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Understanding Old Testament Theology: Mapping the Terrain of Recent Approaches
The discipline of Old Testament theology seeks to provide us with a picture of YHWH and his relationship to the world as described in the Old Testament. But within this discipline, there are many disagreements about the key issues and All these considerations and more result in so many different kinds of Old Testament theologies (and so many publications), that it's difficult for students, pastors, and laity to productively study this already complex field. In Understanding Old Testament Theology , professors Brittany Kim and Charlie Trimm provide an overview of the contemporary approaches to Old Testament theology. In three main sections, they explore various Each main chapter describes both common features of the approach and points of tension and then offers a test case illuminating how it has been applied to the book of Exodus. Through reading this book, you’ll hopefully come to see the Old Testament in a fresh light—as something that’s alive and active, continually drawing us into deeper encounters with the living God.
192 pages, Paperback
Published December 22, 2020
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September 13, 2022
Oof was she dry.
September 14, 2025
Brittany Kim and Charlie Trimm. Understanding Old Testament Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020. 192 pp.
Understanding Old Testament Theology is Kim and Trimm’s update to Hasel’s now thirty-year-old Old Testament Theology: Basic Issues in the Current Debate. Both authors have collaborated in the past and do so again in this present volume. Kim completed her M.A. and PhD at Wheaton College and is now an adjunct professor at Northeastern Seminary. Trimm also did his PhD at Wheaton and now teaches at Talbot School of Theology and Biola University.
The book consists of a preface, an introduction, three parts, and a conclusion.
The introduction establishes a working definition of Old Testament theology (OTT). Old Testament theology “seeks to provide us with a picture of YHWH and his relationship to the world as described in the Old Testament” (2). They also introduce six “flash points” that all OTTs must seek to answer. “1. Degree of Unity. 2. Connection with the New Testament. 3. Significance of the interpreter’s context. 4. Descriptive versus prescriptive. 5. Theology, history, and method. 6. Structure” (3). The remainder of the introduction offers a brief history of Old Testament theology and outlines the chapters to follow. Each chapter introduces an approach to OTT and the major works that fit in that category, as well as the common features of those who use that specific approach. At the close of each chapter, they highlight the points of tension that exist among theologians who use the approach in question, and finally, they apply the method to the Exodus narrative.
Part 1 is titled “History” and contains two chapters. This section is not concerned with the history of OTT, but the approaches of OTT that are grounded in history. Chapter one considers the “Biblical (Hi)story” approach. According to the authors, this approach emphasizes the history recorded in the Old Testament. This is the primary way that God has revealed Himself, and thus biblical history is “inherently theological” (14). They explain that this approach does not usually consider historical-critical issues. Other features of this approach are viewing the Bible as a unified story that shapes the believing community. Some of the volumes the authors put in this approach are T. Desmond Alexander’s From Eden to the New Jerusalem, Gentry and Wellum’s Kingdom through Covenant, John Goldingay’s Israel’s Gospel, and Geerhardus Vos’ Biblical Theology.
Chapter two explains the Historical-Critical method of OTT. Like the (Hi)story approach, this method employs historical criticism to reconstruct the history that lies underneath the text. Kim and Trimm point out that some historical critics deny the supernatural and thus reject miraculous accounts in the Bible as ahistorical. These authors also tend to deny the traditional author and dates of the Old Testament books. This critical approach creates a divide over whether it should be understood as OTT or a history of the Israelite Religion. They are also divided on the historicity of much of the Bible. Prominent texts surveyed in this chapter are James Barr’s The Concept of Biblical Theology, John Collins Is a Critical Biblical Theology Possible, Jörg Jeremias’ Theologie des Alten Testaments, and Gerhard von Rad’s Old Testament Theology.
Chapter three is the first chapter in part 2, which is labeled “theme.” Both chapters three and four examine approaches to OTT that are primarily concerned with the theme(s) of the Old Testament. Chapter three looks at the multiplex thematic approach. This view interacts with the Old Testament through the lens of multiple themes that can be found in the text and connect to the New Testament and the church. The main tension in this approach is what themes are to be emphasized in one’s OTT. They also disagree on what interpretive approach should be used to extract theology from the text. Three of Goldingay’s volumes are examined in this chapter: Biblical Theology, Israel’s Faith, and Israel’s Life. John Walton’s Old Testament Theology for Christians and Walther Zimmerli’s Old Testament Theology in Outline are other notable texts in this chapter.
