Preaching Hard Texts of the Old Testament

by Elizabeth Achtemeier

Publisher:

Hendrickson

, 1998

Overview

Elizabeth Achtemeier has carefully chosen 31 Old Testament passages that are difficult to understand and more difficult still to preach. The sacrifice of Isaac, God’s command for Hosea to marry a harlot, Moses’ use of the bronze serpent to heal snake-bitten Israelites—these and many other passages are illumined for the preacher who no longer wants to fear these texts. In each chapter, Achtemeier discusses the text and then offers suggestions for forming a sermon based on that text. In treating specific unsettling passages, Achtemeier also addresses thematic difficulties found throughout the Old Testament, such as the frequent militaristic portrayals of God, the often perplexing behavior of Old Testament prophets, and the many anthropomorphic descriptions of God.

The Logos edition of this work on preaching is fully searchable and easily accessible. Scripture passages link directly to your English translations and to the original language texts, and important theological concepts link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the wealth of resources in your digital library.

Key Features

• Discusses 31 difficult Old Testament passages and effective ways to preach them
• Addresses some of the thematic issues in the Old Testament, such as depictions of God

Contents

• Narratives and Law
• Writings
• Prophets and Lamentations

Praise for the Print Edition

Achtemeier launches out on a campaign to stir preachers to preach the toughest texts of the Old Testament with courage and conviction. Her book is a delight and a challenge. She never fails to provoke, enlighten, encourage.

—Will Willimon, bishop, North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church

Many find it hard to preach from Old Testament texts. In this collection of sermons Elizabeth Achtemeier shows that even the hard texts of the Old Testament can produce significant and profound preaching.

—James Luther Mays, Emeritus Cyrus McCormick Professor of Hebrew and the Old Testament, Union Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Preaching Hard Texts of the Old Testament
• Author: Elizabeth Achtemeier
• Publisher: Hendrickson
• Print Publication Date: 1998
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Pages: 208
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. O.T. › Homiletical use
• ISBNs: 9781441255754, 1565633334, 9780801045448, 1441255753, 9781565633339, 0801045444
• Resource ID: LLS:PREACHHARDTXTOT
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:22:17Z

About Elizabeth Achtemeier

Elizabeth Achtemeier taught Bible and homiletics at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. She was an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA), a preacher, and the author of a number of books, including Nature, God and Pulpit, Minor Prophets, vol. 1 in the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series, and Preaching from the Minor Prophets.