Unceasing Kindness: A Biblical Theology of Ruth (New Studies in Biblical Theology, vol. 41 | NSBT)
The Old Testament book of Ruth is understandably a firm favorite in the church for small-group study and preaching: a heart-warming story of loyalty and love, a satisfying tale of a journey from famine to fullness. In the academy, the book has been a testing ground for a variety of hermeneutical approaches, and many different ways of interpreting it have been put forward. However, the single interpretative lens missing is the one that is most beneficial for the church: biblical theology. While commentaries have adopted a biblical-theological approach of one form or another, there has not been a detailed treatment of the themes in Ruth from that perspective until now.
Lau and Goswell's valuable New Studies in Biblical Theology volume aims to fill this gap. First, they focus on the meaning of the text as intended by the author for the original readers, but are mindful that the book is set within the wider context of Scripture. This context means not only the books surrounding Ruth in the canon, or even a particular section of Scripture, but also the rest of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Second, they discuss selected themes in Ruth, including redemption, kingship, mission, kindness, wisdom, famine, and the hiddenness of God. Within the overarching narrative of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, these themes can be viewed as different threads within the same cloth, or can be heard as different instrumental 'voices' within a symphony.
Discover more about biblical theology with New Studies in Biblical Theology collection.
- Explores the book of Ruth from a biblical-theological approach.
- Discusses selected themes in Ruth.
- Focuses on the meaning of the text as intended by the author for the original readers.
- Introduction
- Chapter 2: Reading Ruth in the Early Restoration Period
- Chapter 3: Ruth and the House of David
- Chapter 4: Ruth as a Wise Woman
- Chapter 5: Ruth and the Psalter
- Chapter 6: Famine in Ruth
- Chapter 7: God’s Hiddenness and Human Agency
- Chapter 8: Redemption in Ruth
- Chapter 9: Ruth and God's Mission
- Conclusion
Top Highlights
“The book of Ruth does not display a strict, ethnocentric application of the law. It presents instead a generous application of the law according to the principle of ḥesed and focuses on the moral logic underlying the law.” (Page 11)
“The book of Ruth would reinforce such an approach wherein behaviour moves beyond the limits of strict legal responsibility, for it presents an ethic of generosity (ḥesed) as the behavioural norm in Israelite society.” (Page 13)
“There is no evidence, therefore, that the book of Ruth contradicts or implicitly condemns the policy of breaking up foreign marriages. On the other hand, what is only alluded to in two places in Ezra-Nehemiah (the ready reception of proselytes) is the focus of attention in the book of Ruth. Put simply, the book of Ruth and Ezra-Nehemiah are about different things. In terms of biblical theology, this is an example of how different canonical books supplement and balance each other, enabling a fuller presentation and application of God’s variegated truth.” (Page 10)
“The Ruth narrative can be understood as giving hope for the future of the Davidic house. Despite the ancestors of David experiencing a time of extreme peril, God’s kindness did not fail the family, and likewise (by implication) God’s kindness will not fail the dynasty of David. In other words, the story of Ruth read in the context of the historical books (Genesis–Kings) amounts to a strong assertion of God’s providential upholding of the Davidic house, with the implication that the Messiah will indeed come.” (Page 34)
Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.
Occasionally, the centerpiece of a book leads to a timely, even pressing question. Such is the care here. Lau and Goswell’s thematically framed theological exposition gives rise to the question, ‘Is there an important difference between theme-focused literary research and theological analysis of Scripture?’ There is, at least to this reviewer, and Unceasing Kindness offers a useful setting for theologians and literary critics to collaborate on ways to study and communicate the life-changing truths in the Bible. Such collaborative efforts can provide yet another way to stimulate and challenge an American culture increasingly distant from the loving authority of divine revelation.
Branson Woodard, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, June 2017
- Title: Unceasing Kindness: A Biblical Theology of Ruth
- Authors: Peter H. W. Lau, Gregory Goswell
- Series: New Studies in Biblical Theology
- Volume: 41
- Publishers: Apollos, IVP
- Print Publication Date: 2016
- Logos Release Date: 2017
- Pages: 212
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. O.T. Ruth; Bible. O.T. Ruth › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. O.T. Ruth › Theology
- Resource ID: LLS:NSBT41
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-07T16:33:51Z
Peter Lau (PhD University of Sydney) is lecturer in Old Testament Studies at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia and an honorary research associate at the University of Sydney. He is the author of Identity and Ethics in the Book of Ruth (BZAW) and co-editor of Reading Ruth in Asia (IVBS).
Gregory Goswell (PhD University of Sydney) is academic dean and lecturer in biblical studies at Christ College, Sydney. He is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah (EP Commentary Series).