Presence, Power and Promise: The Role of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament

by David G. Firth (Editor), Paul D. Wegner

From the first verses of Genesis, the Spirit of God makes a dramatic appearance in the Bible. Yet there is surprisingly little scholarly work on the Spirit in the Old Testament. On examination, what we find are similarities but also some significant differences in emphasis from the New Testament. To unpack these emphases on creation, wisdom, prophecy, leadership, creativity and more, the editors of this volume have brought to the task a host of first-rate Old Testament scholars. Together they present a comprehensive examination of the issues facing interpreters and exegetes on the identity and activity of the Spirit in the Hebrew Bible. This volume provides readers with an able guide to the interpretative background of ancient Near Eastern literature, the major themes and motifs, and particular texts and passages that contribute to an understanding of the Spirit in the Old Testament. Contributors

Genres: Theology

415 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2011

Reviews

[Jamin Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what it aims to be

If you’re looking for some great theological and scholarly studies on the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, then this is a rich resource for you that will help frame the New Testament conversation. Some of the reviews I’ve seen seem concerned that the book doesn’t look at the subject more traditionally, but such reviews miss the point of the whole book. Loving both theology and the supernatural ways of God, I was very happy to have found such a resource as this that recognizes both.

[Lillian Kopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has a variety of perspectives on the identity of the s/Spirit in the OT. Whether you agree with any or all of the perspectives, there is a lot to be grasped from these articles. I personally gained a lot of great concepts from the book, and was both informed and encouraged by the wide range of topics.

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Presence is a collection of essays about the role of God's Spirit in the Old Testament, or it may be more appropriate for me the lowercase "spirit".  That's part of the book's debate.  Most of the scholars argue that the Old Testament depictions of the spirit should not be correlated to the third person of the Trinity found in the New.