Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy

by Walter Brueggemann, Rebecca J. Kruger Gaudino (Editor)

In this powerful book, Walter Brueggemann moves the discussion of Old Testament theology beyond the dominant models of previous generations.Brueggemann focuses on the metaphor and imagery of the courtroom trial in order to regard the theological substance of the Old Testament as a series of claims asserted for Yahweh, the God of Israel. This provides a context that attends to pluralism in every dimension of the interpretive process and suggests links to the plurality of voices of our time.

Genres: Theology, Old Testament, Biblical Studies, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction

800 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1992

About the author

Walter Brueggemann was an American Christian scholar and theologian who is widely considered an influential Old Testament scholar. His work often focused on the Hebrew prophetic tradition and the sociopolitical imagination of the Church. He argued that the Church must provide a counter-narrative to the dominant forces of consumerism, militarism, and nationalism.

Reviews

[Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Difficult, thorough, and necessary, Theology of the Old Testament is Brueggemann at his finest, pulling no punches and calling it as he sees it. This is the raw and relentless account of the Old Testament that the church needs: not one that tries to make every text fit in a coherent system nor explains away inconsistencies and tensions. This is not a text for the faint of heart--battling through all 750 pages is a slug-fest--but for those who claim any sort of leadership in the Christian church, this book should be slowly digested in its entirety. It will make you uncomfortable, as the God Brueggemann sees in the Bible itself makes us uncomfortable, but it will also invite you to engage and wrestle anew with the text that testifies to a new and alternative reality.

[Brad Kuhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing read. The first couple of chapters on the history of OT interpretation are great. What connected with me most are his thoughts in chapter 28 on how Christians should approach OT theology (and how we're often doing it wrong). Not an easy read - but well, well worth the effort!

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is always dangerous to write a theology around “a unifying theme.” Still, everyone does it. Brueggemann suggests “rhetoric” as a device that evokes an alternative reality (Brueggemann 57). To quote current sociologies of religion (Charles Taylor), it is a rhetoric that challenges the world’s social imaginary with a new and even more impossible one.

"At the center of Israel's imaginative enterprise are Yahweh's impossibilities (Heb. pela'), which regularly transform, reverse, and invert lived reality, either to the delight or dismay of other participants in the narrative" (Brueggemann 68).

Brueggemann’s thesis: God lives in the text via rhetoric (66). Advocacy is seen in the witness to Yahweh’s sidqoth (triumphs, righteous deeds) that defies challenge and construes a new reality (133, 135). Yahweh is characteristically the subject of the active verb (123). Causative verbs in the hiphil stem. This means Yahweh acts in decisive, transformative ways. The active verb has a direct object, the one on whom Yahweh has acted. God binds himself to Israel, but in an asymmetrical way. Yahweh initiates and acts (125).

So far this is outstanding and we can only cheer.

Key Point: The beginning point of an “Old Testament theology is in the liturgical, public acknowledgement of a new reality wrought by Yahweh (128). Yahweh creates the world by royal utterance--speech. All ancient regimes sponsored a creation narrative. Israel’s witness about creation was heightened in Babylon. Babylon legitimated its political authority by appealing to its gods. “The effect of liturgy is to create an alternative world of ordered life, made possible by Yahweh’s powerful word and will” (153).

If such is the case, one wonders what the problem is. The problem is that Brueggemann hasn't escaped the old critical methods and the newer postmodern acids. If so, per the former, can this "uttered speech of Yahweh" be unified? Sadly, the critic says no. Per the latter, can postmodern suspicion actually stop empire? No, it can't.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a resource that I will return to time and time again when studying the Old Testament for preaching or teaching.

I read it a few pages here and a few pages there over the course of about seven months. Its LONG and unless you’re an Old Testament scholar or working on a doctorate, its probably not necessary to read every single last word. Its a good resource to read bits and pieces of, to highlight segments and return to sections later.

[Daniel Supimpa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great overture of Brueggemann's work is in his interesting structure of Testimony/Counter-testimony/Embodied testimony. B. has a particular style, owing much to the philosophical-existential tradition of theologians (compare him, for instance, to Abraham Heschel's style when writing on the prophets). I particularly like this style. For many people, this can get tiresome.

Still, it is no wonder B. became a milestone in the post-liberal approach to OT theology. He is readable, provocative in interesting points (e.g. his exploration on the questionable character of God in the lament Psalms), and hardly dull. In a couple chapters, some of his conclusions seem quite loose in face of the evidence he has just presented, and the third part runs more slowly than the first two. As Jon Levenson has already pointed out elsewhere, B. fails to convey an OT theology that is "wide" enough for both Christians and Jews. B. assumes a harsh discontinuity between canonical texts and later traditions that is hardly existent to mainstream Judaism. In this view, the only proper tradition to access the canonical text IS the early Jewish tradition (e.g. Targums, Rabbinic literature). Brueggemann insists that the texts themselves and by themselves can be accessed by different traditions without a tradition. He basically betrays his project and builds a very protestant (and ironically, modern anti-traditional) interpretative movement.

Besides these weak points, I highly recommend the challenge of the reading. It is compelling, rhetorically well-constructed, thorough and widely engaging.

[David Garnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed every page! Wow! What a book! What a theologian!

