The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology
Overview
Trained in the theories and techniques of academic biblical scholarship, Dr. Scobie has created a magnum opus on biblical theology. Bridging the gap between Old and New Testament studies and between academia and the Christian community, Scobie offers a unified, scholarly, and relevant approach to Scripture that encompasses the entire sweep of divine revelation, making every effort to let the canonical text of the Bible speak for itself. He uses a four-fold pattern for connecting the two testaments into a comprehensive theology: proclamation/promise (Hebrew Bible) and fulfillment/consummation (New Testament). Within this pattern, he sees several biblical themes—God’s Order, God’s Servant, God’s People, and God’s Way. From his years of study and preaching, Scobie offers his own theological reflections on such subjects as holy war, the divinity of Christ, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and church councils.
Better together! Save more when you purchase The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology as part of the Biblical Theology Set (3 Vols.).
Top Highlights
“‘that seeks to do justice to all dimensions of reality to which the biblical texts testify’” (Page 32)
“‘Biblical theology’ thus ought to mean something like the ordered study of what the Bible has to say about God and his relation to the world and to humankind.” (Pages 4–5)
“The second possible meaning of ‘biblical theology’ is ‘the theology contained in the Bible, the theology of the Bible itself’ (Ebeling 1963: 79), and this definition is the one that is preferred by most scholars.” (Page 5)
“BT is not to be undertaken in independence from the life of the church, the community that recognizes the Bible as its canonical Scripture. What will be proposed here may be called an intermediate biblical theology, for it is seen as a bridge discipline, standing in an intermediate position between the historical study of the Bible and the use of the Bible as authoritative Scripture by the church (cf. Scobie 1991a: 49–52). BT accepts and builds on the historical study of Scripture, but it is not simply concerned with what the Bible ‘meant.’ It is also concerned with what the Bible ‘means’ as a canonical whole, and thus cannot be separated from the process of biblical interpretation.” (Page 8)
“In brief, it may be said that while apocalyptic eschatology looks for the end of history, prophetic eschatology anticipates a series of ends within history.” (Page 124)
In this bold and impressive book Charles Scobie has accomplished what many biblical scholars would regard as virtually impossible. Working with a framework of promise and fulfillment and taking a thematic approach, Scobie has produced a unified biblical theology—that is, a truly integrated theology of both Old and New Testaments. Encyclopedic in its coverage, fully conversant with scholarship, sensitive in its treatment of the issues, and evangelical in perspective, Scobie's brilliant synthesis brings the whole of the Bible back to the church. Here is a book that is not only informative but also edifying. A magnificent accomplishment!
—Donald A. Hagner, Fuller Theological Seminary
Charles Scobie offers a remarkably clear and nontechnical account of the theology of the Bible as a whole in its canonical form. It is comprehensive and orderly, more concerned to set out the teaching and implications of the text than to engage in critical investigations of what lies behind the text, and aiming to provide the church with a basis for the development of its own systematic theology. At a time when the compartmentalization of biblical and theological studies is being increasingly deprecated, it is good to have an author who is so knowledgeable in both the Old Testament and the New Testament and able to produce such an attractive synthesis of their teaching, demonstrating that they do indeed belong together as witnesses to God's ongoing revelation and redeeming work.
—I. Howard Marshall, University of Aberdeen
Breathtaking in its scope and audacious in its execution, Charles Scobie's book tackles with erudition and clarity a task that, for a couple of generations now, scholars have thought impossible. Scobie demonstrates convincingly that biblical theology can be done intelligently and can illuminate the life and practice of the Christian church.
—Peter Richardson, University of Toronto
- Title: The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology
- Author: Charles H. H. Scobie
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 2002
- Pages: 1,038
