This Strange and Sacred Scripture: Wrestling with the Old Testament and Its Oddities

by Matthew Richard Schlimm

The Old Testament can seem strange and disturbing to contemporary readers. What should Christians make of Genesis 1-3, seemingly at odds with modern scientific accounts? Why does the Old Testament contain so much violence? How should Christians handle texts that give women a second-class status? Does the Old Testament contradict itself? Why are so many Psalms filled with anger and sorrow? What should we make of texts that portray God as filled with wrath?

Combining pastoral insight, biblical scholarship, and a healthy dose of humility, gifted teacher and communicator Matthew Schlimm explores perennial theological questions raised by the Old Testament. He provides strategies for reading and appropriating these sacred texts, showing how the Old Testament can shape the lives of Christians today and helping them appreciate the Old Testament as a friend in faith.

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

270 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2015

About the author

Matthew Richard Schlimm (PhD, Duke University) is assistant professor of Old Testament at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He previously taught at Duke Divinity School and has held various ministry positions in United Methodist churches. He is the author of From Fratricide to Forgiveness: The Language and Ethics of Anger in Genesis and coeditor of the CEB Study Bible.

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex, nuanced, and incredibly useful. Schlimm suggests that the Old Testament is best read through the lens of "friend" while walking readers through various conundrums in it. More Christians should read this book (and the OT!).

[Liz Busby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an interesting compilation of all the problems people have with the Old Testament (eg violence, gender roles, etc) and how some deeper thinking can help. While the problems are not always resolved per say, I think the author provides sufficient reason to not reject the Old Testament entirely. Not that I was at any risk of doing so. Some of the problems were more specific to an evangelical audience and didn't apply to me as a Latter-day Saint who has different ideas about the nature of the Bible, but others are ones I had heard at church before. The "Old Testament as a friend" metaphor was a little too cute for my taste, but it got the point across and served as an organizing principle. This book is a surface-level look at problems and provides resources for digging in further to anything that particularly troubles you. Despite its flaws, I recommend this resource to anyone who struggles with the difficulties of the Old Testament.

[Megan Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my curriculum for a college course studying the Old Testament. We read this book as supplemental reading, something to get us thinking about Scripture and its relevance. I found Schlimm's book to be gripping: I even looked forward to my assignments about the book. I loved how Schlimm's book addressed questions without condemning the reader for thinking this way. I went to a Christian school throughout grade school, and we were discouraged from questioning the Bible. We didn't question why God seemingly condoned violence, why the Old Testament was relevant, etc. We were taught to never question it, and doing so may upset God. Hence why I enjoyed Schlimm's writing; he normalized it and even encouraged it, as doing so deepens our faith. Even if you disagree with him on certain things, I would recommend this book. It has great insight into the Old Testament.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I found this to be a useful book. I came to it having already wrestled with a lot of these questions (and having resolved them), but I really appreciated the opportunity to read a faithful approach that grappled with the OT as it is, and in a progressive way on top of that! Definitely recommend to those struggling/questioning/unsure what to make of some of the OT's weirdness.

Didn't love the flow of a lot of the book, with the in-set asides, but otherwise it was pretty strong, if a little "beginning-level."

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the first I found all the little boxes of quotes and the footnotes distracting; I started out trying to read them all but felt that I was missing the general flow of the book so I stopped.
There were a few things I didn't agree with, especially his take on Adam and Eve but overall I felt he did a good job of showing how the Old Testament is worth reading.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Old Testament is Scripture, but not easy reading. It is full of disturbing passages, strange laws and unsavory characters. Anyone who would dare take up and read will be faced with questions, interpretive challenges and hard texts. Matthew Richard Schlimm has written an entertaining and informative book exploring the difficult questions and how to read the Old Testament well. This Strange and Sacred Scripture: Wrestling with the Old Testament and Its Oddities is basically a undergrad level exploration of the First Testament. It was as fun to read as David Lamb's God Behaving Badly, though far more comprehensive. Schlimm doesn't cover the wisdom literature or prophets much, but he does a good job of exploring law, narrative and various themes that run through the Hebrew Bible. His purpose is not to make the Old Testament simple for us to digest, but to help us grapple with it in a more substantial way.

Schlimm's twelve chapters take us through various issues that relate to the Old Testament. Chapter one discusses the uneasy history Christians have had with the Old Testament. Chapters two and three explores the creation account. Chapter four describes the 'R-rated' stories of the Old Testament'--the messy reality that the scriptures inhabit where even the saints behave badly. Here Schlimm describes how stories work on us as readers. For example, many failed attempts at reading through the Bible have been wrecked on the shoals of the book of Numbers. Schlimm is worth quoting at length:

As we read Numbers, we shouldn't expect to feel uplifted. We shouldn't look for inspiration. Instead, we should expect to feel like the Israelites did out in that desert wasteland. Ironically, you're reading Numbers well if you're sick of the characters and want to stop reading. You are reading well because in that moment you begin to understand in new ways what things were like for the Israelites and for God.

Through the trials of reading Numbers, we can emerge as better people. Someone might rattle off a cliche like "Count your blessings." Or we might admit, when we stop and think about it, that complaining is not a great way to go through life. However, many of us need something more to put our grumbling aside.

When we read Numbers, something interesting happens. We are exposed to constant complaining. We are forced to suffer alongside Moses and the people. We grow sick and tired of their bitterness. And hopefully, complaints in our own mouths begin to taste like ash. (56)

Chapter five explores the violence in Old Testament texts, such as the imprecatory psalms and Joshua and Deuteronomy. Schlimm addresses several faulty premises that Christians bring to interpreting these texts: (1) that we should imitate Bible characters' actions, (2) that we should imitate God, (3) that we should apply every text to our individual life, (4) that we should read individual passages in isolation from one another, and (5) that we should have an answer for every question raised by disturbing texts. Against these, Schlimm invites us to a way of interpreting passages that is humble, communal and dialogical.

Chapter six tackles gender and the role of women. Schlimm admits that the Old Testament is androcentric and sometimes misogynist; however he refuses to give up the sacredness gender or the sacredness of the Bible. He reads egalitarian texts like Genesis 1:26-27 in tension with texts like Leviticus 27:1-8 where women are valued as less than men. Far from ignoring these texts, he grapples with the contradiction and asks God why a text like Lev 27:1-8 is in Bible. Schlimm goes on to explores the nature of Biblical law (chapters seven and eight), the multifaceted nature of truth (chapter nine), sadness and anger of God expressed in the Old Testament (chapter ten), God's wrath (chapter eleven) and the authority of the Hebrew Bible (chapter twelve).

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Schlimm imparts his love for the Old Testament. His prose is winsome. He doesn't provide i easy answers on how to sort through genres, horrifying tales and difficulties. Instead he invites us to a conversation with the Old Testament where we name the exclusion of Ezra, place it conversation with the inclusion of Ruth (and the apostle Paul). Schlimm isn't bothered by contradictions and the sometimes disparate witness of the Old Testament. For him it is bringing these texts into deep conversation and wrestling with them that we begin to see the truth about God and ourselves. Rather than avoiding strange and difficult texts, Schlimm posits that the texts that are most difficult for us, may be the texts that we most need to hear.

If you find the Old Testament difficult and are not always sure what to do with certain passages, this will be a good book for you. Of course by focusing on oddities and interpretive difficulties, Schlimm doesn't spend as much space exploring covenant, mercy, and justice as he may otherwise. This would be a lopsided introduction to the Old Testament if read as a stand alone treatment, but for those who have read and struggle, this is pretty great. I give it four stars.

Notice of Material Connection: I received this book from Baker Academic in exchange for my honest review

[Радостин Марчев]

Приключвам след първите 3 глави. Книгата не е лоша, просто не ми дава никаква нова информация и подходът и към всеки от въпросите е толкова идентичен, че на практика се получават големи смислови повторения макар и изказани с различни думи.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of terrific insights on the Old Testament and good conversation for a small group I joined.

[Sue Whitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schlimm asks "Is the Old Testament an enemy, stranger, or friend to the Christian faith? Spoiler alert: Christians can benefit from the OT; moreover, they need it.

[Victoria Dudek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was very to read but also goes deep into the Scriptures. It honors the Bible and the heart of God and brings fullness and clarity to the OT.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read that discusses a lot about scripture that is debated, new, and different then what we usually hear in church!

[Robert Hillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bold and thought provoking enough that I emailed the author to see if he would talk through the many questions I have.

[Peyton Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Rendi Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was book was recommended to me after I struggled through a study of the book of Joshua and was wrestling with the violence of the Old Testament. That topic is addressed, as well as several others, including creation, gender, the strange laws of the Bible, the imprecatory psalms, and the wrath of God.

While I don't agree with everything in it, I love the approach the author takes from the beginning - the Old Testament is our friend in faith (see quote below). And the God of the Old Testament is big enough to take our questions, struggles, anger, and sorrow - we can express it all in confidence that God hears and cares.

The format of the book is interesting - it has a lot of footnoted and supplemental material for those reading from a more scholarly point of view. It's generally very accessible to an average reader. The only annoying thing relates to his extensive use of call-out boxes for quotes - it made it harder for me to keep with the flow of the main text.

Finally, here's a quote from Schlimm's final chapter:

"Throughout this book, I have argued that the Old Testament is our friend in faith. This metaphor suggests that however old the Old Testament may be, it's still alive - something that can speak to us in powerful ways today. Like a friend you love to be with, the Old Testament is playful, exciting, honest, passionate, and full of life.

