Old Testament Today: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance, 2nd ed.

by Andrew E. Hill; John H. Walton

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2014

Overview

This proven Old Testament text with a wealth of full-color images helps readers connect the world of Old Testament with today's world. Old Testament Today, 2nd Edition: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance is unique among Old Testament surveys. This newly revised edition is organized by book, includes a new structure that more clearly describes the content and introduces each book.

Key Features

Old Testament Today, 2nd Edition: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance not only provides an orientation to the world of the Old Testament but also builds a bridge between the original audience and modern readers, demonstrating why the ancient message is important for faith and life today. It goes beyond basic content to help students understand what the Scriptures mean and how to apply them personally.

The image-rich full-color design gives Old Testament Today, 2nd ed. a strong visual appeal. A wide array of charts, sidebars, illustrations, photos, and supplemental materials complement the body of the text, helping students to easily comprehend the literature, theology, and history of the Old Testament. Taking readers progressively through the Old Testament, this text:

• presents the details of the content, focusing on the story line, historical background, and literary information that address the original setting and audience
• focuses on theology perspectives and on issues of the author's purpose and the universal message of the text, building a bridge between the original audience and today's audience
• develops an understanding of the relevance of the Old Testament writings to today's Christian, showing how they can be applied in personal faith and practice

Table of Contents

• 1. Orientation Fundamentals
• 2. The Pentateuch
• 3. Old Testament Narrative
• 4. Prophets and Prophetic Literature
• 5. Wisdom and Psalms
• 6. Epilogue
• Appendix
• Glossary

Top Highlights

“For the Old Testament, the most important big picture is not a historical one; it is a theological one. The big picture is God, not history. The story line will trace the content; the plotline will trace the message. In the end, it offers us a worldview—an understanding of God and ourselves. A story line is made up of an array of facts; a plotline is made up of an array of convictions. The objective of the story line is to let the reader know what happened; the objective of the plotline is to persuade the reader what to believe.” (Page 12)

“In the end, the confidence we have derives from Christ. The Old Testament was the Bible to him—his basis for teaching who God is, what he is like, and what he did. If we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, his testimony seals our acceptance of the Old Testament as revealed Scripture.” (Pages 8–9)

“From a theological perspective, the larger picture is God. Individuals fade into the background as we see the Old Testament not as a compilation of stories about Abraham or David or Esther but as a single story about God. If we bring David too much into focus, the picture of God may blur.” (Page 11)

“On the human level, we would have to say that the biblical stories offer more plot emphasis than character development. Biblical stories infrequently explore the motives and attitudes of characters. But the belief that the Bible is God’s revelation of himself places the biblical story in a different category than either novel or historical writing.” (Page 32)

“So, for instance, the discussion of origins is not about science, it is about God. The presentation of history is not concerned with facts or events in themselves; it is concerned with God’s role. And perhaps most important, rather than simply being thoughts and opinions about God, the Old Testament is God’s presentation of himself: his self-revelation.” (Page 3)

Product Details

• Title: Old Testament Today, 2nd Edition: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance
• Authors: John H. Walton; Andrew E. Hill
• Edition: 2nd
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 480
• Resource Type: Introductions
• Topic: Biblical Studies, Old Testament

About the Authors

John H. Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament; Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context; Covenant: God’s Purpose, God’s Plan; The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament; and A Survey of the Old Testament.

Andrew E. Hill (PhD, University of Michigan) is professor of Old Testament studies at Wheaton College in Illinois. He is the coauthor with John Walton of A Survey of the Old Testament and the author of Malachi in the Anchor Bible commentary series. His articles have appeared in such scholarly publications as Hebrew Annual Review, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Vetus Testamentum.