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Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey
The groundbreaking Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible ( DTIB ) introduced readers to key names, theories, and concepts in the field of biblical interpretation. It has been well received by pastors and students, won book awards from Christianity Today and the Catholic Press Association, and was named the ECPA 2006 Christian Book of the Year. Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament features key articles from DTIB , providing readers with a book-by-book theological reading of the Old Testament. The articles are authored by leading scholars, including Daniel I. Block, Tremper Longman III, J. Gordon McConville, Walter Moberly, Richard Schultz, and Gordon J. Wenham. This handy and affordable text will work particularly well for students in Old Testament/Bible survey courses, pastors, and lay readers.
336 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2008
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About the author
Kevin J. Vanhoozer
68 books189 followersKevin J. Vanhoozer is currently Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. From 1990-98 he was Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at New College, University of Edinburgh. Vanhoozer received a BA from Westmont College, an M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, England having studied under Nicholas Lash.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 25, 2025
This book is in fact a collection of dictionary entries of the OT books in Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. This is also not a book specifically about the TIS methodology for interpretation, either. In Vanhoozer’s helpful lead article, he explains the commitment of all of the articles: communicate the theological message of each book from the text itself as it pertained to the original audience, communicate the ongoing relevance for the Christian community today of that theological message, and not being preoccupied with either source critical questions or ideological readings. In other words, this is designed as a confessional theological synthesis of each book while nodding to reception history and contemporary application.
I do think that the paperback format makes these collected articles more readable and organized. It also assumes that the reader is familiar with the books in question, so this is not necessarily a book for those engaging the OT for the first time. The focus is more on synthesis than introduction.
As with any edited work, there is a range of helpfulness and quality. I will include what I thought were the stand out articles here: Deuteronomy (Block), Chronicles (Throntveit), Song of Songs (Longman) Isaiah (Schultz), Lamentations (Brady), Hosea (Evans), and Haggai (House). These entries exemplified the best integration of attention to textual features, theological themes, contemporary application, and reflections on reception history.
An overall weakness of the majority of the articles is the reception history bit. Some paint extremely broad strokes (patristic allegory, source critical atomizing, modern literary approaches) while others don’t engage hardly at all with reception history or primarily focus on historical critical approaches for too long. While I understand the need to be terse in articles like this, there were still articles that did not address some of the key components (whether popularly or otherwise) of respective books.
Overall a helpful resource, but some definitely stand above the rest.
I do think that the paperback format makes these collected articles more readable and organized. It also assumes that the reader is familiar with the books in question, so this is not necessarily a book for those engaging the OT for the first time. The focus is more on synthesis than introduction.
As with any edited work, there is a range of helpfulness and quality. I will include what I thought were the stand out articles here: Deuteronomy (Block), Chronicles (Throntveit), Song of Songs (Longman) Isaiah (Schultz), Lamentations (Brady), Hosea (Evans), and Haggai (House). These entries exemplified the best integration of attention to textual features, theological themes, contemporary application, and reflections on reception history.
An overall weakness of the majority of the articles is the reception history bit. Some paint extremely broad strokes (patristic allegory, source critical atomizing, modern literary approaches) while others don’t engage hardly at all with reception history or primarily focus on historical critical approaches for too long. While I understand the need to be terse in articles like this, there were still articles that did not address some of the key components (whether popularly or otherwise) of respective books.
Overall a helpful resource, but some definitely stand above the rest.
June 30, 2022
Super helpful for adding to my Old Testament Class, succinct and digestable understandings of each book
April 22, 2015
As with any collection, the contributions vary in quality; this book edited by Vanhoozer is no different. Some of the articles - for example those on Exodus Daniel, and Malachi - are worth four or five stars while others are somewhat disappointing. Like Dumbrell or Longman this is an Old Testament theology you should have on your shelf
May 18, 2012
Read about half the book for Old Testament with John Lewis.
Useful information and explanations; it will stay on my shelf and I'm sure I'll refer back to it in the future.
Useful information and explanations; it will stay on my shelf and I'm sure I'll refer back to it in the future.
August 16, 2013
Brief but helpful overview of the theology of OT books. Many great and clear points. Overall, a useful book that would benefit anyone who read it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews