Download e-book for kindle: Treasures Old and New: Essays in the Theology of the by Joseph Blenkinsopp

The Pentateuch is one anchor of the Western spiritual background, a wealthy resource of theological and non secular guideline able to being plumbed repeatedly. In "Treasures outdated and New" complete biblical student Joseph Blenkinsopp engages twelve subject matters of significant curiosity to considerate buyers, and does so in discussion with texts from the Pentateuch.

In maintaining with the view that the Pentateuch is much too multiplex to be encapsulated in one theological method, Blenkinsopp has written "Treasures previous and New" as a sketchbook of theology within the Pentateuch. This fruitful process permits him to think about topics that simply fall throughout the cracks of extra systematic works of biblical theology. one of many attention-grabbing topics Blenkinsopp explores are the function of reminiscence within the building of the previous, the dependence of Christianity on Judaism, the shut connection among sacrifice and group in previous testomony Israel, the right kind that means of human stewardship of the realm, and trust (or loss of trust) in a significant autopsy existence.

Blenkinsopp believes that scripture is infinitely interpretable, and that we're loose to learn the Bible in additional versatile, attention-grabbing, and interesting methods. in accordance with the nice number of discourses within the Pentateuch, the normal historical-critical process needs to coexist with different, and at times, a lot older interpretive methods to texts. Blenkinsopp the following ably demonstrates this perspectival method of scripture by means of interpreting recognized texts from much less famous angles. The backyard of Eden tale, for instance, profits in resonance whilst learn including "Gilgamesh," and the legislation governing nutrition and cleanliness come clearer in thelight of present ecological issues. Blenkinsopp's strategy additionally throws new mild on such vital but enigmatic tales because the production, Cain and Abel, the Flood, the Tower of Babel, the decision of Abram, Sodom and Gomorrah, and others.

Blessed with a rare skill to transmit advanced concerns in concise and lucid type, Blenkinsopp has placed forth nice attempt to make this sketchbook obtainable. Footnotes were stored to a minimal, and Blenkinsopp has transliterated the few Hebrew references and used his personal, extra idiomatic translations of biblical texts at any place they appeared clearer than the traditional translations. for this reason, this quantity could be pursued profitably by way of students, scholars, and readers alike. in particular, "Treasures previous and New" exhibits that critical engagement with biblical texts, whereas occasionally tough, might be intellectually and religiously rewarding.