Everlasting Dominion A Theology of the Old Testament

by Merrill, Eugene H.

• ISBN13: 9780805440263
• ISBN10: 0805440267
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-01
• Publisher: B&H

Summary

Taking a high view of Scripture as the inspired, authoritative Word of God, esteemed seminary professor Merrill offers this thoroughly in-depth theology of the Old Testament after decades of study.

Author Biography

Dr. Eugene Merrill is distinguished professor of Old Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and distinguished professor of Old Testament interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. With degrees from Bob Jones University (Old Testament studies), New York University (Jewish studies), and Columbia University (Middle Eastern studies), Merrill is considered among the most outstanding Old Testament scholars in the United States today.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Acknowledgments	xvii
CHAPTER ONE Introduction: The Origins, Nature, and Present State of Old Testament Theology	1	(34)
History of the Biblical Theology Movement
Defense of a New Biblical Theology
Statement of Presuppositions
Theological Method
PART ONE God: His Person and Work	35	(128)
CHAPTER TWO The Autobiography of God	37	(38)
The Setting of the Narrative
The Nature of God
The Sovereignty of God
The Omnipotence of God
The Omniscience of God
The Eternality of God
The Character of God
The Holiness of God
The Righteousness of God
The Justice of God
The Love of God
The Pity of God
The Grace of God
The Compassion of God
The Covenant Fidelity of God
The Dependability of God
The Patience of God
The Anger/Wrath of God
The Forgiveness of God
CHAPTER THREE The Revelation of God	75	(26)
Revelation by Word
Revelation by Visions and Dreams
Revelation through the Angel of Yahweh
Revelation through the Divine Names
Revelation through the Prophets
Revelation through Signs
Revelation through Lots
CHAPTER FOUR The Works of God	101	(26)
Creation
Judgment
Salvation and Deliverance
Redemption
CHAPTER FIVE The Purposes of God	127	(36)
Israel and the Purposes of God
The Reigning of God
Creation and Divine Sovereignty
History and Divine Sovereignty
The Territory of Divine Sovereignty
The Hierarchy of Divine Sovereignty
God's Fellowship with Mankind
Fellowship as a Creation Motif
Fellowship in the Wake of the Fall
Fellowship through Human Government
Fellowship through a Chosen People
PART TWO Mankind: The Image of God	163	(112)
CHAPTER SIX The Creation of Mankind	165	(34)
The Creation and Purpose of Mankind
The Creation Narratives
The Image of God
The Fashioning of Man
The Nature of Mankind
The Theology of the Individual
The Theology of the Community
The Theology of the Clan
The Theology of the Tribe
The Theology of the Nations
The Theology of Mankind
CHAPTER SEVEN The Fall of Mankind	199	(28)
The Narrative of the Fall
The Possibility of a Fall
The Result of the Fall
The Identity of the Tempter
Death and the Hereafter
The Fall and Human Sinfulness
The Alienation of Sin
The Technical Terms for Sin
Sin and Competing Dominions
CHAPTER EIGHT The Redemption of Mankind	227	(24)
The Principle and Practice of Sacrifice
The Material of Sacrifice
Covenant and Redemption
The Protevangelium
Conclusion
CHAPTER NINE The Creation of a Nation	251	(24)
The Promise of a Special People
The Founding of the Nation
The Deliverance of the Nation
The Significance of the Plagues
The Covenant at Sinai
PART THREE The Kingdom of God	275	(214)
CHAPTER TEN God and the World	277	(48)
The Concept of the Kingdom
The Concept of Sacred Space
The Garden of Eden
Eviction from Sacred Space
Eschatological Renewal of Sacred Space
Altars and Shrines as Sacred Space
The Temple as Sacred Space
The Mediation of the Kingdom
The Concept of Covenant
Resistance to the Kingdom by the Nations
The Kingdom of the World
The Prophets of the Nations
Amos
Isaiah
Nahum
Jeremiah
Zephaniah
Ezekiel
Daniel
Reinstitution of the Kingdom
The Psalms of Yahweh's Kingship
The Royal Psalms
Conclusion
CHAPTER ELEVEN God and Israel	325	(58)
The Mosaic Covenant
The Ten Commandments
The First Commandment
The Second Commandment
