An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach

A masterful study of the Old Testament as the inspired revelation of the nature, character, and works of God. Taking a narrative approach to the text, Waltke and Yu employ rhetorical criticism to illuminate how the unifying theme---the "breaking in of the kingdom of God"---is revealed in the theologies of the biblical writers. 896 pages, hardcover from Zondervan.

An Old Testament theology by a leading Old Testament scholar who combines a technical with a spiritual understanding of the Old Testament.

Bruce K. Waltke (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary; PhD, Harvard Divinity School), acknowledged to be one of the outstanding contemporary Old Testament scholars, is professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, and professor emeritus of biblical studies at Regent College in Vancouver. He has authored and coauthored numerous books, commentaries, and articles, and contributed to dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Charles Yu is currently pursuing doctoral studies in the Department of Hebrew and Semitics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

The Old Testament is more than a religious history of the nation of Israel. It is more than a portrait gallery of heroes of the faith. It is even more than a theological and prophetic backdrop to the New Testament. Beyond these, the Old Testament is inspired revelation of the very nature, character, and works of God. As renowned Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke writes in the preface of this book, the Old Testament’s every sentence is "fraught with theology, worthy of reflection."

This book is the result of decades of reflection informed by an extensive knowledge of the Hebrew language, the best of critical scholarship, a deep understanding of both the content and spirit of the Old Testament, and a thoroughly evangelical conviction. Taking a narrative, chronological approach to the text, Waltke employs rhetorical criticism to illuminate the theologies of the biblical narrators. Through careful study, he shows that the unifying theme of the Old Testament is the “breaking in of the kingdom of God.” This theme helps the reader better understand not only the Old Testament, but also the New Testament, the continuity of the entire Bible, and ultimately, God himself.

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Reviewed by c.j. (Phoenix, Arizona), May 11, 2009

This work on the theology of the Old Testament is massive... not only in the many pages it contains but also in the many concepts that it conveys. Waltke approaches the OT text from that of a Westminster Confessional Perspective. Waltke repeated emphasizes the breaking in of the Kingdom of God thus situating us between the "Already" and the "Not Yet". This book was originally derived from Waltke's class lectures as transcripted by Charles Yu, at that time a Ph.D. student in Semitic studies at the University of Wisconsin. Cathy Fredericks edited the English style of Yu's transciptions. This book is not recommended for those who are novices or very unfamiliar with the Old Testament since Waltke presents inter- related OT theological themes in a canonical order which would overwhelm any but a seasoned reader of the Old Testament. Otherwise, if you think you might be bored with reading the Old Testament due to your over-familiarity with the OT, then this book is one which will provide lot of exegetical insights with the unfolding Covenant of Grace (aka WCF) for the very serious reader of the Old Testament.

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