The Theology of the Book of Jeremiah

Old Testament Theology

by Walter Brueggemann

The present study focuses on the theology of the Book of Jeremiah. That theology revolves around themes familiar from Israel's covenantal faith, especially the sovereignty of YHWH expressed in judgment and promise. The outcome of this theological nexus of context, person, and tradition is a book that moves into the abyss and out of the abyss in unexpected ways. It does so, in part, by asserting that God continues to be generatively and disturbingly operative in the affairs of the world, up to and including our contemporary abysses (such as 9/11). The God attested in the Book of Jeremiah invites its readers into and through any and all such dislocations to new futures that combine divine agency and human inventiveness rooted in faithfulness.

Genres: Theology

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

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

[Nick K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brueggemann is committed to the 4 source theory of collection of the Old Testament canon, and though he supports that view in other works, he does not do so here. If you are conversant in the nuances and scholarship, this should provide no trouble, and since the audience is likely for a more scholarly audience, this is no serious drawback. However, if you are looking for him to defend those views, especially as they relate to Jeremiah, you'll have no luck here. Brueggemann seems to go out of his way to make the book of Jeremiah relate in the way he wishes, using language that implies his conclusions are obvious though he has not given his premises. This is a more significant drawback. That said, there are many useful spiritual insights in the book about the outworking of the theology of Jeremiah, especially in a world far removed from the contexts which drove Jeremiah and Baruch. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who couldn't read critically and had a traditional view of the texts or was not aware of the four source hypothesis.

[Emmett Hogendoorn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book successfully lowered my standards for good literature, I think I could enjoy anything after this.

[Chris Guillotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read/review this work for a class assignment at seminary. To start, Brueggemann’s work isn’t easily accessible. He consistently references prior scholarship and various aspects of textual criticism. His scholarship is on full-display, but it can be a bit difficult to keep up at times.
While the book seeks to cover various themes of Jeremiah’s theology, it especially serves as a solid work on the theme of God’s sovereignty. Much of his main content comes from the notion that Jeremiah wrestled with and boldly proclaimed the truth of God’s sovereign power, despite political turmoil and changing developments in world political-powers. This is as timely a reminder now as it was in the days of the project, and Brueggemann’s coverage of it makes the book worth it alone.

[Ron Tenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old Testament Theology – the Theology of the Book of Jeremiah by Walter Bruggemann

I was interested in a accessible commentary on the Book of Jeremiah for a non-scholarly readership. Julie Faith Parker recommended this book to me. I have enjoyed reading and studying Jeremiah with the able assistance of Walter Brueggemann, a preeminent Old Testament Scholar.
The majority of the book is (as the title implies) a study of the theology of Jeremiah. In my faith tradition, far more interest is shown in the writings and prophecies of Isaiah. But Jeremiah has a profound impact both in his time and after. There are numerous references to him in the New Testament as well. Jeremiah is placed squarely in the middle of the Deuteronomistic history. As such, he reveres the righteous king, Josiah and decries all of his successors. Due to disobedience, Israel, specifically Judah, will suffer punishment by destruction of the temple and exile into Babylon. Jeremiah sees Nebuchadnezzar as God’s agent in this Diaspora. As such, he challenges the prophets who claim that the presence of the Temple in their midst will afford protection because God’s house will not be destroyed. But over and again, Jeremiah explores the depths of destruction, movement into the abyss and then recreation, restoration and redemption.
Brueggemann also notes the influence of the Prophet Hosea. Hosea is described as the most imaginative prophet, reconceptualizing the Sinai covenant as a marriage covenant. Rather than God being bound to Israel through a series of stipulations and blessings and cursing, God is seen as a loving husband that is longing for the love and companionship of his chronically unfaithful wife. God’s motive is love and longing. Many traces of this relationship appear in the writings of Jeremiah as well.
The most often quoted and most referenced part of Jeremiah in the LDS and other Christian churches is chapter 31. In this chapter the author of Hebrews. Brueggemann states (referring to chapter 8 of Hebrews):
But it is verse 13 that is important because of its use of the term “obsolete”. This usage shows how in the letter to the Hebrews the old claim of the Old Testament is characteristically overcome by its New Testament counterpart. Thus “old covenant – new covenant” is read here in a supersessionist way, so that the text of the Old Testament is used against the Old Testament itself.
I just read what I have written above. I think I am trying to sound more educated than I really am. Suffice it to say that I loved reading and pondering the messages contained in the second of the great prophets. I was especially touched by Brueggemann’s final chapter. In this chapter, Jeremiah is used as an interpretive text for everything from the destructive events of “9/11” to a deep personal crisis. Jeremiah provides a model for any person or people that have been transported deep in to the “abyss” and then eventually been restored out. Like the Book of Job, Jeremiah lives in a world where the simple belief of God’s protective hand seems to become God’s destructive fist. How does one maintain faith in such a crisis. The writings of Jeremiah provide many answers.

[David Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presented a very detailed- and exegetically based- theology of the book of Jeremiah. Brueggemann articulates a theology of the sovereignty of God through the verbs of plucking up and planting. The problem I had with this text is his denial of the authentic historical person of Jeremiah. While he does present a very convincing argument based on a narrative written through a Deuteronomically based scribal community, I think that there still could be an actual historical person named Jeremiah who is the prophet in the text. I also disagree with his strong leanings to Reformed theology. He seems to allow his own theological presuppositions guide his interpretation of the text. This takes away from God's love that is very real in the dialogue between YHWH and Jeremiah. Other than these two small critiques, the theological discussion in this text is like no other. Truly this is an excellent work of theology.

[Travis Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cool connections to other ot books hidden amongst the explanations of liberalism.

[Zachariah Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information and concepts. Helpful bibliography at end.