this book valuable as an important piece of contextualization for many other current theological discussions. In particular, after reading Bartholomew, I would argue that the key "missing ingredient" in current Christian theology is NOT a "theology of creation-care," but this "theology of place." To say it plainly: if we can achieve a coherent "theology of place," the issues related to Christian responsibility for creation-care, urban life, political economy, globalization, digital culture, and about a half-dozen other "hot topics" would simply fall into place.

This is a tremendous book. But I will warn you that, in places, I found Bartholomew hard to follow. The overall structure of the book was clear, but sometimes he really got "into the weeds" on some theologian or philosophical idea.

Very interesting and easy to read. I will be returning to this to reference all of the historical aspects and to re-read on Reformational Philosophy. I was already slightly familiar with Reformed Epistemology b/c of Plantinga, but this book added much and encourage me to read even more. Great book.

Excellent resource for the person who wants to understand the bible, its overarching and basic redemptive historical structure as well as trace and understand the broad themes of the Bible like covenant, redemption, kingship, sin, dwelling, judgment, Jesus as fulfillment, community, the return of the king. Well written but not so detailed that you get bogged down. Great companion to read alongside the Bible.

In the preface of "The Drama of Scripture: Finding our Place in the Biblical Story," authors Bartholomew and Goheen, suggest that this book was birthed out of necessity. Frustrated for want of a good introductory text for a Biblical Theology course, this book was their attempt to fill a void. However, this should not deter either more advanced readers or lay readers from picking up this book.Leaning heavily upon N.T. Wright's five-act structure of the Scriptures, the authors suggest that the Scriptures contain the story of the world. With God as the director, humans find themselves caught up as actors or agents on the stage of the Great Drama in which God intends to showcase His glory. The authors commend this reading of the Scriptures but suggest a six-act model rather than Wright's five-act model. Focusing heavily upon a kingdom motif, the authors proceed to give a delightful account of the Biblical drama that is likely to interest and educate a wide range of Biblical students. Readers will find that reading Biblical theology substantially illuminates their understanding of systematic theology and their interpretation for nearly every single text. It is from within the Biblical Narrative that thousands of seemingly fragmented books, narratives, and verses find their meaning. As alluded to earlier, one of the greatest strengths of this book is the authors' skill in simultaneously describing both the proverbial forest and the trees. Readers are constantly 'zooming out' to grasp the Biblical story and then 'zooming in' to shed meaning on individual acts or actors. Its like studying the same object with both a microscope and telescope from the same lab. Only precise narrative craftsmanship can avoid the seemingly inevitable headache that would accompany such study. It is the authors' craftsmanship which makes this introductory Biblical theology so distinguishable.

Few Old Testament books are more puzzling than Job and Ecclesiastes. And few books are more frequently misunderstood and misapplied than Proverbs. The Wisdom literature of the Hebrews may be challenging for Western minds to grasp, but it is very rewarding. Craig Bartholomew and Ryan O'Dowd have helped the student of the Bible's Wisdom literature immensely with their new book "Old Testament Wisdom Literature: A Theological Introduction", from IVP Academic.

The authors aim to introduce the reader to Wisdom literature and the theology behind it. This is not just a commentary, although they do offer plenty of insights and comments along the way. Rather it is an introduction and orientation after which one will be more prepared to pick up a commentary an study the Wisdom books more closely.

After the author's preface and introduction, the book starts with an introduction to Old Testament Wisdom. They compare Egyptian and Babylonian wisdom writings with that of the Hebrews, showing the similarities and differences. The authors appreciate the insights such comparisons provide but make no apologies for the unique approach that the Bible presents. Rather than a pantheon of gods and contradictory wisdom writings, Israel is presented with the one true God, in whose fear is the only place where wisdom can be found.

Next the book gives a helpful treatment of poetry, it's role in life and the three OT books which are the focus of this work (Job, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs), as well as a discussion of the techniques of Hebrew poetry.

