The philosophical worldview of authors inevitably shapes the work they create. Never is this more true than in the field of biblical theology where unexposed assumptions impact the way scholars read, analyze, and expound the biblical text.
This excellent introduction sets out to make the implicit explicit, exploring the impact of philosophical thought on Old Testament theology’s most influential thinkers. Providing an overview of the discipline’s development, Professor Hanes traces the intellectual and social currents that shaped Old Testament theology from early church history to today. Hanes carefully and systematically uncovers the underlying presuppositions that impacted the methodology of key theologians and the conclusions they ultimately drew. This is an important resource for anyone desiring to grow in their understanding of philosophy, theology, and the intersections between the two.
Dr Hanes’s new work is a remarkably useful tool for students of biblical studies and theology. It provides a helpful and thorough survey of the main currents in the field helping to understand the context and contributions of Old Testament theologians and scholars. His work will prove useful to a generation of those serious about the use of Scripture in their academic work.
—Trey Dimsdale, JD, MDiv, Director of Program Outreach, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
I strongly recommend Professor Hanes’s book An Introduction to the Theology of the Hebrew Bible to theological professionals to improve their reading and understanding of Hebrew biblical text, as well as to theological students to learn both to work critically with the biblical text and to approach available biblical interpretative literature with overview and criticism.
—Sidonia Horňanová, PhD, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Evangelical Lutheran Theological Faculty, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia