Old Testament Theology in a Canonical Context

by Brevard S. Childs

Book Overview

In this important work, Child's thesis is that a canonical approach to the scriptures of the Old Testament opens up new possibilities for exploring the theological dimensions of the biblical text. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800607724
• ISBN13: 9780800607722
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Length: 255 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A bold reaction against historical-critical studies

Prof. Childs does not refer to his work as canonical criticism, but he does suggest that interpreters will produce more fruitful theological insights if they consider the canonizing process when reading the text. Childs asserts that the Church ought to embrace the whole of the OT, which it has received and regarded as authoritative for the better part of two thousand years.Trained in the historical-critical method, Childs has come to believe that the tedious historical questions of biblical scholarship have not led to theological illumination. He feels that recent systematic theology could benefit from the work of biblical theologians if they would consider the text in its final form. After all, God's revelation supposedly lies within the text and not in historical-critical studies.Though Childs has harsh words for "theologically bankrupt" historical studies, many readers will find that his model is not without problems of its own. Overall, though, he constantly includes references that bolster his argument and anyone interested in biblical or theological studies should be familiar with this book.