OT366 Book Study: Daniel and Its Literary and Historical Contexts
Overview
OT366 Book Study: Daniel and Its Literary and Historical Contexts introduces you to the content and structure of the book of Daniel, as well as its literary and historical contexts. Dr. Wendy Widder navigates the many interpretive issues and complexities of critical scholarship in Daniel and presents them in a fair, concise, and accessible way, providing much clarity to what can often be a mystifying book. You’ll learn how the original audience would have understood the book in light of the historical events of the time period in which it was written and see how its theological message—originally intended for the Israelites—is extended to believers today, providing hope amid the brokenness of life and highlighting God’s sovereign rule over His eternal and indestructible kingdom.
Top Highlights
“The overwhelming theology of the book of Daniel is the sovereignty of God and His continuing care for His people.” (source)
“God’s people are in exile in Babylon. In a discussion on the book of Ezekiel, who was a prophet of the exile, ot scholar Daniel Block describes the effect of exile on God’s people as an intense condition of theological shock. This theological shock resulted from their devastated sense of security as God’s people. They had always assumed that Yahweh was obligated to rescue them, and yet they had landed in exile.” (source)
“I like what Sims says in Ryken [and] Longman’s Complete Literary Guide to the Bible. He says, whatever their motivation, ‘the greater issue theologically is that of divine nurture versus human nurture—on whom or what will the Hebrews rely for sustenance in their captivity?’ Who will sustain them? Eating just vegetables should not have been the means to their greater strength. This chapter isn’t giving us a diet plan; it’s presenting theological truth. Where is the source of your life and sustenance found? And this is an important way to open the book. Why is not really the question. Who is the issue and how Daniel behaved.” (source)
“In the ancient Near East, kings fought on behalf of their gods, and to the victor went the spoils. So, on the surface in these two verses, the relocation of the vessels of the temple show the winner. Nebuchadnezzar and his god had won. But the narrator won’t let you really think that. Three times in the entire chapter, beginning in this verse, he says, ‘God gave.’ He gives us a glimpse of what’s going on behind the scenes; what’s really happening. This is a central theme of the chapter and throughout the book. We have the God of Israel versus a human king and the god he represents.” (source)
- Title: OT366 Book Study: Daniel and Its Literary and Historical Contexts
- Author: Wendy Widder
- Series: Logos Mobile Education
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Print Publication Date: 2017
- Logos Release Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Courseware
- Subjects: Bible. O.T. Daniel › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Daniel › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Education › Bible. O.T. Daniel--Commentaries; Education › Bible. O.T. Daniel--Criticism, interpretation, etc
- Resource ID: LLS:OT366WIDDER
- Resource Type: Courseware Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2019-06-20T22:43:13Z
Dr. Wendy Widder contracts with Faithlife as a contributing editor for Logos Mobile Education, but has spent much of her career in the classroom. She began with fifth graders, then made her way into the college and seminary environments. Presently, Widder enjoys teaching and preaching in her local church as opportunities arise.
She has a PhD in Near Eastern studies from the University of the Free State, South Africa, and has also earned an MA in Hebrew and Semitic studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as an MDiv with an emphasis in educational ministries from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.
Widder is the author of two books for singles, Living Whole without a Better Half (2nd edition; Kregel Publications, 2014) and A Match Made in Heaven: How Singles and the Church Can Live Happily Ever After (Kregel Publications, 2003). She also coauthored a book with her father for Christian school teachers, The Forest and the Trees: Helping Teachers Integrate a Biblical Worldview across the Curriculum (Wipf and Stock, 2008). Additionally, her master’s thesis and PhD dissertation have been published by Logos Bible Software and Walter de Gruyter, respectively. Widder is currently writing commentaries on the book of Daniel for two new series by Zondervan (The Story of God; Hearing the Message of Scripture). Her greatest passions are writing biblically and theologically solid materials for laypeople, as well as teaching the Bible in an engaging way.