Chapter four examines the approach that seeks to find and focus on one central theme in the Old Testament. All those in this category assume “The Old Testament is a single, cohesive book; therefore, it must have a center” (74). The most apparent point of tension in this model is the center of the Old Testament. Different themes have been proposed as the center: Covenant (Dumbrell, Covenant and Creation), Kingdom of God (Schreiner, The King in His Beauty), Divine-Human Relationship (Kessler, Old Testament Theology), Promise (Kaiser Jr., Toward an Old Testament Theology), God’s glory (Hamilton, God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment), and mission (Wright, The Mission of God).
Part 3 is titled “Context” and contains three chapters. Chapter five looks at Canonical Theology. This approach identifies the biblical canon as the means for understanding the Old Testament. The final canonical form is what should be examined when doing theology in this view. This view believes that texts should be understood in light of the entire Old Testament context. Kim and Trimm point out that this approach is “necessarily a Christian enterprise” (96). Scholars who use this approach differ on the role of progressive revelation and whether the New Testament can reinterpret the Old. Another point of tension exists between Catholic and Protestant scholars as to which canon is used. Brevard Childs is the famous proponent of this view (Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments). Mark Boda has carried on that legacy (The Heartbeat of Old Testament Theology) as well as Paul House (Old Testament Theology) and Ben Witherington III (Biblical Theology).
Chapter six explains the Jewish Biblical Theology approach. This approach utilizes the Jewish canon and does theology from a Jewish perspective. The primary distinction of this approach is that it views the Old Testament as a complete canon. This view emphasizes diversity in the text and varies in its use of rabbinic material for OTT. Isaac Kalimi is a prominent author who takes this approach. His notable works are History of Israelite Religion or Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Theology? Models for Jewish Bible Theologies, and Jewish Bible Theology. Marvin A. Sweeney has also contributed numerous volumes to this field: Reading the Hebrew Bible after the Shoah, Tanak, and Tanak versus Old Testament.
Chapter seven is on Postmodern Old Testament Theology. This approach is more subjective in nature, focusing on the diverse perspectives in the text and the context of the interpreter. This view sees the Old Testament as having “a multitude of differing and sometimes competing voices” (129). Theologians using this approach differ in how the Bible is to be deconstructed. Walter Brueggemann is the most notable scholar who utilizes this technique. Among his works on the subject are Old Testament Theology and Theology of the Old Testament.
This work is a self-described introduction to the discipline of OTT. It surveys and collates the major Old Testament theologies into seven categories (1. Biblical History, 2. Historical-Critical, 3. Multiple Themes, 4. Single Theme, 5. Canonical, 6. Jewish, 7. Postmodern). Each chapter defines the approach in question, lists the major works in that approach, outlines the major agreements and disagreements, and applies the approach to the Exodus. This volume has many strengths and some weaknesses.
A major weakness is that the authors do not attempt to evaluate the various methods. How has each approach been received? How have Old Testament theologians critiqued other approaches and defended their own? These would have been valuable questions to ask in a survey of OTT. Is each approach legitimate? Which approach should the reader take? These are not questions answered in this book.
The conclusion also did not connect well with the previous material. They examined the future of OTT, claiming that it is ‘unfortunate’ that the field has been dominated by white Christian males (153). There were signs of Critical Race Theory throughout the book, but they became most evident in the conclusion. One wonders why the race or gender of the theologian should be the main concern (let alone any concern) for OTT or why it would be ‘unfortunate’ that a certain race has contributed most to OTT. The reader would have been better served if they had proposed areas that needed further research and development, and other approaches to be considered.
The strengths of this book outweigh the weaknesses. The book accomplished its goal of introducing its readers to the discipline of OTT. Each chapter not only gave the reader a good grasp of the approach but also introduced you to the relevant volumes in that field and allowed you to see the approach in action by applying the approach to the Exodus. The chapters were short and readable with helpful charts throughout, so the contrasts between the books in a specific approach could be seen.
The conclusion provides various commentaries, dictionaries, and other resources that contribute to OTT. They also turn the approach of each chapter into a question that the interpreter can ask of a specific text when they are doing OTT. The resources surveyed throughout and listed in the conclusion give the reader plenty of places to start further investigation.
