A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament

by Birch, Bruce C.

• ISBN13: 9780687013487
• ISBN10: 0687013488
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-11-01
• Publisher: Abingdon Pr

Table of Contents

PREFACE	11	(4)
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS	15	(2)
CHAPTER 1 The Old Testament as Theological Witness Key topics: Approaches to OT theology; canon and scripture; authority; text and context (ancient and modern)	17	(18)
CHAPTER 2 The Created Order and the Re-creation of Broken Order	35	(32)
Key topics: Creation and Creator; the human role; broken creation; primeval history
Key texts: Genesis 1-11
CHAPTER 3 Promises Made, Threatened, and Fulfilled	67	(32)
Key topics: The promise to the ancestors; the Joseph story
Key texts: Genesis 12-50
CHAPTER 4 Bondage, Exodus, Wilderness	99	(32)
Key topics: Bondage in Egypt; the Exodus God; the role of Moses; liberation/salvation/deliverance; the wilderness
Key texts: Exodus 1-18, selected psalms
CHAPTER 5 The Structures of Covenant Life	131	(44)
Key topics: The theophany at Sinai; covenant--nature and structures; decalogue/law; sacrifice and holiness
Key texts: Exodus 19-40, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
CHAPTER 6 "The People of the Land"	175	(40)
Key topics: Conflict with previous inhabitants; holy war; the role of the land; settlement and tribal league
Key texts: Joshua, Judges
CHAPTER 7 The Rise of the Monarchy	215	(38)
Key topics: Rise of kingship; emerging nation and new roles of leadership; pivotal role of David; Solomonic rule; temple worship with psalms
Key texts: 1-2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11, selected psalms
CHAPTER 8 Kings and Prophets in the Divided Kingdom	253	(30)
Key topics: Division of the kingdom; nationhood among the empires; conflict with the Baalists; Elijah and Elisha; nature of early prophecy; temple worship and the psalms
Key texts: 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 13, selected psalms
CHAPTER 9 Prophecy and Reform: From Jeroboam to Josiah	283	(36)
Key topics: The nature of classical prophecy; the eighth-century prophets and their context; Deuteronomic Reform
Key texts: 2 Kings 14-25, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah 1-39, Deuteronomy, Zephaniah
CHAPTER 10 Collapse/Exile/Hope	319	(54)
Key topics: Jeremiah and the national crisis; destruction and exile; exile as historical and theological crisis; the image of Babylon; lament; hope in the midst of exile
Key texts: Jeremiah, Lamentations, Nahum, Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Isaiah 40-55
CHAPTER 11 Wisdom, Order, Protest	373	(44)
Key topics: Wisdom theology
Key texts: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, selected psalms
CHAPTER 12 New Life, Renewed Community, New Crises	417	(32)
Key topics: Return, the rebuilding of the temple, and the reconstitution of the community; torah and temple; identity and conflict in the community and among the nations; crisis and apocalyptic; the final shape of the Psalter
Key texts: 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, remaining minor prophets, Isaiah 56-66, Song of Songs, Daniel, Ruth, Esther, selected psalms
SCRIPTURE INDEX	449	(14)
TOPICAL INDEX	463