The Right Doctrine from the Wrong Texts?: Essays on the Use of the Old Testament in the New [Paperback]

G. K. Beale (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994

If Paul and other New Testament authors were publishing today, would scholars accept their exegetical methods? This collection of essays presents various perspectives concerning the hermeneutical issue of whether Jesus and the apostles quoted Old Testament texts with respect for their broader Old Testament context. Each of the contributors debates the interpretive understandings by which Old Testament texts are quoted and applied in the New Testament. Were New Testament teachers and authors simply children of rabbinic midrashic scholarship? Did they revere the original context of passages they quoted or fill them with different meaning? What presuppositions about the Old Testament guided their approaches? As the contributors to this volume wrestle with Old Testament quotation in the New Testament, they offer views from across the theological spectrum to help biblical studies students work through the issues. Contributors include: David L. Baker G. K. Beale C. H. Dodd Francis Foulkes R. T. France Scott J. Hafemann Morna D. Hooker G. P. Hugenberger Walter C. Kaiser Jr. Barnabas Lindars Richard N. Longenecker I. Howard Marshall S. V. McCasland Richard T. Mead Roger Nicole Philip Barton Payne Vern Sheridan Poythress David Seccombe Klyne Snodgrass Albert C. Sundberg Jr.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If Paul and other New Testament authors were publishing today, would scholars accept their exegetical methods?This collection of essays presents various perspectives concerning the hermeneutical issue of whether or not Jesus and the apostles quoted Old Testament texts with respect for their broader Old Testament context. Each of the contributors debates the interpretive understandings by which Old Testament texts are quoted and applied in the New Testament. Were New Testament teachers and authors simply children of rabbinic midrashic scholarship? Did they revere the original context of passages they quoted or fill them with different meaning? What presuppositions about the Old Testament guided their approaches?As the contributors to this volume wrestle with Old Testament quotation in the New Testament, they offer views from across the theological spectrum to help biblical studies students work through the issues. Contributors include:David L. BakerG. K. BealeC. H. DoddFrancis FoulkesR. T. FranceScott J. HafemannMorna D. HookerG. P. HugenbergerWalter C. Kaiser Jr.Barnabas LindarsRichard N. LongeneckerI. Howard MarshallS. V. McCaslandRichard T. MeadRoger NicolePhilip Barton PayneVern Sheridan PoythressDavid SeccombeKlyne SnodgrassAlbert C. Sundberg Jr."[Beale] has deliberately chosen articles from a variety of viewpoints, so that articles by authors as diverse as Roger Nicole, Barnabas Lindars, C. H. Dodd, Howard Marshall, and Albert Sundberg are found in the same collection. . . . The collection is well-chosen, and all interested in this area of biblical study will be grateful to have such a useful tool."--Allan M. Harman, Reformed Theological Review

About the Author

G. K. Beale (PhD, University of Cambridge) is visiting professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is the author of five books, including commentaries on Revelation and 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and The Temple and the Church's Mission.

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801010888
• ISBN-13: 978-0801010880
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old in the New--Good reading (www.wordsntone.com), August 26, 2007

By 

Stephen M. Anderson (Bridgeport, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Right Doctrine from the Wrong Texts?: Essays on the Use of the Old Testament in the New (Paperback)

The battle over hermeneutics seems to be wage on this one issue: How did the New Testament writers use the Old Testament? In one volume, Greg Beale, formerly of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (and one of my professors), but now Wheaton Graduate School, has compiled twenty-two articles, each dealing with various aspects and concerns over the use of the Old Testament in the New. Beale writes, "The purpose of this book is to present various perspectives concerning the hermeneutical issue whether or not Jesus and the apostles quoted Old Testament texts with respect for their broader Old Testament context" (7). Each essay is from a well-known scholar in the field who seeks to answer the question "did the New Testament writers quote or refer to Old Testament passages that are consistent with or contradictory to the original Old Testament passage?"

The reader will find this volume extremely helpful. The essays are not just theoretical; they show how the particular author applies their hermeneutical or linguistic perspective(s). This book is quite unique for it unswervingly focuses on "exegetical methodology instead of theology" (9).

Beale admits that more space is given to articles arguing in favor of the New Testament using the Old Testament text contextually. Although this view is offered at various levels and with varying nuances throughout the literature (see the "Selected Bibliography"), it is the minority view. Thus, G. Beale purposely chooses more voices affirming and demonstrating that New Testament writers were faithful to the immediate and broader contextual concerns of the original Old Testament writers. Nevertheless, the breath of perspectives these essays offer will help the reader to enter the discussion with integrity.

Understanding of this subject is a must for students of the Bible. Since the integrity of the Christian message is wrapped up in the integrity of the New Testament writers, this hermeneutical and exegetical issue (debate) must be entered by all who profess to teach and proclaim the Gospel. Please don't allow the high quality and technical nature of some of these articles to cause Bible students and pastors to overlook this volume--the issue is too great to be ignored by all "users" of the Bible! Greg Beale has done a great service to the Church by compiling these essays and making them accessible in one volume.