A biblical-theologically interpretive reading of Jeremiah through the lens on Jeremiah's literary use of the concept of "word" drawing on Karl Barth as a conversation partner.

In the book of Jeremiah, not only is the vocabulary of "word" and "words" uniquely prevalent, but formulae marking divine speech also play an unprecedented role in giving the book's final form its narrative and theological shape. Indeed, "the word of the Lord" is arguably the main character of Jeremiah, and a theology that is both distinctive and powerful emerges from the unfolding narrative.

In A Mouth Full of Fire: The Word of God in the words of Jeremiah, Andrew Shead examines the fascinating use by Jeremiah of word language; the prophet's formation as an embodiment of the word of God; his covenant preaching and the crisis it precipitates concerning the recognition of true prophecy; and, in the "oracles of hope," how the power of the word of God is finally made manifest.

Shead then brings this reading of Jeremiah to bear on some issues in contemporary theology, including the problem of divine agency and the doctrine of Scripture, and concludes by engaging Jeremiah's doctrine of the Word of God in conversation with Karl Barth.

This is a remarkable study that combines the fields of biblical theology, systematic theology, biblical studies, and the newly emerged theological interpretation of Scripture. While methodological considerations receive due, if succinct, discussion the point of the study is put adopted methodologies to use on a particular theme that emerges from Jeremiah's book.

"I am putting my words as a fire in your mouth; these people are tinder and it will consume them." (Jeremiah 5:14)

"I am putting my words as a fire in your mouth; these people are tinder and it will consume them." (Jeremiah 5:14) In the book of Jeremiah, not only is the vocabulary of "word" and "words" uniquely prevalent, but formulae marking divine speech also play an unprecedented role in giving the book's final form its narrative and theological shape. Indeed, "the word of the Lord" is arguably the main character, and a theology that is both distinctive and powerful can be seen to emerge from the unfolding narrative. In this stimulating study, Andrew Shead examines Jeremiah's use of word language; the prophet's formation as an embodiment of the word of God; his covenant preaching and the crisis it precipitates concerning the recognition of true prophecy; and, in the "oracles of hope," how the power of the word of God is finally made manifest. Shead then brings this reading of Jeremiah to bear on some issues in contemporary theology, including the problem of divine agency and the doctrine of Scripture, and concludes by engaging Jeremiah's doctrine of the Word of God in conversation with Karl Barth. The prophet's major contribution emerges from his careful differentiation of "word" and "words."

Andrew G. Shead is head of Old Testament at Moore College, Sydney, where he lectures in Hebrew, Old Testament and music. He is the author of (Sheffield Academic Press) and numerous articles, essays and reviews.

It is extraordinarily rare for a reading of a biblical book to be simultaneously creative and convincing, but Dr. Andrew Shead has managed it in this work on Jeremiah. It is even more extraordinary for a book that exemplifies careful exegesis and the best of one kind of biblical theology to speak authoritatively to the discipline of systematic theology, but Dr. Shead's work manages that, too. Characterized by tight and disciplined writing and careful thought, this volume deserves careful study.
-D.A. Carson
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

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