The Face of Old Testament Studies: A Survey of Contemporary Approaches [Hardcover]

David W. Baker (Editor), Bill T. Arnold (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

The developments in Old Testament studies during the past twenty-five years have created a mountain of scholarly data that challenges even the best-read researcher. From textual criticism to literary approaches, from historiography to social science, each discipline possesses unique patterns of development, scholarly personalities, and methodologies. The Face of Old Testament Studies tackles the challenge of organizing this wealth of data through a collection of cutting-edge essays on sixteen major areas of contemporary Old Testament research.

Each contributor traces recent developments in his field of expertise, delineating new directions and crucial methodologies that have emerged in the mainstream academy. One distinctive of this compilation is that it also pays attention to conservative scholars who have made contributions of significance that have been recognized beyond their own camp. The editors note that ones contributions should be judged by their acumen and insight, their ability to add distance in the race toward understanding, rather than by the colors under which one races.

This reference work affords professors and students an overview of the salient issues and current approaches to Old Testament research. It is suitable as a textbook for Old Testament Introduction, Hebrew Exegesis, and Old Testament Theology courses, and will also be helpful for non-specialists who desire to keep up with developments in Old Testament studies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A splendid book that will be an important reference work in the field and useful both to beginners and to seasoned students. The editors have assembled an impressive series of authors, all of whom are competent, some of whom are leaders in their fields. The book is immensely well-documented by well-read authors! Judgments made on scholarly work are consistently judicious and fair. The reader can count on an informed, well-balanced entry into the excitement of current study. -- Walter A. Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary

In a world where knowledge of every subject is growing more quickly than at any other time in history, this volume of essays provides an exceptionally helpful way of keeping abreast of current Old Testament scholarship. Contemporary approaches to a wide range of issues are not only clearly explained but also carefully critiqued, offering a distinctively evangelical assessment of Old Testament studies at the end of the twentieth century. For those who wish to familiarize themselves with the current state of affairs, this collection of essays, written by recognized experts in their own fields, is indispensable -- T. Desmond Alexander, Union Theological College

Probably the best attempt to describe the present state of Old Testament scholarship. The authors are all recognized scholars who have contributed significantly to Old Testament studies. They examine an amazing amount of literature and so give the reader access to most of the important essays and books in the last decades. While all of the essays are competent reviews of the issues and the debates, some of the essays are themselves helpful contributions to further thinking about the issues under discussion. It will be most useful for anyone teaching Old Testament. -- Patrick D. Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary

The editors are to be commended for both the scope and thoroughness of the essays. The contributors to this volume represent the best of evangelical scholarship, interacting seriously with the most recent research on a wide range of subjects but maintaining a high view of the Old Testament as a source for understanding the history, culture, and faith of ancient Israel. -- Daniel I. Block, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

This collection of essays on the state of Old Testament studies by prominent Old Testament scholars is a welcome addition to the library of both scholars and students of the Old Testament. The essays review the literature and present the challenge of thinking through a number of issues that have been raised in the last twenty years. A magnificent contribution to the state of Old Testament scholarship. -- Willem A. VanGemeren, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

About the Author

David W. Baker (Ph.D., University of London) is professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Ashland Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of numerous projects, including coeditor of the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series.

Bill T. Arnold (Ph.D., Hebrew Union College) is professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books, including Encountering the Book of Genesis, and coauthor of Encountering the Old Testament. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801022150
• ISBN-13: 978-0801022159
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,647,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 Stars for a Competent, but Incomplete Survey, June 29, 2004

By 

Frederic C Putnam (Hatfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Face of Old Testament Studies: A Survey of Contemporary Approaches (Hardcover)

The goal of this volume is to bring educated readers "up-to-date" with the state of Old Testament scholarship at the end of the 20th century (my summary). Some of the sixteen essays do that, especially the general articles on textual criticism (Wolters), epigraphy (Chavalas & Hostetter), and the articles on the state of pentateuchal studies (Wenham), Wisdom (Waltke & Diewert), historiography (Long), and three articles on early Israel (Younger), the monarchy (Knoppers), and the exilic & Persian periods (Williamson). On these topics and the Psalter (below), one can hardly find a better brief summary (most articles are about thirty pages).

Other articles are less satisfying, either because they assume too much knowledge on the part of the reader, or because they address an extremely narrow aspect of a broad field.

The volume slights the enormous body of literature that has pondered the nature and workings of biblical poetry (parallelism, imagery, &c.), burying this discussion in Howard's sterling article on the Psalter. It also bypasses the contribution of linguistics to our understanding of the Hebrew verbal system and the discourse analysis of biblical narrative, or the impact of comparative Semitic studies on biblical lexicography.

These gaps do not annul the book's value. Indeed, for a quick overview of most of what biblical (OT) scholarship has been "up to" for the past generation, it can hardly be surpassed, especially at the size and price. Careful readers will realize, however, that more has been going on, and supplement this with other resources. I assign selected chapters--and recommend the book as a whole--in my courses.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent brief survey of recent scholarship, April 5, 2008

By 

jimjimgk "jjgk" (Waco, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Face of Old Testament Studies, The: A Survey of Contemporary Approaches (Paperback)

This text is best suited for pastors wanting to keep abreast of current trends, seminary students looking for an introduction to current scholarship, students beginning PhD coursework, and PhD students looking for a starting point (but only a starting point) in reviewing for comprehensive exams. This text is not best suited for a lay Bible study, but astute laymen who know the Bible well may find this interesting and informative.

Because each chapter has a different contributor and addresses a discreet topic, all chapters are not created equal. Perhaps the best chapter is Wenham's treatment of the current state of Pentateuchal studies.

One rare strength of this volume is its refusal to marginalize or dismiss out of hand conservative viewpoints. In my opinion, however, this book does not go far enough in that direction, but that is a matter of judgment.

The greatest weakness of this book is that it is getting on in years, and will soon be dated. That does not make it irrelevant, however. Rather, the reader should regard this as a starting point, and shood look elsewhere for more recent and more thorough discussions of OT scholarship.

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent survey - outstanding contributors, August 11, 2000

By 

Pavithran Thomas (Westerville, OH, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Face of Old Testament Studies: A Survey of Contemporary Approaches (Hardcover)

Excellent survey of the past 30 years of OT research. Required reading if you want to understand the current state of OT theology in brief.