Unfolding Redemption: The Heart of the Gospel in the Story of Old Testament History

by Ian J. Vaillancourt

Genres: Christian

192 pages, Paperback

Published March 24, 2026

Reviews

[Lianna Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ This book provides an unfolding overview of the later part of the Old Testament, with an emphasis on how these writings point forward to Jesus. While I appreciated the author’s clear gospel enthusiasm, this is a well-worn path, and relatively little felt new or especially compelling to me—hence the 3.5-star rating.

One of the highlights was the discussion of Esther, particularly the way the narrative reflects God’s faithfulness through the defeat of a descendant of Agag, Haman. That connection was thoughtful.

At times, however, the Christ-centered applications felt disconnected from the biblical summaries that preceded them. I often found myself expecting a more natural progression—only to be taken in a different direction. That lack of cohesion was, at points, disappointing, as it seemed the chapters were building toward something they did not fully deliver.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have encountered Ian Vaillancourt, you likely noticed that he thrives in a biblical theology mode when looking at Scripture. His previous writings all seem in that vein. In fact, I thought his “The Dawning of Redemption” a really fine book. Here he rises to a higher altitude to look at the Old Testament as a whole.

The higher altitude view, obviously, has strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, it really helps connect dots and take in the big picture. On the other hand, details are of necessity flown over. In a nutshell, that is exactly an evaluation of this book. That’s not a problem as no book can be everything. In fact, I can easily tell you the greatest attribute of this book—it’s a book to put in the hands of folks just starting to get serious about taking in biblical theology. It’s especially accessible without being superficial. More seasoned readers will appreciate how it’s written but might not find a lot they don’t already know.

This book focuses on the historical portions of the OT (Joshua to Chronicles). He creatively uses ideas to moor the reader to the text, such as “land” for Joshua. The most creative one is “ingrafting” for Ruth. The other asset is how each chapter ends with ties to the NT. It’s quite gospel friendly.

Here’s a fine book that can help bring along those ready to dive into biblical theology.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Elaine Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Old Testament gets a lot of criticism. From progressives because they tend to see only the judgement of the sins & not the sins themselves nor the mercy extended by God. They find the God of the OT distasteful to their modern, enlightened sensibilities. For others, the books can feel ancient & tedious. Do we need to know the boundaries of each tribe's territory, Joshua? Do we need to chronicle the time of the Kings of Israel & Judah in 2 separate accounts? And don't even get us started on those genealogies! What do these books written many millennia ago have to do with my life in the 21st century? This book helps us see the Old Testament history books (the author has a book about the Pentateuch as well) as they fit into the grander story of God's redemption of mankind. Starting with some basic Bible history & explaining the way the Hebrew Bible was organized, Vaillancourt uses these scholarly instructions as he takes a look at Israel's history & how it tells a much grander story. I always appreciate when an author doesn't shy away from presenting topics you might learn in an academic setting. This type of instruction grows the reader's biblical literacy & it shows respect for the reader's abilities to make those connections independently (with insights from the Holy Spirit, or course). I would definitely recommend this book for your own Scripture study!

[Michael Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Unfolding Redemption" is a great read learning about God's grace and redemption in the Old Testament. Indeed, in a time when preachers often either minimize or ignore the Old Testament in their preaching, this book is a great reminder and challenge to read the Old Testament.

Around 180 pages, there are many things I liked about this book:

- Includes a very good scripture index and bibliography for further study.
- Includes many examples in several Old Testament books of God's grace and redemption.
- Well-organized and flows smoothly from chapter to chapter.
- Easy to read and understand.
- Includes good discussion questions and footnotes for reflection and better understanding.

Very good read on the Old Testament and challenge to not just read the New Testament. Recommended.

I was given a copy by IVP in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.

[Julia Shelburne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, themes throughout the Old Testament are connected to the good news of redemption. The book is organized well with clear analyses, and answers questions some readers may have like why was Haman so antagonistic in Esther and why the older generation lamented upon the rebuilding of the temple. Overall, this is a good supplement to an Old Testament study.

Thank you NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Amber Wessies Owrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated Vaillancourt's look at the Old Testament from traditional Hebrew order and how that impacts the understanding of the Old Testament and New Testament.
A few anecdotes felt unnecessary, but overall, I felt the book was easy to follow and understand. I also learned quite a few things that will help me when reading the Bible in the future.

[Phil Cotnoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to much of the OT in an accessible, readable, but deeply researched style.