"Seeing the Old Testament as our friend in faith explains how we can be firmly committed to Scripture, even as we express questions, doubts, and possible disagreements with it. The same thing happens with our friends. We respect them. We honor them. We take what they say with great seriousness, even if we sometimes question or doubt what they say. ... Of all our friends in faith, the Old Testament is easily the quirkiest. This friend is from another culture and speaks with a thick Hebrew accent. There's also quite a generation gap - one that spans over two thousand years. As soon as the Old Testament begins to speak, our minds fill with questions.

"Yet we need this oddball of a companion precisely because the Old Testament shatters our expectations and forces us to think about things in new and creative ways. The Old Testament ensures there will always be more to learn about God, God's desires, and God's creation." (pp. 205-206)

[Randy Mccracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schilmm has provided a very stimulating look at the Old Testament. I admire his desire to share its value with those who are willing to read this book. I share his commitment to the Old Testament and his conviction that there is much there to enrich our faith. Schlimm doesn't duck any of the difficulties with the Old Testament. He faces the problems squarely and provides some good answers and food for thought. Certainly each chapter could be a book in itself and so the treatment here is only a beginning. At times one can feel the incompleteness of the treatment, but such is the case with a book this size. Schlimm's arguments regarding the potential problems of viewing the Bible as inerrant will certainly rankle some evangelicals (at times I felt the discomfort), but his reverence for God and his respect for the Old Testament is clear on every page. While I don't agree with all of his conclusions, Schlimm has written a stimulating book that provides some answers to perplexing difficulties, while at the same time challenging the reader to view the Old Testament in new ways. This Strange and Sacred Scripture is written in a very accessible style. I not only recommend it, it is my hope that it will stimulate many to a deeper appreciation and study of the Old Testament.
For the full review click here: http://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/20...

[Michael Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the writers of the Old Testament hires a PR firm to defend it against modern sensibilities, they’ll probably do no better than the author. For instance, we are told that there is no saintly figure in OT because it is trying to use complex life-like stories to teach people the good is intricately intertwined with the bad; our best moral principles come into conflict with each other.

On a lighter side, it explains some of the quirky laws such as punishing a wife who grabbed the genital of a man fighting her husband. The reason given was that the Bible is profoundly concerted with starting families.

[Nate Claiborne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The controlling metaphor that Matthew Schlimm uses ("The OT is our friend in the faith") could prove more useful if used in conjunction with different secondary sources. While not having quite the view of a Peter Enna type, Schlimm tackles the typical problem parts of the OT and tries to show a way forward for Christians who want to still value all of Scripture. He does so from what I'd consider a mainline, slightly liberal, Protestant point of view. He doesn't appear to understand how inerrancy is typically defined and so rejects caricatures of it late in the book. He confuses church and state in his discussion of violence, or perhaps believes that violence in all circumstances is wrong. His discussion of gender issues almost displayed a reverse bias in fear of not being the least patriarchal (something he sees Russell Moore doing). Ultimately, while this project is something I applaud, the execution of it, both stylistically (too many sidebar quotes) and conceptually (theologically and otherwise), left much to be desired.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schlimm has written this book to the level of college students and educated laity. I appreciate its readability. (I am of the educated laity.) Although I disagree with some of Schlimm's conclusions, I do like the way he approached the troublesome issues of the Old Testament. He has asked us to think deeply on issues and consider engaging the Old Testament as a conversation. He notes that it does take extra work to bridge the cultural barriers but the Old Testament has much to teach us so we should not ignore it. I recommend this book to pastors and church leaders because of the way Schlimm approaches OT issues. I do disagree with him in areas but the way he investigates troublesome issues is a very good model.
See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1HeA4br.

[Rachel Turner-Poteet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the authenticity and scholarship of this book. It’s a very worthwhile and balanced read. The author does use an interpretation of herem (human sacrifice) put forward by Niditch that has been thoroughly argued against by Hess and Walton and which I think is immensely problematic. It’s controversial in the field and he presents it as if it’s not.

[Maddie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is helpful for people who struggle to engage with the Old Testament. Using the metaphor "the Old Testament is a friend in faith" Schlimm wrestles with some of the complex parts of the Old Testament. I found some arguments lacking but appreciate his work to get people to engage with a part of scripture that's often ignored.

[Rafael Sales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great guide to teaching the Old Testament in the church. Schlimm does a great job.

[Shu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book very much. Mr. Schlimm offers very insightful and thought provoking views on the old testament and provides wonderful perspectives for the next read through of the Bible.

[Sally]

Quoted in Julie M Smith's "As honey for sweetness: wrestling with the various voices of scriptures" in Sunstone's Winter 2016 issue.