Joel (The International Theological Commentary | ITC)

by Christopher R. Seitz

Publisher:

Bloomsbury

, 2016

Overview

The book of Joel is held to be one of the latest prophetic witnesses; it cites other books of the book of the Twelve prophets with a density that distinguishes it from its neighbours. The concept of the "Day of the LORD" which runs throughout the Minor Prophets as a whole reaches its zenith in Joel and its co-mingling of ecological and military metaphors advances Hosea on the former and anticipates later texts on the latter.

In this volume within T&T Clark’s International Theological Commentary Series Christopher Seitz starts from a foundation of historical-critical methodology to provide an account of Joel's place and purpose within the book of the Twelve prophets as a whole. Seitz examines the theology and background of Joel, and shows how Joel's theological function can provide a major hermeneutical key to the interpretation of the wider collection, and teases out the precise character of that role.

The T&T Clark International Theological Commentary (ITC) offers a verse by verse interpretation of the Bible that addresses its theological subject matter, gleaning the best from both the classical and modern commentary traditions and showing the doctrinal development of Scriptural truths. A companion series to the long-running International Critical Commentary Series (ICC) (61 vols.) the ITC bears all the same hallmarks of scholarly rigour and excellence. The two series will be published alongside each other with the ITC's focus being on the theological significance of biblical texts.

Key Features

• Moves from empirical historical-critical exegesis to reading Joel as a theological document for the church
• Establishes the theological message of the book in Joel’s time and then interprets it with the theological traditions of the historical church
• Unpacks the hermeneutical implications of relating Joel to the rest of “The Twelve” and how to read the prophets in light of one another

Contents

• Joel as a Prophet Among Prophets: The Challenge
• A Canonical Reading of Joel and the History of Interpretation
• Joel and Prior Prophecy
• The Unity of the Book of Joel and Modern Research
• Intertextuality: Joel’s Character as Prophet
• Who is Joel?
• The Message and Purpose of the Book of Joel
• The Day of the Lord in the Book of Joel
• The Living God of Joel in the Lived Life of the Church

Praise for the Print Edition

This careful and well-balanced commentary by Christopher Seitz on Joel is an excellent start to the new ITC series, the companion series to the famous ICC. While numerous scholars today tend to read Joel in relation to the other books of the Twelve, Seitz vehemently demonstrates why Joel should be considered as an integral book in its own right. Seitz illuminates the nuance and quantity of intertextual references in the book. This is a very impressive work which highlight the multiple facets of the book of Joel.

—Jörg Jeremias, emeritus professor of Old Testament, University of Marbury

Finally, a commentary series that places theology at the centre of academic interpretation. With his proven expertise, Christopher Seitz—am internationally renowned scholar in the tradition of Brevard S. Childs—is exactly the right person to begin this new series. His reading of Joel is done with good knowledge of both the power and limits of biblical criticism. Seitz revives the prophet Joel’s forgotten theological impact. An excellent piece of work, his interpretation brings to light once more the treasures of the Christian tradition of exegesis with impressive knowledge, which is greatly enhanced by his own theological observations.

—Hermann Spieckermann, chair of Old Testament, University of Göttingen

Product Details

• Title: Joel
• Author: Christopher R. Seitz
• Series: The International Theological Commentary on the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Pages: 256
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. O.T. Joel › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780567570734, 9780567667755, 9780567667779, 0567570738, 0567667758, 0567667774
• Resource ID: LLS:ITC29JOE
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-05T17:16:58Z

About Christopher R. Seitz

Christopher R. Seitz is an ordained Episcopal Priest and has served parishes in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Germany and Scotland. He is also the President of the Anglican Communion Institute and has been involved in recent work on behalf of Communion life. He is the editor of Studies in Theological Interpretation and is on the Advisory Board of the Scripture and Hermeneutics Consultation. He has supervised numerous PhD students and has published over a dozen books on the interpretation of Old and New Testaments, and in the area of theological hermeneutics. He will serve as Sunday evening preacher at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Riverdale area of Toronto.