Theological Diversity and the Authority of the Old Testament

內容簡介

Introduction -- 1. Theological diversity in the Old Testament -- Forms of diversity in Old Testament faith -- Reasons for the diversity of Old Testament faith -- Degrees of diversity and forms of contradiction -- Is it appropriate to look for the theological coherence in the Old Testament? -- Part I: A contextual or historical approach -- 2. Can we explain diverse theologies by their contexts? -- Diversity within the boundaries of membership of one "family" -- Diversity of viewpoint and diversity of context -- The usefulness and limitations of this contextual approach -- Are some contexts more illuminating than others? -- Instances of themes emerging at their most illuminating in particular contexts. 3. A contextualizing study of "the people of God" in the Old Testament -- The wandering clan -- The theocratic nation -- The institutional state -- The afflicted remnant -- The community of the promise -- The continuing story of the people of God in Judaism and Christianity -- Permanent insights and recurring questions -- What does it mean to be the people of God? Part II: An evaluative or critical approach -- 4. Can we affirm some viewpoints and criticize others? -- Evaluation on the basis of the material's moral concern -- Evaluation on the basis of the material's developmental level -- Evaluation on the basis of the material's Mosaic or prophetic spirit -- Evaluation on the basis of a comparison with New Testament concerns -- Evaluation of the material on its own terms -- Sachkritik -- The canon within the canon -- An evaluative or critical approach to diversity in the Old Testament -- 5. An evaluative study of the teaching of Deuteronomy -- Deuteronomy's behavioral values -- Deuteronomy's theological perspective -- Deuteronomy's pastoral strategy. Part III: A unifying or constructive approach -- 6. Can we formulate one Old Testament theology? -- The search for a unity underlying the Old Testament as a whole -- Drawbacks and limitations about the search for a unity underlying Old Testament faith -- Old Testament theology and Old Testament symbols -- A constructive approach -- Instances of the need for theological construction with Old Testament material. 7. A unifying approach to "creation" and "salvation" in the Old Testament -- Salvation history emphasized and subjected to critique -- Nature overshadowed and re-acknowledged -- Blessing overshadowed and re-acknowledged -- Wisdom overshadowed and re-acknowledged -- The polarity of God's involvement in the regularities of life (creation) and His acts of deliverance (redemption) -- The world God redeems is the world of God's creation -- The world God created is a world that needed to be redeemed -- Human beings are redeemed to live again their created life before God -- The redeemed humanity still looks for a final act of redemption/re-creation.