There is also a helpful appendix with a chart that lists seven approaches. The chart summarized the common features of each approach as well as the points of tension. After reading the book, this chart is valuable as a quick reminder of each approach and serves as a summary of each chapter.
Ultimately, evangelicals will be unsatisfied with approaches six and seven. Approaches one through six seem legitimate, but the historical-critical emphasis of the second method seems to be more of a cripple than a help. Every approach could fit under the multi-theme or single-theme approach. This is where the debate lies among evangelicals. If God is the ultimate Author of the whole Bible, then should readers expect a single dominant theme to run throughout Scripture? If so, then why are there so many proposed single themes? If not, what does that say about God’s authorship of Scripture? This is where more work needs to be done, and what Kim and Trimm’s introduction sets the reader up to ponder.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in OTT. This is a great place to start, plus each chapter offers the student further resources to examine if they would like to go deeper. Kim and Trimm’s vast amount of research condensed in this little book will be a valuable tool for students learning about this field. This short book is a great tool to introduce someone to the subject and give them the necessary footing to start their research on OTT. Entering into the study of a subject with no context of the history or the major contributions of the subject can be debilitating. Kim and Trimm summarize the history and the major contributions for the student in a way that better prepares them to enter into the subject and do reading, research, and writing of their own.
Gage Terrell
ThM student | Shepherds Theological Seminary
Understanding Old Testament Theology is Kim and Trimm’s update to Hasel’s now thirty-year-old Old Testament Theology: Basic Issues in the Current Debate. Both authors have collaborated in the past and do so again in this present volume. Kim completed her M.A. and PhD at Wheaton College and is now an adjunct professor at Northeastern Seminary. Trimm also did his PhD at Wheaton and now teaches at Talbot School of Theology and Biola University.
The book consists of a preface, an introduction, three parts, and a conclusion.
The introduction establishes a working definition of Old Testament theology (OTT). Old Testament theology “seeks to provide us with a picture of YHWH and his relationship to the world as described in the Old Testament” (2). They also introduce six “flash points” that all OTTs must seek to answer. “1. Degree of Unity. 2. Connection with the New Testament. 3. Significance of the interpreter’s context. 4. Descriptive versus prescriptive. 5. Theology, history, and method. 6. Structure” (3). The remainder of the introduction offers a brief history of Old Testament theology and outlines the chapters to follow. Each chapter introduces an approach to OTT and the major works that fit in that category, as well as the common features of those who use that specific approach. At the close of each chapter, they highlight the points of tension that exist among theologians who use the approach in question, and finally, they apply the method to the Exodus narrative.
Part 1 is titled “History” and contains two chapters. This section is not concerned with the history of OTT, but the approaches of OTT that are grounded in history. Chapter one considers the “Biblical (Hi)story” approach. According to the authors, this approach emphasizes the history recorded in the Old Testament. This is the primary way that God has revealed Himself, and thus biblical history is “inherently theological” (14). They explain that this approach does not usually consider historical-critical issues. Other features of this approach are viewing the Bible as a unified story that shapes the believing community. Some of the volumes the authors put in this approach are T. Desmond Alexander’s From Eden to the New Jerusalem, Gentry and Wellum’s Kingdom through Covenant, John Goldingay’s Israel’s Gospel, and Geerhardus Vos’ Biblical Theology.
Chapter two explains the Historical-Critical method of OTT. Like the (Hi)story approach, this method employs historical criticism to reconstruct the history that lies underneath the text. Kim and Trimm point out that some historical critics deny the supernatural and thus reject miraculous accounts in the Bible as ahistorical. These authors also tend to deny the traditional author and dates of the Old Testament books. This critical approach creates a divide over whether it should be understood as OTT or a history of the Israelite Religion. They are also divided on the historicity of much of the Bible. Prominent texts surveyed in this chapter are James Barr’s The Concept of Biblical Theology, John Collins Is a Critical Biblical Theology Possible, Jörg Jeremias’ Theologie des Alten Testaments, and Gerhard von Rad’s Old Testament Theology.
