Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching Song of Songs
Overview
In this volume, Robert Jenson offers a systematic theologian's careful reading of the Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon. Jenson focuses on the overt sense of the book as an erotic love poem in order to discover how this evocative poetry solicits a theological reading. Jenson finds a story of human love for God in this complex poetic book and offers a commentary that elucidates and inspires.
- Detailed introduction
- Bibliography
Top Highlights
“Just the other way around, it means that human lovers’ relations to each other are recognizable in their true eroticism only by noting their analogy to an eroticism that is God’s alone. Just as in general our faulty righteousness can nonetheless be anticipation of our eschatological sharing in God’s own righteousness, only so to be righteousness at all, so our frail eroticism can be an anticipation of final sharing in the fulfillment of God’s and his people’s desire for one another.” (Page 14)
“Two contemporary commentators of otherwise antithetical views have pointed out a phenomenon insufficiently noted in modern scholarship: the Song is constructed from the language and imagery of the rest of the Old Testament in a fashion unique among the biblical books (LaCocque; Davis).” (Page 3)
“But in the Song’s allegory—and indeed in the Scriptures generally—it is not so much God who is fascinating and terrible for us, as we who are fascinating and terrible for God. God is fascinated by what is not God: he calls it into being and thereafter will not leave it alone. And he is overwhelmed in his fascination, even unto death on a cross.” (Page 67)
“St. Augustine: as the famous line from his Confessions has it, ‘You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” (Page 16)
“whenever in the Song the lovers step outdoors or imagine themselves there, they enter an Eden” (Page 34)
The Interpretation series from Westminster John Knox Press is clearly established as a rich source for teaching and preaching. They have tapped the talents of a varied and esteemed group of contributors, resulting in what is clearly the essential comprehensive commentary series on the Bible.
—W. Eugene March, A.B. Rhodes Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
The Interpretation series is an invaluable resource for any leader or scholar interested in interpreting the biblical text to the broader church. Its works are essential for pastors, educators, and church libraries.
—Brian K. Blount, President and Professor of New Testament at Union Theological Seminary
- Title: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching Song of Songs
- Author: Robert W. Jenson
- Publisher: John Knox Press
- Publication Date: 2005
- Pages: 128