Exploring the Old Testament Vol. 4 : A Guide to the Prophets

by McConville, J. Gordon

• ISBN13: 9780830825547
• ISBN10: 0830825541
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: Intervarsity Pr

Summary

The writings of the prophets of Israel make up over a quarter of the Old Testament. But perhaps no other portion of the Old Testament is more misunderstood today. "Prophecy" conjures up for many knotted enigmas, opaque oracles and terrifying visions of the future. Who were the Old Testament prophets? How were their sayings, sermons and oracles formed into books? For whom were these books composed? And what are the main themes of the prophets? To read and understand the prophets today, you need a guide. You must understand their historical context, their artful use of language and their place within the chorus of Old Testament voices.J. Gordon McConville's informed, illuminating and interactive introduction to the prophets is an ideal starting place, helping you become familiar with the text and context of the prophets and their contributions to Scripture. Each chapter focuses on a specific prophetic book, including Lamenations and Daniel. The consistent chapter format will aid you in your study, including sections on date and destination, issues in critical interpretation, structure and outline, theological themes, rhetorical intention, place or function of the book within the canon, and suggestions for further reading. Other helpful features are an informative introductory chapter on the prophets of Israel, a general bibliography on the study of the prophets, and a variety of chronologies and maps.Exploring the Old Testament, Volume 4: A Guide to the Prophets stands alongside the other volumes in this series Old and New Testament introductions as a critically informed and theologically sensitive guide to the prophets of Israel and the literary masterpieces that go by their names.

Author Biography

J. Gordon McConville teaches Old Testament at the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham, England. He is the author of several books and studies on Old Testament topics