Chapter three is the first chapter in part 2, which is labeled “theme.” Both chapters three and four examine approaches to OTT that are primarily concerned with the theme(s) of the Old Testament. Chapter three looks at the multiplex thematic approach. This view interacts with the Old Testament through the lens of multiple themes that can be found in the text and connect to the New Testament and the church. The main tension in this approach is what themes are to be emphasized in one’s OTT. They also disagree on what interpretive approach should be used to extract theology from the text. Three of Goldingay’s volumes are examined in this chapter: Biblical Theology, Israel’s Faith, and Israel’s Life. John Walton’s Old Testament Theology for Christians and Walther Zimmerli’s Old Testament Theology in Outline are other notable texts in this chapter.
Chapter four examines the approach that seeks to find and focus on one central theme in the Old Testament. All those in this category assume “The Old Testament is a single, cohesive book; therefore, it must have a center” (74). The most apparent point of tension in this model is the center of the Old Testament. Different themes have been proposed as the center: Covenant (Dumbrell, Covenant and Creation), Kingdom of God (Schreiner, The King in His Beauty), Divine-Human Relationship (Kessler, Old Testament Theology), Promise (Kaiser Jr., Toward an Old Testament Theology), God’s glory (Hamilton, God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment), and mission (Wright, The Mission of God).
Part 3 is titled “Context” and contains three chapters. Chapter five looks at Canonical Theology. This approach identifies the biblical canon as the means for understanding the Old Testament. The final canonical form is what should be examined when doing theology in this view. This view believes that texts should be understood in light of the entire Old Testament context. Kim and Trimm point out that this approach is “necessarily a Christian enterprise” (96). Scholars who use this approach differ on the role of progressive revelation and whether the New Testament can reinterpret the Old. Another point of tension exists between Catholic and Protestant scholars as to which canon is used. Brevard Childs is the famous proponent of this view (Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments). Mark Boda has carried on that legacy (The Heartbeat of Old Testament Theology) as well as Paul House (Old Testament Theology) and Ben Witherington III (Biblical Theology).
Chapter six explains the Jewish Biblical Theology approach. This approach utilizes the Jewish canon and does theology from a Jewish perspective. The primary distinction of this approach is that it views the Old Testament as a complete canon. This view emphasizes diversity in the text and varies in its use of rabbinic material for OTT. Isaac Kalimi is a prominent author who takes this approach. His notable works are History of Israelite Religion or Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Theology? Models for Jewish Bible Theologies, and Jewish Bible Theology. Marvin A. Sweeney has also contributed numerous volumes to this field: Reading the Hebrew Bible after the Shoah, Tanak, and Tanak versus Old Testament.
Chapter seven is on Postmodern Old Testament Theology. This approach is more subjective in nature, focusing on the diverse perspectives in the text and the context of the interpreter. This view sees the Old Testament as having “a multitude of differing and sometimes competing voices” (129). Theologians using this approach differ in how the Bible is to be deconstructed. Walter Brueggemann is the most notable scholar who utilizes this technique. Among his works on the subject are Old Testament Theology and Theology of the Old Testament.
This work is a self-described introduction to the discipline of OTT. It surveys and collates the major Old Testament theologies into seven categories (1. Biblical History, 2. Historical-Critical, 3. Multiple Themes, 4. Single Theme, 5. Canonical, 6. Jewish, 7. Postmodern). Each chapter defines the approach in question, lists the major works in that approach, outlines the major agreements and disagreements, and applies the approach to the Exodus. This volume has many strengths and some weaknesses.
A major weakness is that the authors do not attempt to evaluate the various methods. How has each approach been received? How have Old Testament theologians critiqued other approaches and defended their own? These would have been valuable questions to ask in a survey of OTT. Is each approach legitimate? Which approach should the reader take? These are not questions answered in this book.
The conclusion also did not connect well with the previous material. They examined the future of OTT, claiming that it is ‘unfortunate’ that the field has been dominated by white Christian males (153). There were signs of Critical Race Theory throughout the book, but they became most evident in the conclusion. One wonders why the race or gender of the theologian should be the main concern (let alone any concern) for OTT or why it would be ‘unfortunate’ that a certain race has contributed most to OTT. The reader would have been better served if they had proposed areas that needed further research and development, and other approaches to be considered.
