The Old Testament: Canon, Literature and Theology

✍ Scribed by John Barton

• Publisher: Ashgate
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 309
• Series: Society for Old Testament Study
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This collection of John Barton's work engages with current concern over the biblical canon, in both historical and theological aspects; with literary reading of the Bible and current literary theory as it bears on biblical studies; and with the theological reading and use of the biblical text. John Barton's distinctive writing reflects a commitment to a 'liberal' approach to the Bible, which places a high value on traditional biblical criticism and also seeks to show how evocative and full of insight the biblical texts are and how they can contribute to modern theological concerns. This invaluable selection of published writings by one of the leading authorities on biblical text and canon, also includes new essays and editorial introductions from the author.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents......Page 8
List of Figures......Page 10
Acknowledgements......Page 12
Preface......Page 14
General Introduction......Page 16
Part I: Canon......Page 18
Introduction......Page 20
1 ‘The Law and the Prophets’. Who are the Prophets?......Page 22
2 The Canonical Meaning of the Book of the Twelve......Page 36
3 Canon and Old Testament Interpretation......Page 48
4 Canonical Approaches Ancient and Modern......Page 60
5 Unity and Diversity in the Biblical Canon......Page 70
6 Marcion Revisited......Page 84
7 Old Testament or Hebrew Bible?......Page 100
Part II: Literature......Page 108
Introduction......Page 110
8 Classifying Biblical Criticism......Page 112
9 Reading the Bible as Literature: Two Questions for Biblical Critics......Page 126
10 Historical Criticism and Literary Interpretation: Is there any Common Ground?......Page 144
11 What is a Book? Modern Exegesis and the Literary Conventions of Ancient Israel......Page 154
12 Should Old Testament Study be more Theological?......Page 166
13 The Future of Old Testament Study......Page 174
14 Wellhausen’s Prolegomena to the History of Israel: Influences and Effects......Page 186
15 Intertextuality and the ‘Final Form’ of the Text......Page 198
16 The Final Form of the Text......Page 202
17 Thinking about Reader-Response Criticism......Page 210
18 On Biblical Commentaries......Page 218
Part III: Theology......Page 228
Introduction......Page 230
19 Gerhard von Rad on the World-View of Early Israel......Page 232
20 Preparation in History for Christ......Page 252
21 History and Rhetoric in the Prophets......Page 264
22 The Messiah in Old Testament Theology......Page 274
23 Covenant in Old Testament Theology......Page 286
24 The Day of Yahweh in the Minor Prophets......Page 296
E......Page 306
M......Page 307
S......Page 308
Z......Page 309