How to Read Prophecy [Paperback]

Joel B. Green (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 154 pages
• Publisher: Intervarsity Press (August 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877849366
• ISBN-13: 978-0877849360
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #668,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joel B. Green is Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean for the Center for Advanced Theological Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary.

Prior to his appointment at Fuller Seminary in 2007, Dr. Green was Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky (1997-2007), where he also held administrative positions first as Dean of the School of Theology and then as Vice President of Academic Affairs / Provost. He has served on the faculties of the American Baptist Seminary of the West and Graduate Theological Union, and New College Berkeley, Berkeley, California, a graduate school of Christian and interdisciplinary studies for the whole people of God.

Characteristic of Professor Green's work has been a keen sense of vocation as a "bridge-builder" -- especially between the academic study of theology and the larger church and world, and between persons and institutions of dissimilar theological commitments.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A much-needed correction for today's errors, August 13, 2002

By 

Robert Knetsch "Wanna-be theologian" (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Read Prophecy (Paperback)

Today we have the sadly popular "Left Behind" series being touted as accurate representations of fulfillemnt of prophecy. The bookds have sold millions and continue to be made at a staggering pace (I think at the time of this writing there are 10 books in the series). Although an older book, this is a wonderful beginning to a correction that is essential for the poor biblical exegesis that is wrought by authors such as Leyahe and Jenkins.

One statement in the book stands out for me: "Scriptures deal with some problems we do not have, and do not deal with problems we do have." As a result, many Christians commit the oft-repeated "this is that" error when they read the news headlines. This has been done for centuries, displaying a dangerous view of prophecy. Green offers a realistic view of Scripture, that prophecy is not always as clear as we think it is, while showing that there are yet meanings that we can grasp at the same time.

Green examines what prophecy really is and highlights the necessity to put prophetic literature into its context instead of the "proof-texts" that are wrenched from their localized meanings. He shows the importance is symbolism, and its resultant problems as well.

This almost 20-year old book is as important as ever. I challenge people who think they understand prophecy (especially pre-millenialists" to give this a fair reading and make their own judgments.