The strengths of this book outweigh the weaknesses. The book accomplished its goal of introducing its readers to the discipline of OTT. Each chapter not only gave the reader a good grasp of the approach but also introduced you to the relevant volumes in that field and allowed you to see the approach in action by applying the approach to the Exodus. The chapters were short and readable with helpful charts throughout, so the contrasts between the books in a specific approach could be seen.
The conclusion provides various commentaries, dictionaries, and other resources that contribute to OTT. They also turn the approach of each chapter into a question that the interpreter can ask of a specific text when they are doing OTT. The resources surveyed throughout and listed in the conclusion give the reader plenty of places to start further investigation.
There is also a helpful appendix with a chart that lists seven approaches. The chart summarized the common features of each approach as well as the points of tension. After reading the book, this chart is valuable as a quick reminder of each approach and serves as a summary of each chapter.
Ultimately, evangelicals will be unsatisfied with approaches six and seven. Approaches one through six seem legitimate, but the historical-critical emphasis of the second method seems to be more of a cripple than a help. Every approach could fit under the multi-theme or single-theme approach. This is where the debate lies among evangelicals. If God is the ultimate Author of the whole Bible, then should readers expect a single dominant theme to run throughout Scripture? If so, then why are there so many proposed single themes? If not, what does that say about God’s authorship of Scripture? This is where more work needs to be done, and what Kim and Trimm’s introduction sets the reader up to ponder.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in OTT. This is a great place to start, plus each chapter offers the student further resources to examine if they would like to go deeper. Kim and Trimm’s vast amount of research condensed in this little book will be a valuable tool for students learning about this field. This short book is a great tool to introduce someone to the subject and give them the necessary footing to start their research on OTT. Entering into the study of a subject with no context of the history or the major contributions of the subject can be debilitating. Kim and Trimm summarize the history and the major contributions for the student in a way that better prepares them to enter into the subject and do reading, research, and writing of their own.
Gage Terrell
ThM student | Shepherds Theological Seminary
June 7, 2022
I thought this was a super helpful map of the field of OT Theology. Very accessible for someone unfamiliar with the topic, but still loaded with quotes from important authors and nuanced in distinctions between approaches. They probably deal with about 80-100 different published works of OT Theology. And their really helpful piece is that they map all of these works into 3 categories of approaches:
(His)story
Thematic
Context
And the whole thing is like 150 pages. I wish there were books like this for other fields!
(His)story
Thematic
Context
And the whole thing is like 150 pages. I wish there were books like this for other fields!
June 3, 2021
An excellent introduction for anyone interested in the discipline! The authors move at a steady clip, holding the reader’s interest without belaboring their point or diverting too far afield. Cannot recommend highly enough!
February 12, 2025
Brittany Kim and Charlie Trimm summarize in an exceptional manner the various approaches to Old Testament theology that have arisen over the years. Truthfully, this book deepened my love for the Old Testament in all of its diversity as well as its unity. Kim and Trimm explain 7 different approaches to the discipline—including Jewish and Postmodern approaches to Old Testament Theology. Most representative of my approach is probably a combo of the (Hi)story of the Old Testament and the Multiplex Thematic approaches. These approaches highlight the overarching story of the Old Testament as well as the richly diverse theological themes of the Hebrew Bible. Kim and Trimm also suggest the key biblical-theological question for the reader of the Old Testament to ask about the text—no matter the reader’s approach: “what does this passage convey about God and his relationship to the world?” By equipping the reader with this question as well as the various approaches to OT theology, the authors train the reader how to do biblical theology on their own. I must also add that the chapter on Jewish Biblical Theology has a discussion on the impact of the Holocaust on Jewish readings of the Old Testament that I found utterly shocking and fascinating if even somewhat provocative. This is just a well done work that has me wanting to read the Old Testament with new eyes and desiring to read more works on biblical theology.
June 12, 2021
While pretty basic at points, Kim and Trimm are to be commended for providing what is overall a very solid introduction to the topic. Their work provides a helpful "lay of the land" and orientation to the field of OT theology, while remaining accessible to students and non-scholars.
February 15, 2024
Glad I bought it. Introduced and explained 7 methods of doing Old Testament theology, would recommend to anyone wanting to get into OT theology. Definitely a keeper 👌
December 6, 2024
It does exactly what it intends to cover. Somewhat dry but does give lots of viewpoints and helpful information
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews