Dominion and dynasty:A Theology of the Hebrew Bible (Stephen G. Dempster)

Description

Christian theologians rarely study the Old Testament in its final Hebrew canonical form, even though this was very likely the Bible of Jesus and the early church. However, once read as a whole, the larger structure of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) provides a ‘wide-angle lens’ through which its contents can be viewed.

In this stimulating exposition, Stephen Dempster argues that, despite its undoubted literary diversity, the Hebrew Bible possesses a remarkable structural and conceptual unity. The various genres and books are placed within a comprehensive narrative framework which provides an overarching literary and historical context. The many texts contribute to this larger text, and find their meaning and significance within its story of ‘dominion and dynasty’, which ranges from Adam to the Son of Man to David, and to a coming Davidic king.

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Endorsements

“Dr Dempster’s reading of the story-line of the Old Testament is fresh, provocative, helpful – and doubtless will prove to be the stuff of many sermons and lectures. His closing chapter points to some of the links that bind the Old and New Testaments together, an obviously urgent goal for the Christian preacher and teacher.”

-D. A. Carson

Table of Contents

Series preface

Author’s preface

INTRODUCTION

1   A book or a ragbag: a literary approach to Old Testament

     Testament

     Old Testament theology: the Bible through different eyes

     An ‘appropriate reading’ of the biblical text

     The Old Testament: texts or Text

     Explicit signals of textual coherence

     The present study: a literary approach and biblical theology

     Biblical theology, Tanakh structure and the emergence of a literary

        approach

     Canonization and contextualization

2   The beginning, middle and ending of the Tanakh: a preview of

     the storyline (Adam to David)

     Plan, purpose, plot

     Dominion, dynasty and David in Genesis and Chronicles

     The middle of the Tanakh

I    DOMINION LOST: THE RISE AND FALL OF ISRAEL

3   The narrative storyline begins (Genesis)

     ‘These are the generations of…’

     The goal of creation

     The garden of Eden

     The fall

     Genealogical and geographical hope

     Creation and covenant

     Shem, the Table of Nations and the tower of Babel

     The genealogy of Shem and the call of Abram: land, descendants,

        universal blessing

     The divine answer to the human plight

     The Abram story: geography and genealogy

     The Jacob story: the merging of geography and genealogy

     The Joseph story and universal blessing

4   The narrative storyline continues (Exodus to Deuteronomy)

     Exodus: multiplication, oppression, liberation

     Leviticus: sacrifice and holiness

     Numbers: journey to hell and back

     Deuteronomy: at the border of Canaan

5   The narrative storyline continues: the Former Prophets (Joshua 

     to Kings)

     The Prophets

     The Former Prophets: the dead end of exile

     Joshua: occupation and settlement

     Judges: the darkness settles

     Samuel: the promise of a king

     Kings: the dead end of exile

II   RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT: A STUMP AND A SHOOT

6   Suspension of the storyline – poetic commentary begins:

     the Latter Prophets (Jeremiah to the Twelve)

     The Latter Prophets

     Jeremiah: demolition and reconstruction

     Ezekiel: the life-giving divine presence

     Isaiah: the shoot from Jesse’s stump

     The Twelve: the impending eschaton

     Summary of the prophetic commentary

7   Poetic commentary continues: the Writings (Ruth to 

     Lamentations)

     Ruth: exile, return and David

     The Psalms: David, David and David

     The wisdom literature: to master the world

     Job: the moral government of the universe

     Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs: a Solomonic stamp

     Lamentation: curse and the mercies

III DOMINION REGAINED: THE FALL AND THE RISE OF ISRAEL

8   Ending of poetic commentary and resumption of narrative 

     storyline (Daniel to Chronicles)

     Daniel: the coming kingdom

     Esther: history with an Israelite shape

     Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles: the end and the beginning

CONCLUSION

9   Typology and New Testament reflections

Bibliography

Index of ancient sources

Index of modern authors

Index of Scripture references

Product Details

Title: Dominion and dynasty:  A Theology of the Hebrew Bible  

Author: Stephen G. Dempster

Publisher: Apollos

Pages: 268

Binding: Paperback

Size: 21.6 x 14.0 x 1.5 cm

ISBN: 9780851117836