I don't think I was ready for this book until now. It took me a seminary education and a life in ministry to understand it. There are books that you have to read at the right time in your life, and this was one for me.

This book represents religion at its best, avoiding extremes, sticking to the core life-giving divine and humanitarian Jewish message, a blessed alternative to the cruel superpowers of the day. There is a better way to live this human life together than the one that is presented to us by our culture, and Breugemann, in his interpretation of the Old Testament, shows it to us.

This has to be one of the best books I have ever read. It takes the Bible and life seriously in all of its odd detail. It shows us the value of religious dialogue and of keeping a dialogue about God and life open.

[Duane Alexander Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it's a standard book in OT Theology. I know that Brueggemann is, in the end, not equal to someone like, say, Brevard S. Childs. But wow, he's readable.

Some say that Brueggemann leads us to relativism. I don't think that is necessarily so. His overarching concept of testimony and counter-testimony, which comes from Paul Ricœur,—well, in the end, it works. It brings us into a deeper understanding of Israel and his struggle with and towards and (sometimes) away from YHWH.

If you start with a solid foundation in orthodox dogmatics and hermeneutics, this book will enrich your religious and intellectual life.

[Daniel Seifert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I plan to read an essay at a time with seasons to muse and integrate as I am able. Shalom! I read portions of Theo. of the OT in Seminary (03-08). So I pick this up when it comes by on the river of life.

Brueggemann OT:TDA continues to be a staple source for unraveling the various obscure texts of the Hebrew people. This Brueggemann text helps unlock the ancient practice and meaning of thus providing clarity and rich meaning for people (students, poets, prophets, pastors, counselors, sojourners, resident aliens) today.

[Stephen Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A "paradigm-shifting" book for evangelicals that forces readers to engage the text in ways they are unaccustomed to read. A must read for people living in the liminal space between the modern and post-modern worlds.

[Steven Bullmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll read anything by Walter Brueggemann! While it's "textbook tough," he has such an insightful perspective on all things Old Testament

[Matt Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruggeman‘s theology focuses more on the interaction between the various dominant voices of the Old Testament than on particular topics or themes. He is brilliant in the first and last part of the book when discussing both the history of the discipline of Old Testament theology and how Christians might faithfully approach the Old Testament. Although he is phenomenally insightful, I walked away from reading his book having learned more about his method and concerns than about the content of theology through the various Old Testament writings. He is also especially sensitive to politics, power and sociology more so in my mind then wrestling with the content. I am glad I spent time reading Brueggeman’s theology partly because it keeps me in tune with what seems to be more contemporary approaches to Old Testament theology. However I didn’t experience a resource for deeper understanding nor practical application of the old testament writings.

I have found Walter Eichrodt and John Goldingay more helpful in wrestling with the actual content of the Old Testament, although in very different ways.

[David Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent when it centers on Brueggeman's systematic view of the Old Testament. Though at times it turns into a typical theology book of "Theologian A says ____ and Theologian B says ____", his own organization is well worth considering. For preachers and teachers it has dozens, if not hundreds of sermons ready-made. It deals honestly from a position of faith the perspective of the disconnect between God and humanity. At times it's not an easy read (what good theology book is?) but well worth it.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating exposition of the Old Testament as a polyphonic disputation about the nature of Yahweh and his relationship to Israel. Thought-provoking statements about philosophical blindspots behind “classical closure Christianity” and discredited Enlightenment thinking. Highlights pluralistic nature of text as an antidote to hyper-rationalist evangelicals and nihilism.

[Marc Bulck · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Theology of the Old Testament" is arguably the magnum opus of one of the great Old Testament scholars and theologians of the 20th century. Brueggemann's theology and hermeneutics are exact. For some, where he lands may seem radical. For others, this book will read as heady and academic. As Old Testament textbooks (from the Western Christian perspective) go, however, this one rests among the pantheon.

[Bryan Neuschwander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed his approach and analysis--he seems to have taken the text seriously.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is Good and Scholarly but fyfaen did his version of God fuck with my mind. (it's probably obvious which aspect)

[Andy Gore · Rating 5 out of 5]

As ever and awesome and heart, soul and mind inspiring read. Brueggemann always takes you where you never imagined him to do but such is this astonishing book we call Scripture.

[Andreas Engström · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughtprovoking and interesting, but often Bruggeman stretches his reading of the Old testament text to an extent that is taking it to far.

[Tristan Sherwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not going to give some long-winded review. All I’m going to say is that this was magnificent, and stirred much reflection and curiosity. Exactly what you want from 750 pages.

[Neil White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal project for its breadth and its insight. It is at times a challenging read but well worth the effort. I really appreciate the structuring of the core testimony of Israel in terms of verbs, nouns, adjectives and metaphors and the tension between the core testimony and the counter testimony.

[Mark Wendland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one book of Brueggemann's that you should read. It is a testimony that passionate and faithful scholarship does not have to buy into "inerrancy" or even the idea that the writings of the Bible are harmonizable.

[Minnie]

Still reading

[Kory M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Tom Beetham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good in the details. Not so much in putting the pieces together for the big picture.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the first half of the book more engaging than the second.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough slog but for me worth the effort.