A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament [Paperback]

Bruce C. Birch (Author), Walter Brueggemann (Author), David L. Peterson (Author), Terence E. Frethem (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999 | ISBN-10: 0687013488 | ISBN-13: 978-0687013487

This book has become a standard text in seminary and university classrooms. The purpose of this second edition is to help readers come to a critically informed understanding of the Old Testament as the church's scripture. This book introduces the Old Test

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bruce C. Birch is Dean and Professor of Old Testament at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC. He is a contributing author to volume II of the New Interpreter's Bible and The Old Testament: A Theological Introduction.

Walter Brueggemann is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. A past president of the Society of Biblical Literature, he is one of today's preeminent interpreters of Scripture.



2001 TERENCE E. FRETHEIM is Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and has been on the faculty of 7 seminary schools, including Princeton, Graduate Theological Union, Vancouver and McCormick. He has authored or contributed to eighteen books, four by Abingdon and a forthcoming commentary on Jeremiah.

David L. Petersen is Franklin N. Parker Professor of Old Testament at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Professor Petersen is a distinguished Old Testament scholar. His current research focuses on the book of Genesis and on prophetic literature. During 2004, Petersen served as president of the Society of Biblical Literature. An ordained Presbyterian minister, Dr. Petersen has written, coauthored, or coedited a number of scholarly and popular books and articles. He was the senior Old Testament editor for The New Interpreter's Bible. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687013488
• ISBN-13: 978-0687013487
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Birch is Dean Emeritus of Wesley Theological Seminary where he served 38 years as Professor of Old Testament and 11 years as Academic Dean. His books and articles range from scholarly works to publications aimed at enriching the life of the church for clergy and laity. His PhD was earned at Yale University in 1970, and he is ordained in the United Methodist Church. He continues to write for popular and scholarly audiences from his home in Frederick, MD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a textbook, November 20, 2003

By 

melissa bills (princeton, nj) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament (Paperback)

I'm using this book for an Old Testament class at seminary, but it is so much more than just a textbook to me. The authors work to discuss the OT from many viewpoints using a number of different types of criticism. I love the way that the book does not shy away from difficult issues in the Old Testament, such as violence and sacrifice, but rather helps the reader to understand the context of the Biblical passages as well as exposing him to classic and contemporary interpretations of those passages. The book is clear, well-organized, and very readable. I appreciate that the book does not seem to have an "agenda," but rather that it seeks to bring theology and spirituality into a discussion of the Old Testament - something that many treatements of the OT do not include. For a Christian, this book is essential in being able to link the theology of the Israelites to the theology of modern-day Christianity. A must-read for anyone wanting to broaden their understanding of the Old Testament.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Birch, Brueggemann, and Fretheim offer a fresh approach, May 19, 2007

By 

Lee Roy Martin (Cleveland, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament: 2nd Edition (Paperback)

This work is a seminary-level introduction to the Old Testament that bridges the gap between the academic and the confessional study of the Bible. Birch's much-needed approach is founded upon historical-critical scholarship, but it focuses primarily upon the biblical text as theological witness. Welcomed attention is given to how the OT functions theologically for the contemporary community of faith. This book's most likely place will be as a supplementary textbook that is used alongside a more traditional introductory text.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly lackluster, December 14, 2008

By 

Robert E. Pierson (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament (Paperback)

The authors know their stuff, and I'd thoroughly recommend what I've read of their individual scholarly work. However, having just plowed through this book in a seminary class, I'd have to say there's something peculiarly dull and lifeless about it. The main theological themes seem adequately covered, and the authors go to pains to highlight the diversity of theological approaches canonized in the Old Testament. But despite many inherently interesting topics, the writing is stiff.

One other critique: despite acknowledging the centrality of the exilic experience to the formation of the canon, the author's choose to devote relatively little space to the related literature. As a result, the book seems to hurry to its close.

Overall, this book is certainly adequate to it task, it's just not inspired or inspiring.