Biblical Theology: A Proposal
Overview
Brevard S. Childs has played a unique role in biblical studies with his strong emphasis on the role of canon for defining both the processes and final form of the biblical witness. This volume briefly addresses some of the approaches to biblical theology undertaken throughout history, along with their strengths and weaknesses. Childs also deals with the shape of the Hebrew and Greek canon, the theological questions raised by having a canon, the issues relating to two testaments in the Christian Bible, and the proper subject matter of a biblical theology. In coming to his own proposal, Childs emphasizes several key points: Israel’s role in receiving God’s will, the repeated reshaping of Israel’s traditions throughout history, the theological functions of great revelatory events in Israel’s history, the New Testament’s witness to God’s redemptive work in Jesus, and the continuities and discontinuities between the two testaments. Every student of the Bible will want to actively engage Childs’s proposal.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Discusses a variety of theological questions related to canonization
- Proposes several points in relation to canon and theological function
- Provides a brief overview of approaches to biblical theology throughout history
- The History of Biblical Theology As a Discipline
- The Problem of the Christian Bible
- A Canonical Approach to Biblical Theology
- From Witness to Subject Matter
- Canonical Categories for Structuring a Biblical Theology
Top Highlights
“It has long been recognized that the term ‘Biblical Theology’ is ambiguous. It can either denote a theology contained within the Bible or a theology that accords with the Bible (Ebeling 1963:79). The first definition understands the task of Biblical Theology to be a descriptive, historical one that seeks to determine what was the theology of the biblical authors themselves. The second understands the task of Biblical Theology to be a constructive, theological one that attempts to formulate a modern theology compatible in some sense with the Bible.” (Page 1)
“To summarize: the evidence is very strong that at least within the circles of rabbinic Judaism a concept of an established Hebrew canon with a relatively fixed scope of writings and an increasingly stabilized authoritative text had emerged by the first century b.c.e.” (Page 23)
“There is general agreement that Biblical Theology as a discrete discipline within the field of biblical studies is a post-Reformation development. Although the Bible was much studied earlier, it is argued that during the period of the early and medieval church the Bible functioned within a dogmatic ecclesiastical framework in a subservient role in order to support various traditional theological systems.” (Page 2)
“Biblical Theology has as its proper context the canonical scriptures of the Christian church, not because only this literature influenced its history, but because of the peculiar reception of this corpus by a community of faith and practice.” (Page 11)
“Biblical Theology is by definition theological reflection on both the Old and New Testament. It assumes that the Christian Bible consists of a theological unity formed by the canonical union of the two testaments. But what is exactly meant by ‘the Christian Bible’” (Page 13)
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M. David Johnson
3/27/2015
Curtis Dubreuil
10/28/2014