After these introductory chapters, each OT book is discussed as a whole followed by a more in-depth treatment of one special passage - Prov. 31, Job 28, and Eccl. 3:1-15. Next comes a discussion of Jesus as the Wisdom of God, where the New Testament's treatment of Wisdom and its portrayal of Jesus Christ as Wisdom incarnate.

The book ends with a discussion of the theology of OT Wisdom and then an application of how Wisdom is relevant for today.

My copy of this book is filled with dog-eared pages, scribbles and underlined sections. The authors have done a fabulous job of bringing the best research to bear and digging up the most appropriate quotes for each theme they address. They do a masterful job of discrediting the current criticism of OT Wisdom literature that Proverbs focuses strictly on act-consequence and Job and Ecclesiastes offer a counterpoint or crisis where such a simplistic view is shown to be untenable. Bartholomew and O'Dowd argue that Job and Ecclesiastes merely make what's implicit in Proverbs, explicit. The nuances and tension in Proverbs itself finds expression in Job and Ecclesiastes. The character of the righteous life is what is blessed in Proverbs, not righteous actions by themselves. And life on earth never realizes divine justice in full.

Proverbs in all its diversity is carefully handled, and I especially appreciated the emphasis on Lady Wisdom and how the Proverbs 31 woman may be understood as Wisdom personified, in a theological way.

The discussion of Job was most illuminating. The struggle and difficulty one has in trying to read through Job is part of the genius of the book, illustrating the perplexing situation Job found himself in. The diagrams in the chapter on Job are helpful, as most of the diagrams sprinkled throughout this work are. I also appreciated the discussion of Job 28 and it's key role in Job.

Ecclesiastes was similarly handled well. "The Preacher" (or Qohelet) is never expressly said to be Solomon, yet a comparison with Solomon is intended by the author/narrator of Ecclesiastes. The treatment of Ecclesiastes shows how the book traces the intellectual struggle of Qohelet as he struggles with employing Greek wisdom to his world yet knowing the truth that Hebrew wisdom had already taught him. Seeing Ecclesiastes as a struggle with many passages set in "contradictory juxtaposition" with one another, goes a long way in helping one make sense of the book as a whole.

I very much appreciated the discussion of Jesus as the Wisdom of God, it helps to situate OT Wisdom in the redemptive flow of Scripture. The authors resisted a simplistic equation of Jesus and Lady Wisdom, and take pains to show how the authors of the New Testament in their own unique ways appropriated the Wisdom tradition in their exposition of Jesus Christ and his uniquely Divine status and mission.

The final chapters summarizing OT Wisdom theology and it's impact today is an outstanding example of how to apply Scripture to life and not leave the heady study of doctrine and theology on a shelf away from life in the real world.

The tenor and tack of the authors is profoundly evangelical, yet appreciative of the insights gained from all sorts of scholars. One won't agree with all of the conclusions of this book, but the clarity and candor with which the authors present their own view is both commendable and refreshing.

Perhaps the point the authors drive home the most is that OT Wisdom literature is anything but dualistic. It is rooted in creation theology and offers us a way to live in God's world appreciating all of life. I will close with a summary quote which encapsulates the primary message of the OT Wisdom books.

"At the heart of the distinction between folly and wisdom is one's relation to the creation: does one receive it with joy and wonder as the Lord's gift, or does one make onself the center around which one relates to the world? The classic term for the latter approach is idolatry." (pg. 316)

I came away from my study of OT Wisdom literature reflecting on the hold idolatry may have in my life. A study of the OT Wisdom books may be just the thing to encourage us to live all of life to God's glory. Such a study would be greatly helped along by using this book from Bartholomew and O'Dowd as a text-book or study tool. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by InterVarsity Press for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Discussing the importance of metanarrative, the authors draw on N.T. Wright's 'five act play' analogy for the bible as a comprehensive story and walk the reader through each of those acts with the addition of an intertestamental interlude and a final act six. For those who need a good, thorough introduction to biblical theology utilizing the motif of the kingdom of God Bartholomew and Goheen's book is priceless. There are also corresponding web resources for those who wish to use the book as an undergrad course or adult bible study. This is a must have!½

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