Making Sense of the Old Testament: Three Crucial Questions

by Tremper Longman III

Book Overview

A noted biblical scholar explores three questions Christians often ask about the Old Testament and provides answers that are both satisfying and understandable.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801058287
• ISBN13: 9780801058288
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Length: 156 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Concise Discussion of the Old Testament for Christians

Tremper Longman argues that Christians struggle to understand much of the New Testament, because they do not have understanding of the Old Testament. Longman's contention that many Christians spend no time in the Old Testament becomes problematic in light of his claim that at the "center of the Old Testament stands Jesus Christ He divides his book into three parts; each part answers one of the following questions: 1. What are the keys to understanding the Old Testament? 2. Is the God of the Old Testament also the God of the New Testament? 3. How is the Christian to apply the Old Testament to life? Longman does not attempt an exhaustive approach to answering these questions. He provides a solid framework that serves to point readers in the right direction and to correct misperceptions. Longman's answers are concise and do not waver from the point of the section. This helps to get readers beyond their obstacles to the Old Testament and to stimulate interest in it. Longman recognizes that understanding of the Old Testament does not come naturally to Christians. The Old Testament has severe differences to the New Testament, as well as having differences to our culture. He offers ways to bridge these gaps and to make the Old Testament more penetrable for Christians. Two helpful approaches suggested by Longman are to read Bible passages in the context of the entire Bible and for Christians to read the Bible in the context of a Christian community where Biblical discussions can occur. Longman explains the continuity of the image of God from the Old Testament to the New Testament by showing the theme of covenant through the Bible. This begins in Genesis and finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. In the covenants, Longman shows the gracious condescendence of God to humanity. The most provocative theme that Longman cites is that of the temple. In the Old Testament, God uses the tabernacle and temple to fellowship with people and to make his home among them. Longman writes that God eventually comes to live among people in Jesus Christ, who lived and dwelt among us. Longman emphasizes the illustration of God's desire for friendship with people in the story of the Garden of Eden. Longman writes, "The man and woman could meet freely with God anywhere in the Garden. Genesis 2 gives us the picture of relational bliss" For Longman, the differing genres of the Old Testament all serve the primarily to communicate God's will to people. Longman discusses the nuances of applying the genres to our lives, but overall they reveal God's desires for our lives and serve as agents for growth. Longman writes of the Old Testament history narratives, the most predominant genre, "Jesus is the center of that history, because he brings to a climax the plan of God's salvation." Of the wisdom literature, Longman writes, "Being wise, at bottom, does not entail a mass of facts to be learned; it is a relationship with God." These are two examples of how

Making Sense of the Old Testament

Tremper Longman does an excellent job of focusing, for the Bible students, the need to understand Old Testament. The questions that he addresses concerning the need for a proper appreciation of the Old Testament are refreshing and necessary for the church today. It is a very readable treatise for anyone who wants to know why the Old Testament is inportant for Chrsitians today. I teach Bible and have made it part of my introductory lectures on the need for studying the Old Testament. If this is a subject you are interested in you may want to read his Introduction to the Old Testament, or He Gave Us Stories by Richard Pratt.