Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology
Overview
Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology traces the many parallels between the Old Testament (and Bible as a whole) and the ancient Near East, including creation and flood narratives, common literary and legal forms, supposed acts of deities and the God of the Bible, and more. Instead of merely studying a random selection of parallels, however, Jeffrey Niehaus proposes that they represent "a shared theological structure of ideas in the ancient Near East, a structure that finds its most complete and true form in the Old and New Testaments." This comprehensive and enlightening resource promises to help students and discerning Bible readers to intellectually grasp and appreciate the overarching story of the Bible within its cultural development.
Top Highlights
“Two uses of the comparative method are possible in biblical studies: one may use it to classify biblical material into categories of myth and legend, or one may use it to understand pagan myths and legends according to biblical truth.” (Page 15)
“Babylon has been a major source for those who want to explore ancient parallels to the Old Testament. Two major parts of Genesis, the Creation account of Genesis 1:1–2:3 and the Flood account of Genesis 7–9, have parallel Babylonian poetical narratives: the Enuma Elish for the Creation, and the Gilgamesh Epic for the Flood.” (Page 21)
“In any case, the mere existence of a conceptual parallel (or even a set of conceptual parallels) between two documents does not necessarily indicate dependence of one upon the other.” (Page 25)
“First, a rebel and his whole household may be punished or even destroyed because of disobedience. Second, the deity may depart from the temple (and city) of the vassal. Divine temple abandonment is the most profound curse and can bring a host of others. Once God/the gods are gone, once his or their protective cover is removed, the former vassals are exposed to any foe the wrathful suzerain may choose to send against them, including beast, famine, and/or the sword.” (Page 32)
“It seems clear enough that gods in the ancient Near East, in effect, could give torah, divine instruction, for the people and that they gave this divine law or instruction to their intermediaries, the kings, for the proper rule of the people. Indications are that such torah was given as part of a covenantal understanding.” (Page 62)
- Title: Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology
- Author: Jeffrey J. Niehaus
- Publisher: Kregel
- Print Publication Date: 2008
- Logos Release Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible as literature; Bible › Extra-canonical parallels; Middle Eastern literature › Relation to the Old Testament; Middle Eastern literature › History and criticism; Bible › Theology
- ISBNs: 9780825433603, 0825433606
- Resource ID: LLS:WS_BDB88425546F4828B30594DB2866ADAC
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T04:21:29Z
