The Old Testament: Canon, Literature and Theology: Collected Essays of John Barton (Society for Old Testament Study Monographs)

This collection of John Barton's work engages with current concern over the biblical canon, in both historical and theological aspects; with literary reading of the Bible and current literary theory as it bears on biblical studies; and with the theological reading and use of the biblical text. John Barton's distinctive writing reflects a commitment to a 'liberal' approach to the Bible, which places a high value on traditional biblical criticism and also seeks to show how evocative and full of insight the biblical texts are and how they can contribute to modern theological concerns. This invaluable selection of published writings by one of the leading authorities on biblical text and canon, also includes new essays and editorial introductions from the author. Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 General Introduction......Page 16 Part I: Canon......Page 18 Introduction......Page 20 1 ‘The Law and the Prophets’. Who are the Prophets?......Page 22 2 The Canonical Meaning of the Book of the Twelve......Page 36 3 Canon and Old Testament Interpretation......Page 48 4 Canonical Approaches Ancient and Modern......Page 60 5 Unity and Diversity in the Biblical Canon......Page 70 6 Marcion Revisited......Page 84 7 Old Testament or Hebrew Bible?......Page 100 Part II: Literature......Page 108 Introduction......Page 110 8 Classifying Biblical Criticism......Page 112 9 Reading the Bible as Literature: Two Questions for Biblical Critics......Page 126 10 Historical Criticism and Literary Interpretation: Is there any Common Ground?......Page 144 11 What is a Book? Modern Exegesis and the Literary Conventions of Ancient Israel......Page 154 12 Should Old Testament Study be more Theological?......Page 166 13 The Future of Old Testament Study......Page 174 14 Wellhausen’s Prolegomena to the History of Israel: Influences and Effects......Page 186 15 Intertextuality and the ‘Final Form’ of the Text......Page 198 16 The Final Form of the Text......Page 202 17 Thinking about Reader-Response Criticism......Page 210 18 On Biblical Commentaries......Page 218 Part III: Theology......Page 228 Introduction......Page 230 19 Gerhard von Rad on the World-View of Early Israel......Page 232 20 Preparation in History for Christ......Page 252 21 History and Rhetoric in the Prophets......Page 264 22 The Messiah in Old Testament Theology......Page 274 23 Covenant in Old Testament Theology......Page 286 24 The Day of Yahweh in the Minor Prophets......Page 296 E......Page 306 M......Page 307 S......Page 308 Z......Page 309 This collection of John Barton's work engages with current concern over the biblical canon, in both historical and theological aspects; with lierary reading of the Bible and current literary theory as it bears on biblical studies; and with the theological reading and use of the biblical text. John Barton's writing reflects a commitment to a "liberal" approach to the Bible, which places a high value on traditional biblical criticism and also seeks to show how evocative and full of insight the biblical texts are and how they can contribute to modern theological concerns. --From publisher's description A collection of John Barton's work, this work deals with concern over the biblical canon, in both historical and theological aspects; with literary reading of the Bible and literary theory as it bears on biblical studies; and with the theological reading and use of the biblical text.