The Third Commandment
The Fourth Commandment
The Fifth Commandment
The Sixth Commandment
The Seventh Commandment
The Eighth Commandment
The Ninth Commandment
The Tenth Commandment
The Book of the Covenant
The Altar Law
Other Laws
The Covenant Ceremony
Israel as a Cultic Community
Sacred Space
Sacred Persons
Sacred Times
The Sabbath
The Passover and Unleavened Bread
The Festival of Harvest
The Festival of Ingathering
The Festival of Trumpets
The Day of Atonement
The Sabbatical and Jubilee Years
Sacred Acts
Ritual and Liturgy
Liturgy and Holiness
The Categories of Sacrifice
Miscellaneous Sacred Acts
CHAPTER TWELVE Deuteronomy and Covenant Renewal	383	(30)
The Pre-Deuteronomic History
Deuteronomy as a Covenant Text
The Background of Its Stipulations
The Deuteronomic Decalogue
General Covenant Stipulations
Specific Covenant Stipulations
Implementation of the Covenant
CHAPTER THIRTEEN The Deuteronomistic History	413	(52)
The Book of Joshua
Preparations for Conquest
Holy War
Covenant Renewal in the Land of Promise
The Books of Judges and Ruth
The Character of the Times
Yearnings for a King
Anticipation of Monarchy
The Books of First and Second Samuel
The Prophet Samuel: Preparation for Monarchy
Saul: Failed Monarchy
David: The Realization of True Monarchy
The Davidic Covenant
The Books of Kings
The Succession of Solomon
The Establishment of the Temple
The Dedication of the Temple
Royal Priesthood
The Temple and Sacred Space
Elijah and Elisha: Prophetic Confrontation
Jeopardy of the Kingdom Ideal
CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Books of Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Esther	465	(24)
The Books of Chronicles
Genealogies and Tribal Histories
The Reign of David
The Reign of Solomon
The Nature and Purpose of Sacred History
The Divided Monarchy
The Book of Ezra-Nehemiah
The Book of Esther
PART FOUR The Prophets and the Kingdom	489	(78)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Theology of the Eighth-Century Canonical Prophets	491	(30)
The Prophet Amos
The Prophet Hosea
The Prophet Jonah
The Prophet Isaiah
The Rebellion of Judah
The Judgment of Judah
The Restoration of Judah
The Messianic Servant and Savior
Oracles against the Nations
The Establishment of God's Kingdom
The Prophet Micah
CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Theology of the Later Preexilic and Exilic Prophets	521	(26)
The Prophet Jeremiah
Judah's Covenant Unfaithfulness
The Judgment of Judah
The Judgment of the Nations Restoration and Deliverance
The Prophet Nahum
The Prophet Habakkuk
The Prophet Zephaniah
The Prophet Ezekiel
The Disobedience of Israel
Judgment on the Nations
The Restoration of Israel
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The Theology of the Postexilic Prophets	547	(20)
The Prophet Daniel
The Contest for Sovereignty
The Kingdoms of the World
The Kingdom of Heaven
God as Sovereign
The Prophet Joel
The Prophet Obadiah
The Prophet Haggai
The Prophet Zechariah
The Disobedience of Israel
The Judgment of Israel
The Restoration of Israel
The Judgment of the Nations
The Salvation of the Nations
The Coming Messiah
The Sovereignty of Yahweh
The Prophet Malachi
PART FIVE Human Reflection on the Ways of God	567	(86)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The Theology of the Psalms	569	(34)
God as King
Mankind as God's Viceroy
The Messianic King
The Kingdom Role of Zion
Life in the Kingdom
Difficulties in Kingdom Life
Hostility to the Kingdom
Yahweh's Faithfulness to the Kingdom
CHAPTER NINETEEN The Theology of the Wisdom Literature	603	(38)
Introductory Observations
The Theology of the Book of Job
The Problem of the Human Predicament
God and the Human Predicament
The Resolution of the Human Predicament
The Theology of Proverbs
The Essence of Wisdom
The Expression of Wisdom
The Function of Wisdom
The Manifestations of Wisdom
Accessibility to Wisdom
The Theology of Ecclesiastes
The Theology of the Book of the Song of Songs
CHAPTER TWENTY Conclusion	641	(12)
Theological Premises
Theological Method
The Theological Center
The Old Testament and the New Testament
Name Index	653	(4)
Subject Index	657	(8)
Scripture Index	665