Review (PDF) A Biblical Theology Of Exile (Overtures To Biblical Theology)
The Christian church continues to seek ethical and spiritual models from the period of Israel's monarchy and has avoided the gravity of the Babylonian exile. Against this tradition, the author argues that the period of focus for the canonical construction of biblical thought is precisely the exile. Here the voices of dissent arose and articulated words of truth in the context of failed power.
Series: Overtures to Biblical Theology
Paperback: 209 pages
Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers (August 19, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800632249
ISBN-13: 978-0800632243
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #134,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #21 in Books > History > Ancient Civilizations > Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer #296 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Religious Studies > Christianity #537 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Bible Study & Reference > Criticism & Interpretation
Building upon his The Religion of the Landless: The Social Context of the Babylonian Exile (Meyer Stone, 1989), the author has produced a thoughtful work on a central biblical concept that is both historical and theological. Works on biblical theology are almost compelled to begin with an apology for the method employed. Smith-Christopher does not fail to do so ('Biblical Theology: On Matters of Methodology', 1-26), signalling in his comment upon post-modern metaphysical critiques that he does not intend to allow a hyper-critical or hyper-sceptical critique to claim exclusive legitimacy in the conversation. While attempting to be critical of his own assumptions, Smith-Christopher is persuaded that both history and theology can be carried out with integrity, especially when focussing upon a discrete theme like exile. 'Discrete', however, does not mean `miniscule', for the author is convinced that one must see the exile of Judah not only as human catastrophe-its actual happening can be defended on historical grounds-but also as an event that engendered significant new social and theological enterprises. Smith-Christopher writes from his own participation in an historical 'peace church' and finds a promising correlation between the 'stateless existence' that was the destiny of the Jewish exiles and the kinds of church community that is praised by some Christian theologians. As a result, he is eager to question both Constantinian and Wellhausian views of 'exile' as an intrinsically negative socio-religious matrix that lost something essential.Nevertheless, Smith-Christopher is wary of seeing the experience or model of exile through rose-colored glasses, wanting with E. Said not to 'belittle its mutilations'.
A Biblical Theology of Exile (Overtures to Biblical Theology) The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God (New Studies in Biblical Theology) The Torah's Vision of Worship (Overtures to Biblical Theology) Method in Theology (Seabury Library of Contemporary Theology) Pragmatic Theology: Negotiating the Intersections of an American Philosophy of Religion and Public Theology (Suny Series, Religion and American Public Life) Wisdom in the Face of Modernity: A Study in Thomistic Natural Theology (Faith and Reason: Studies in Catholic Theology and Philosophy) Divine Covenants and Moral Order: A Biblical Theology of Natural Law (Emory University Studies in Law and Religion) The Cross from a Distance: Atonement in Mark's Gospel (New Studies in Biblical Theology) The Physics and Philosophy of the Bible: How Relativity, Quantum Physics, Plato, and History Meld with Biblical Theology to Show That God Exists and That ... Live Forever (The Inevitable Truth Book 1) Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership Biblical Resources for Ministry: A Bibliography of Works in Biblical Studies The Garments of Torah: Essays in Biblical Hermeneutics (Indiana Studies in Biblical Literature) From Eve to Esther: Rabbinic Reconstructs of Biblical Women (Gender and the Biblical Tradition) Roman Carnival and Other Overtures in Full Score (Dover Music Scores) William Tell and Other Overtures in Full Score (Dover Music Scores) Gioachino Rossini - Favorite Overtures: Critical Edition Full Score 2 Overtures: The Barber of Seville and William Tell: Eulenburg Audio+Score Series Pacific Overtures Overtures: Piano Duet (1 Piano, 4 Hands) (Kalmus Edition) Overtures and Preludes in Full Score (Dover Music Scores)
