(Full review at SpoiledMilks, 9.14.20)

Bruce Waltke offers a canonical look at the OT and all of the 39 books really do contribute to one story.Waltke shows how God reveals himself in the OT (primarily in the narrative books, Genesis-Ezra/Nehemiah). He shows how the books of the OT fit together within both the OT and biblical canons.

Waltke wants his readers to know God personally for who he is, the *I am here* and *I am eternal* and to understand how God has revealed himself through his word throughout history. Waltke desires to turn the OT from looking like disconnected stories of biblical heroes to a unified narrative in which we all participate.

The book contains three main sections: Part One is the Introduction which looks at the basis, task, and method of OT theology. Waltke spends time explaining what narrative theology is to help us understand how to, well, read the narratives theologically. This serves a purpose to help us understand the depth of character in the people we read about.

Parts Two and Three (which cover the entire OT) view God's self-revelation to the world throughout history in the form of *gifts.* In these chapters, Waltke explains the inner-workings of OT theology and even its connections to the NT,

The only really disappointment I found is the disproportionate amount of space dedicated to different parts of the OT. 630 pages are given to the Pentateuch/Historical books (Chronicles received only 11 pages). But, in Part 3, the Prophets receive 45 pages and Ruth + Poetical books receive 120 pages, a total of only 165 pages. The information is excellent, but Jeremiah and Ezekiel receive 1 page each, Isaiah receives 5, and the minor prophets receive anything from a few paragraphs to only one.

Recommended

The OT was Jesus and the apostles Bible, it is Gods Word, and it deserves to be studied. Highly recommended.

(Full review at SpoiledMilks, 9.14.20)

Bruce Waltke offers a canonical look at the OT and all of the 39 books really do contribute to one story.Waltke shows how God reveals himself in the OT (primarily in the narrative books, Genesis-Ezra/Nehemiah). He shows how the books of the OT fit together within both the OT and biblical canons.

Waltke wants his readers to know God personally for who he is, the *I am here* and *I am eternal* and to understand how God has revealed himself through his word throughout history. Waltke desires to turn the OT from looking like disconnected stories of biblical heroes to a unified narrative in which we all participate.

The book contains three main sections: Part One is the Introduction which looks at the basis, task, and method of OT theology. Waltke spends time explaining what narrative theology is to help us understand how to, well, read the narratives theologically. This serves a purpose to help us understand the depth of character in the people we read about.

Parts Two and Three (which cover the entire OT) view God's self-revelation to the world throughout history in the form of *gifts.* In these chapters, Waltke explains the inner-workings of OT theology and even its connections to the NT,

The only really disappointment I found is the disproportionate amount of space dedicated to different parts of the OT. 630 pages are given to the Pentateuch/Historical books (Chronicles received only 11 pages). But, in Part 3, the Prophets receive 45 pages and Ruth + Poetical books receive 120 pages, a total of only 165 pages. The information is excellent, but Jeremiah and Ezekiel receive 1 page each, Isaiah receives 5, and the minor prophets receive anything from a few paragraphs to only one.

Recommended

The OT was Jesus and the apostles Bible, it is Gods Word, and it deserves to be studied. Highly recommended.

That Bruce Waltke is revered in Old Testament scholarship is beyond dispute. His works on some OT books are the highest rated commentaries we have on them (particularly Proverbs and Micah). He's written on most every section and genre of the OT and even contributed on Hebrew syntax. It comes as no surprise that Waltke would be chosen to deliver a comprehensive OT theology with those credentials. As he has done before, he even credits an associate who helped, in this case, Charles Yu, as a contributing authorbut make no mistakethis is a Waltke work.

He gives 6 chapters of thorough explanation on what bible theology is as well as the importance of OT theology. By the time he's done with this introduction, which compares to many a whole book on the market today, we are 170 pages deep.

Part Two covers chapters 7-28 and is labeled "Primary History". It's not just a chapter on every book or a combination of books of the Old Testament, yet every book that includes a historical element is covered. He lingers over the foundational Book of Genesis in covering the Cosmos, man, the Bride, the Fall, and the Noahic and Abrahamic Covenants. He follows a theological interpretation of Creation that doesn't demand a literal creation, which is less than I would believe. Still, he was more conservative in places that I anticipated, and as works are graded these days, he would be labeled "conservative".

Part Three covers chapters 29-35, is called "other writings" and addresses Wisdom Literature. As you probably know, that is one of Waltke's specialties. The final 70 pages of this fine volume are made up of helpful indexes.

To my mind, this volume is one of the three most important OT Theologies on the market today. Because of the cruciality of OT Theology, and because of the three distinct approaches, I recommend having this Waltke volume along with Paul House and Eugene Merrill. If one is all you want, this book gives you the most material.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

All Christians should read the Bible for its doctrine and theology, this is the first thing Paul says is for profit by studying the Word. This book gives such a great OT theological background so that the next time one reads the OT through or only a few verses the book will give the necessary context to what is being read in the OT. Too many Christians think doctrine and theology are only necessary if one is going into the ministry, but Paul says the opposite is true; this book is such an aid that most Christians who read it will be blessed; provided they read it.

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. Waltkerepeated emphasizes the breaking in of theKingdom of God thus situating us betweenthe "Already" and the "Not Yet".This book was originally derived fromWaltke's class lectures as transcriptedby Charles Yu, at that time a Ph.D. studentin Semitic studies at the University ofWisconsin. Cathy Fredericks edited theEnglish style of Yu's transciptions. This book is not recommended for those whoare novices or very unfamiliar with the Old Testament since Waltke presents inter-related OT theological themes in a canonicalorder which would overwhelm any but a seasonedreader of the Old Testament.Otherwise, if you think you might be boredwith reading the Old Testament due to your over-familiarity with the OT, then this bookis one which will provide lot ofexegetical insights with the unfoldingCovenant of Grace (aka WCF) for the veryserious reader of the Old Testament.