Table of Contents

The dates of kings and prophets	viii
Key to panels	ix
Introduction	xi
Abbreviations	xxxi
List of maps	xxxii
Isaiah	1	(44)
Date and Destination	1	(2)
Critical Interpretation of Isaiah	3	(9)
Identifying Isaiah of Jerusalem	3	(1)
The message of Isaiah of Jerusalem	4	(3)
The composition of Isaiah 1---39	7	(3)
Isaiah 1---39 and 40---66	10	(1)
Reading Isaiah as a unity	11	(1)
Structure and Outline	12	(20)
Structure	12	(1)
Outline	12	(20)
Theological Themes	32	(6)
The story behind the book	32	(2)
Zion, city of God	34	(1)
King and Messiah	35	(1)
The Servant and the nations	36	(1)
Trust in God	37	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	38	(2)
Isaiah in the Canon	40	(2)
Further Reading	42	(3)
Jeremiah	45	(30)
Date and Destination	45	(2)
Critical Interpretation of Jeremiah	47	(4)
Prophecy as poetry?	47	(1)
`Deuteronomistic' sermons?	48	(1)
A deuteronomistic edition?	48	(1)
Is Jeremiah from Jeremiah?	49	(2)
Structure and Outline	51	(12)
Structure	51	(1)
Outline	52	(11)
Theological Themes	63	(5)
Sin as falseness	63	(1)
Judgement and salvation	64	(1)
The New Covenant	65	(2)
The individual	67	(1)
The Messiah	68	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	68	(2)
Jeremiah in the Canon	70	(2)
Further Reading	72	(3)
Lamentations	75	(8)
Date and Destination	75	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Lamentations	75	(1)
Structure and Outline	76	(2)
Structure	76	(1)
Outline	76	(2)
Theological Themes	78	(2)
Covenant curse and confession of sin	78	(1)
Lamentation and bitter suffering	79	(1)
`The steadfast love of the LORD'	79	(1)
Waiting for God	79	(1)
A comforter	80	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	80	(1)
Lamentations in the Canon	81	(1)
Further Reading	81	(2)
Ezekiel	83	(26)
Date and Destination	83	(2)
Place	83	(1)
Time	83	(1)
To whom is he speaking?	84	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Ezekiel	85	(1)
Structure and Outline	86	(12)
Structure	86	(1)
Outline	87	(11)
Theological Themes	98	(5)
Sovereignty of God and human responsibility	98	(1)
The presence of God	99	(1)
Sin, judgement, purification	100	(1)
Salvation: a radically new beginning; Zion and Eden	101	(1)
Political/formal and spiritual religion: Ezekiel as prophet and priest	102	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	103	(2)
Ezekiel in the Canon	105	(1)
Further Reading	106	(3)
Daniel	109	(26)
Date and Destination	109	(2)
Critical Interpretation of Daniel	111	(2)
Genre	112	(1)
Unity	113	(1)
Structure and Outline	113	(12)
Structure	113	(2)
Outline	115	(10)
Theological Themes	125	(3)
The kingdom of God	125	(1)
Divine and human rule	126	(1)
Messiah	127	(1)
God's faithfulness, human faithfulness	127	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	128	(2)
Daniel in the Canon	130	(1)
Further Reading	131	(2)
The Book of the Twelve	133	(1)
Further Reading	134	(1)
Hosea	135	(18)
Date and Destination	135	(2)
Religion in Hosea's time	137	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Hosea	137	(2)
Structure and Outline	139	(5)
Structure	139	(1)
Outline	139	(5)
Theological Themes	144	(3)
`No other gods'	144	(1)
Faithfulness and steadfast love	144	(2)
Judgement and love: God's dilemma	146	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	147	(2)
Hosea in the Canon	149	(1)
Further Reading	150	(3)
Joel	153	(10)
Date and Destination	153	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Joel	154	(1)
Structure and Outline	155	(2)
Structure	155	(1)
Outline	155	(2)
Theological Themes	157	(2)
All-powerful God	157	(1)
The `Day of the LORD'	158	(1)
Repentance	158	(1)
Nature and history	158	(1)
The spirit	158	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	159	(1)
Joel in the Canon	160	(1)
Further Reading	161	(2)
Amos	163	(16)
Date and Destination	163	(2)
Critical Interpretation of Amos	165	(1)
Structure and Outline	166	(6)
Structure	166	(1)
Outline	166	(6)
Theological Themes	172	(2)
Justice and righteousness, and the `good' of God's people	172	(1)
Justice and creation	173	(1)
The universal God and the election of Israel	173	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	174	(2)
Rhetorical devices	174	(1)
Rhetorical levels	175	(1)
Amos in the Canon	176	(1)
Further Reading	177	(2)
Obadiah	179	(6)
Date and Destination	179	(1)
Subject matter	179	(1)
Vocabulary and ideas	179	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Obadiah	180	(1)
Structure and Outline	180	(1)
Structure	180	(1)
Outline	180	(1)
Theological Themes	181	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	182	(1)
Obadiah in the Canon	182	(1)
Further Reading	183	(2)
Jonah	185	(10)
Date and Destination	185	(1)
Dating and genre	185	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Jonah	186	(1)
Structure and Outline	187	(2)
Structure	187	(1)
Outline	187	(2)
Theological Themes	189	(3)
Working out the sovereignty of God	189	(1)
Worship and thanksgiving	189	(1)
Retribution?	190	(1)
God's forgiveness extended to all?	190	(1)
Can God `repent'?	190	(1)
`God' and `Yahweh'	191	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	192	(1)
Jonah in the Canon	192	(2)
Further Reading	194	(1)
Micah	195	(10)
Date and Destination	195	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Micah	195	(2)
Structure and Outline	197	(4)
Structure	197	(1)
Outline	197	(4)
Theological Themes	201	(1)
Judgement and salvation	201	(1)
Exodus and covenant traditions	201	(1)
Prophetic ethics	202	(1)
The nations	202	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	202	(1)
Micah in the Canon	203	(1)
Further Reading	204	(1)
Nahum	205	(6)
Date and Destination	205	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Nahum	206	(1)
Structure and Outline	206	(1)
Structure	206	(1)
Outline	206	(1)
Theological Themes	207	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	208	(1)
Nahum in the Canon	208	(1)
Further Reading	209	(2)
Habakkuk	211	(8)
Date and Destination	211	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Habakkuk	212	(1)
Structure and Outline	213	(2)
Structure	213	(1)
Outline	213	(2)
Theological Themes	215	(2)
How can a just God tolerate evil?	215	(1)
The righteous shall live by (whose?) faithfulness	216	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	217	(1)
Habakkuk in the Canon	217	(1)
Further Reading	217	(2)
Zephaniah	219	(10)
Date and Destination	219	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Zephaniah	220	(2)
Zephaniah a `drama'?	221	(1)
Zephaniah a `cult prophet'?	222	(1)
Structure and Outline	222	(2)
Structure	222	(1)
Outline	222	(2)
Theological Themes	224	(2)
God's election of Israel, and his kingship in the world	224	(1)
More on election: A `remnant'	225	(1)
Religion and ethics	225	(1)
The day of the LORD: Judgement and salvation	226	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	226	(1)
Zephaniah in the Canon	227	(1)
Further Reading	227	(2)
Haggai	229	(10)
Date and Destination	229	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Haggai	230	(1)
Structure and Outline	231	(3)
Structure	232	(1)
Outline	232	(2)
Theological Themes	234	(2)
The temple	234	(1)
Future help	235	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	236	(1)
Haggai in the Canon	236	(1)
Further Reading	237	(2)
Zechariah	239	(20)
Date and Destination	239	(4)
Zechariah 1---8	239	(2)
Zechariah 9---14	241	(2)
Critical Interpretation of Zechariah	243	(1)
Zechariah 1---8	243	(1)
Zechariah 1---8 and 9---14	244	(1)
Structure and Outline	244	(7)
Structure	244	(1)
Outline	245	(6)
Theological Themes	251	(2)
Between salvation and salvation	251	(2)
Messiah	253	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	253	(1)
Zechariah in the Canon	254	(2)
Further Reading	256	(3)
Malachi	259	(12)
Date and Destination	259	(1)
Critical Interpretation of Malachi	260	(1)
Structure and Outline	260	(5)
Structure	260	(1)
Outline	260	(5)
Theological Themes	265	(2)
Covenant with Yahweh	265	(1)
Particular covenants	266	(1)
Form and spirit in worship	266	(1)
Eschatology	266	(1)
Rhetorical Intention	267	(1)
Malachi in the Canon	268	(1)
Further Reading	269	(2)
Index	271