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§1 The Parts of the Old Testament

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Old Testament Introduction
This chapter is in the book Old Testament Introduction
§1 THE PARTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT a) Name and Structure It is the New Testament that makes the Old Testament "Old." The very name "Old Testament" (OT), which makes sense only in correla-tion with the New Testament (NT), already implies the problem of the Christian interpretation of this body of traditions. At the same time, however, while the name is determined by Christianity's understand-ing of itself, it also has a basis within the OT or, more accurately, in the prophetic expectation of what was to come, namely, that after judging his people God would again bestow his favor on them. According to the promises in Jer 31:3Iff. a "new covenant" (Latin: testamentum) would replace the one that was broken. This one word is an example of how the OT develops beyond itself, as it were, and transcends itself through hope. The Christian understanding of the OT has a basis in this kind of OT expectation, which looks beyond the condition of its time. The NT relates the prophetic promises to the future that has now made its appearance in the person of Jesus (see 2 Cor 3; Heb 8). But the applica-tion of the term "old covenant" or "testament" to the books of the OT is not yet found in the NT itself. The NT cites the Old as an authority (e.g., Luke 10:25ff.), as "scrip-ture . . . inspired by God" (2 Tim 3:16). In fact the OT is regarded simply as "the scripture" or "the scriptures" without qualification (Luke 4:21; 24:27ff.; etc.). This designation reflects its high and even, in a sense, unparalleled standing, but it should not be misinterpreted as meaning that the OT is by its nature a word set down in writing, while the NT is a spoken, living word. To an important extent, the OT, and especially the prophetic message, emerged from oral teaching and was later read and explained in the liturgy (Neh 8:8; Luke 4:17). The NT speaks of the whole OT also as "law" (John 12:34; 1 Cor 14:21) or, with greater precision, "law and prophets" or "Moses and 3

§1 THE PARTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT a) Name and Structure It is the New Testament that makes the Old Testament "Old." The very name "Old Testament" (OT), which makes sense only in correla-tion with the New Testament (NT), already implies the problem of the Christian interpretation of this body of traditions. At the same time, however, while the name is determined by Christianity's understand-ing of itself, it also has a basis within the OT or, more accurately, in the prophetic expectation of what was to come, namely, that after judging his people God would again bestow his favor on them. According to the promises in Jer 31:3Iff. a "new covenant" (Latin: testamentum) would replace the one that was broken. This one word is an example of how the OT develops beyond itself, as it were, and transcends itself through hope. The Christian understanding of the OT has a basis in this kind of OT expectation, which looks beyond the condition of its time. The NT relates the prophetic promises to the future that has now made its appearance in the person of Jesus (see 2 Cor 3; Heb 8). But the applica-tion of the term "old covenant" or "testament" to the books of the OT is not yet found in the NT itself. The NT cites the Old as an authority (e.g., Luke 10:25ff.), as "scrip-ture . . . inspired by God" (2 Tim 3:16). In fact the OT is regarded simply as "the scripture" or "the scriptures" without qualification (Luke 4:21; 24:27ff.; etc.). This designation reflects its high and even, in a sense, unparalleled standing, but it should not be misinterpreted as meaning that the OT is by its nature a word set down in writing, while the NT is a spoken, living word. To an important extent, the OT, and especially the prophetic message, emerged from oral teaching and was later read and explained in the liturgy (Neh 8:8; Luke 4:17). The NT speaks of the whole OT also as "law" (John 12:34; 1 Cor 14:21) or, with greater precision, "law and prophets" or "Moses and 3

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Preface XI
  4. Part I. Survey of the Old Testament and Its History
  5. §1 The Parts of the Old Testament 3
  6. §2 The Stages of Israel's History 8
  7. §3 Aspects of Social History 28
  8. Part II. Traditions and Documentary Sources of the Pentateuch and the Historical Books
  9. §4 The Pentateuch 41
  10. §5 Selected Types of Narrative 63
  11. §6 The Yahwist History 75
  12. §7 The Elohist History 84
  13. §8 The Priestly Document 93
  14. §9 Old Testament Law 110
  15. §10 Deuteronomy 120
  16. §11 The Deuterohomistic History 136
  17. §12 The Chronicler's History 160
  18. Part IIΙ. The Prophets
  19. §13 The Form of Prophecy 173
  20. §14 Amos 194
  21. §15 Hosea 201
  22. §16 Isaiah 209
  23. §17 Micah 220
  24. §18 Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Obadiah 225
  25. §19 Jeremiah 233
  26. §20 Ezekiel 246
  27. §21 Second Isaiah and Third Isaiah 256
  28. §22 Haggai, Zechariah, Second Zechariah, Malachi 270
  29. §23 Joel and Jonah 282
  30. §24 Daniel 288
  31. Part IV. Liturgical and Sapiential Poetry
  32. §25 The Psalter 299
  33. §26 Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Ruth, and Esther 311
  34. §27 Proverbs 321
  35. §28 Qoheleth or Ecclesiastes: Solomon the Preacher 328
  36. §29 The Book of Job 333
  37. Part V. Theology and Hermeneutics
  38. §30 Discourse about God in the Old Testament 343
  39. §31 The Question of the Unity of the Old Testament Aspects of a "Theology of the Old Testament" 366
  40. §32 On Understanding Humankind: Anthropological Insights of the Old Testament 372
  41. §33 For and Against the Old Testament: Hermeneutic Themes 389
  42. Bibliography 399
  43. Index 449
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https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110800937.3

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Preface XI
  4. Part I. Survey of the Old Testament and Its History
  5. §1 The Parts of the Old Testament 3
  6. §2 The Stages of Israel's History 8
  7. §3 Aspects of Social History 28
  8. Part II. Traditions and Documentary Sources of the Pentateuch and the Historical Books
  9. §4 The Pentateuch 41
  10. §5 Selected Types of Narrative 63
  11. §6 The Yahwist History 75
  12. §7 The Elohist History 84
  13. §8 The Priestly Document 93
  14. §9 Old Testament Law 110
  15. §10 Deuteronomy 120
  16. §11 The Deuterohomistic History 136
  17. §12 The Chronicler's History 160
  18. Part IIΙ. The Prophets
  19. §13 The Form of Prophecy 173
  20. §14 Amos 194
  21. §15 Hosea 201
  22. §16 Isaiah 209
  23. §17 Micah 220
  24. §18 Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Obadiah 225
  25. §19 Jeremiah 233
  26. §20 Ezekiel 246
  27. §21 Second Isaiah and Third Isaiah 256
  28. §22 Haggai, Zechariah, Second Zechariah, Malachi 270
  29. §23 Joel and Jonah 282
  30. §24 Daniel 288
  31. Part IV. Liturgical and Sapiential Poetry
  32. §25 The Psalter 299
  33. §26 Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Ruth, and Esther 311
  34. §27 Proverbs 321
  35. §28 Qoheleth or Ecclesiastes: Solomon the Preacher 328
  36. §29 The Book of Job 333
  37. Part V. Theology and Hermeneutics
  38. §30 Discourse about God in the Old Testament 343
  39. §31 The Question of the Unity of the Old Testament Aspects of a "Theology of the Old Testament" 366
  40. §32 On Understanding Humankind: Anthropological Insights of the Old Testament 372
  41. §33 For and Against the Old Testament: Hermeneutic Themes 389
  42. Bibliography 399
  43. Index 449
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