Five Festal Garments

by Webb, Barry G.

• ISBN13: 9780830826100
• ISBN10: 0830826106
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Ivp Academic

Summary

These five Old Testament books, traditionally known simply as "the Scrolls," are among the most neglected parts of the Christian Bible. In Judaism, the Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther were eventually adopted as lectionary readings for five of the major festivals. In Christian tradition, however, no consensus has emerged about their proper use. Each book presents particular difficulties with regard to how it relates to the rest of Scripture and how it should be understood as the Word of God for us today.InFive Festal GarmentsBarry Webb offers a Christian interpretation of these problematic writings. He allows each book to set its own agenda, and then examines each in relation to the wider Old Testament and to the New Testament gospel with its basic structure of promise and fulfillment. In this way, Webb presents fresh and illuminating perspectives on these five "festal garments" of love, kindness, suffering, vexation and deliverance.

Author Biography

Barry G. Webb is Head of Old Testament at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia.

Table of Contents

Series preface	9	(11)
Author's preface	11	(1)
Abbreviations	12	(1)
Introduction	13	(4)
The Song of Songs: Garment of love	17	(20)
Ruth: Garment of kindness	37	(22)
Lamentations: Garment of suffering	59	(24)
Ecclesisastes: Garment of vexation	83	(28)
Esther: Garment of deliverance	111	(24)
Epilogue	135	(2)
Bibliography	137	(6)
Index of modern authors	143	(2)
Index of Scripture references	145	(6)
Index of ancient sources	151