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God BC

Nov 23, 2020 | 2019 - Summer, Book Reviews, Free Summer 2019

God BC

Author Anthony Phillips
Publisher Sacristy £9.99
Format pbk  (2nd edition)
ISBN 9781910519837

This is a refreshing book which opens up the Old Testament in an absorbing and original fashion. Phillips has revised his thesis, originally published in 1977, to show how God’s grace – a word absent in the OT – permeates the history of God’s people. His text has to be read theologically. Although it is founded on profound scholarship and knowledge, there are no footnotes or references. Phillips sometimes makes sweeping statements that cry out for justification. He alleges, for example, that there is no evidence for Israel’s presence in Egypt; and does not believe in the independent source of the Pentateuch known as E. But in contrast there are some beautifully wrought interpretations, especially on the 8th century prophets, Amos and Hosea. He is also fascinating on Ezekiel, whom he regards as the father of Judaism (rather than Ezra). But, in perspective, the scholarship lying beneath this book matters less than the driving force of the message: that God’s love for humanity is unrestrained, and visible throughout the Hebrew scriptures despite the violence of the age and the formalities of the law. God BC is a provocative but highly recommended read.

ALICE BURDETT

Old Testament Analysis

 

Who Needs the Old Testament?

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Winter, Book Reviews, Free Winter 2017

Who Needs the
Old Testament?

Author Katherine Dell
Publisher SPCK  £9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780281065042

This well-written book perfectly fills the territory between obscure, ‘over-academic’ scholarship and biblical ignorance, producing an inspiring introduction to the complexities of the Old Testament. Dell’s principal objective is to thwart the bias of the ‘New Atheists’ (Dawkins, Hitchens) who have used selected parts of the Old Testament to question the validity and ethical value of all scripture. While not afraid to address difficult passages, Dell also illuminates these and many other texts for those who need to understand their wider context and to preach them with confidence and integrity. She succeeds admirably in illustrating the diversity of biblical genres, wearing her own formidable scholarship lightly, and showing the relevance of the Hebrew Scriptures to the New Testament and modern Christianity. I strongly recommend this book to all who need a general but authoritative guide to the Old Testament.

PETER CLOUGH

Old Testament Analysis

 

Companion to the Old Testament

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Summer, Book Reviews, Free Summer 2017

Companion to
the Old Testament

Author Ed. Hywel Clifford
Publisher SCM Press £19.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780334053934

The aim of this admirably concise and focused ‘companion’ is to propose and put into practice ‘a fresh model for approaching the Old Testament… explicitly Christian’, but ‘…not written in a religiously or denominationally partisan manner.’ A chapter is devoted to each of the five divisions of the Old Testament – Pentateuch, History, Poetry & Wisdom, Prophets and the Apocrypha – each sub-divided into Introduction, Interpretation and Application summaries (which defines this ‘fresh model’). These summaries further sub-divide into insightful and accessible perspectives of Early, Reformation and Modern Christian thought and understanding. The Conclusion is one of most comprehensive listings of paper and virtual resources this reviewer has seen, covering thematic and theological subjects with thoughtful commentary on their strengths, weaknesses and denominational bases/biases.
In concert with Drane’s Introducing The Old Testament and the Alexander’s Lion Handbook to the Bible, you will have ‘a cord of three strands…’ (Ecc 4:12) to begin confidently navigating the pools, streams, rivers and seas of the Old Testament. Highly recommended.

ANDREW CARR

Old Testament Analysis

 

Lamentations and Ezekiel for Everyone

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Spring, Book Reviews, Free Spring 2017

Lamentations and Ezekiel for Everyone

Author John Goldingay
Publisher SPCK £9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780281061396

This pilgrimage of translation and commentary through the Old Testament has now reached Lamentations and Ezekiel. Some readers may suspect the pilgrim’s progress has reached the Slough of Despond, but John Goldingay has done his best to make these hard books accessible. As earlier in this series, there are some curious features of translation. Thus we have Young Man where NRSV has Mortal and KJV has Son of Man and the backsliders’ idols are unceremoniously condemned as Lumps. The need to produce just one book to cover such a complex pair as these has meant that the sections of commentary are necessarily briefer than one might like, so if you want to know about Ezekiel’s life or how he relates to other prophets look elsewhere and students of Lamentations would be better with the recent IVP commentary by Christopher Wright (see Autumn 2016 review p.33). So this book gives us Goldingay as a companion on our pilgrimage rather than our guide. I think we could cast him as Hopeful.

PETER THORNTON

Old Testament Analysis

 

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