Customer Reviews

Introduction to Old Testament as Scripture

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the most influential general introductions to the Bible ever written. After more than 20 years, it is still much discussed and much misunderstood. Childs is a devout Christian who advocates a new approach to Biblical criticism, called Canonical Criticism, whereby you should consider books of the Bible and indeed the whole Bible in the form in which they are accepted as canonical (namely inspired and authoritative works) by Jews and Christians. You may agree or disagree with his approach, but read this book carefully and think hard; whatever your conclusions, you will gain a lot of insight. Of course, as its title indicates, it covers only the Old Testament.

Brevard Childs, noted scholar of the Hebrew scriptures and biblical theologian, has provided the church with a helpful introdcution to his version of canon criticism applied to the Old Testament. Use of "Old Testament" over "Hebrew Bible" or "Tanak" here is deliberate because, as a true Yale-schooler (cf. Lindbeck and Frei), Childs deliberately writes as a Christian churchman and regards the Protestant canon as normative. His method is one of looking for the theological substance of a given Old Testament book as it is embedded in its final canonical form and arrangement. Seeking a divine communication "beyond the desert of criticism" (Ricoeur), he briefly introduces and then brackets out the various historical-critical issues presented by a given book. The title is somewhat misleading as this is not a true "Introduction" on the order of Eissfeldt, R.K. Harrison, or Longman/Dillard, but is properly an introduction to Childs' method of approach. Although OT scholarship has surpassed many of his historical-critical conclusions (hence 4 stars), Childs achieves theological profundity in many places. He also writes in an elegant, preachable prose that theologians, pastors, and students will find refreshing and welcome.

A standard work in the study of the formation of the Old Testament, by a recently deceased scholar from Yale. The book, written in the late '70s, reflects nearly 25 years of scholarship and study on the part of Childs. His central argument, more or less, has to do with understanding the "canonical" place or role of each of the books of the Hebrew Bible (OT, more or less). Thus, rather than focusing exclusively on the sources (J, E, D, P, and their offshoots), or on the literary forms found in the OT (myth, saga, poetry, oracle, etc.), or on whether the books reflect historically or archaeologically verifiable events and lives, Childs wants to call our attention to the vital and enduring role the books have had for the worshipping life of the Jewish people. This aspect makes this book well worth reading.

The drawback for many readers will be that Childs is very much writing as a scholar in conversation with other scholars. In a sense, a general readership is not Childs' intended audience, so the "average" reader could be very easily put off by that. That shouldn't necessarily keep you from buying this book, though. My advice for a general audience would be to read the chapters from end to start, since Childs uses a very accessibe structure for his discussion of each book of the OT, summing up the canonical place of each book at the end of each chapter.

I am currently reading this book for a class, and I am enjoying it. Most of the students don't like it because it is hard to understand, but I like that it is challenging. He does a good job of laying out the information and allowing you to draw conclusions (though he makes some himself). Good book. Worth the price.

Each chapter has a bibliography and Child's analysis of issues in that book. I will use it in all my work.