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Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology
Traces the many parallels between the Old Testament (and Bible as a whole) and the ancient Near East, including creation and flood narratives, common literary and legal forms, supposed acts of deities and the God of the Bible, and more. Instead of merely studying a random selection of parallels, however, Jeffrey Niehaus proposes that they represent "a shared theological structure of ideas in the ancient Near East, a structure that finds its most complete and true form in the Old and New Testaments." This comprehensive and enlightening resource promises to help students and discerning Bible readers to intellectually grasp and appreciate the overarching story of the Bible within its cultural development.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2008
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107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 24, 2022
Have you ever wonder how the Ancient Near East contribute towards our understanding of the Bible? There’s of course books out there that have used Ancient Near East primary sources to question the veracity of the Bible and biblical doctrines so I understand when Christians are cautious with books on this topic. This book not only still hold a high view of the Bible but I think this book makes a unique contribution in bringing the fruit of Ancient Near East research and unified it as one coherent Biblical theology rather than various assorted unrelated fact. This book impressed me beyond my expectation and I’m glad a fellow blogger and friend Mandy Sweigart recommended me to read this!
After the preface the book consists of seven chapters and a conclusion. Chapter one dealt with the foundational issue of how the Ancient Near East extra-biblical literature relate to the Bible. I enjoyed the author’ survey of historical approaches to this question and he surveys two approaches to comparative method in biblical studies before arguing for his view that these parallels with Ancient Near East and the Bible is God’s common grace to give conceptual framework to understand God’s Truth. What I appreciate is the author didn’t just take it for granted of “trusting the experts” in this area but in this first chapter he also refute those who have wrongly interpreted Ancient Near East data and its relations to the Word of God. Chapter two onwards then explore various motifs found in Ancient Near Eastern sources that contribute to our understanding of the Bible’s use of these motifs. These include the Royal Shepherd motif discussed in chapter two, then in chapter three it covers “Covenant and Conquest.” Chapter four is on “City, Temple, Image” and the following chapter continue looking at the City and Temple motif but now specifically with the theme of Divine abandonment and restoration. Chapter six is on the Covenantal Household’s destruction and salvation and the final chapter is on the restoration of all things.
I learned a lot from this book. For instance I always wondered what were Egyptians’ understanding of Pharaoh and their gods and whether or not the Egyptians thought of their king as Divine. The book answers that with their complex theology and also developments. I also appreciate the many parallels and contrasts between Ancient Near East motif and Biblical motif. For example the Assyrians saw that it was important for their kings to be great hunters as we gleam from their surviving records. David as King can be seen as paralleling that. Later in the New Testament we do see Satan being described in 1 Peter 5:8 as a roaring lion but Jesus crushes Satan as the Hunter-Shepherd King! There’s instances reading this book made me pay closer attention to the Old Testament itself such as the author’s discussion about 2 Kings 17:24-28 where the Assyrian king after capturing Israel’s territory nevertheless sent a Jewish priest back to Samaria so the Assyrians residing there will live properly and disrespect Yahweh. The fact that the narrative describe this with no hesitation on the part of the king shows an understanding that a nation’s deity operates in the locale; of course there is only one God in Biblical Theology but here it does show God is not to be trifled with. The discussion of divine abandonment is also important here to understand God’s discipline of Israel and Judah for their idolatry. There’s so much more knowledge one gain from this book that it is worth purchasing. In fact even after finishing this I am keeping in mind of this as a reference for future Bible studies and sermons in which I can bring out some of the arguments and citation of primary sources that enrich one’s understanding of a biblical motif. So not only was I excited to read this book, and excited during my reading but I’m still excited after I read this book to use as resource!
I admit I have not heard of the author previously before and I did notice his PhD is from Harvard and he’s manage to be the best of both worlds in which he is scholarly informative and biblical. The amount of primary sources he cited and quoted is incredible for a book that is 208 pages: I counted 498 footnotes! What’s even more incredible is his citation comes from Egyptian, Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian primary sources (and also the occasional important secondary scholarly sources) which involves knowing different languages over a wide span of time but familiarity of what these literature is talking about. Incredible. And yet he wrote this in a way that’s accessible for the general Christian reader. One get a deeper appreciation of not only the Bible but God’s accommodation for our understanding of the Word of God. Even if you don’t plan to read this book yourself I do think this book makes a great gift idea for Pastors, Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, seminarians, etc. I suppose the best compliment I can give to this book is that I do want to read other works by this author in the future.
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Kregel Publications without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
After the preface the book consists of seven chapters and a conclusion. Chapter one dealt with the foundational issue of how the Ancient Near East extra-biblical literature relate to the Bible. I enjoyed the author’ survey of historical approaches to this question and he surveys two approaches to comparative method in biblical studies before arguing for his view that these parallels with Ancient Near East and the Bible is God’s common grace to give conceptual framework to understand God’s Truth. What I appreciate is the author didn’t just take it for granted of “trusting the experts” in this area but in this first chapter he also refute those who have wrongly interpreted Ancient Near East data and its relations to the Word of God. Chapter two onwards then explore various motifs found in Ancient Near Eastern sources that contribute to our understanding of the Bible’s use of these motifs. These include the Royal Shepherd motif discussed in chapter two, then in chapter three it covers “Covenant and Conquest.” Chapter four is on “City, Temple, Image” and the following chapter continue looking at the City and Temple motif but now specifically with the theme of Divine abandonment and restoration. Chapter six is on the Covenantal Household’s destruction and salvation and the final chapter is on the restoration of all things.
I learned a lot from this book. For instance I always wondered what were Egyptians’ understanding of Pharaoh and their gods and whether or not the Egyptians thought of their king as Divine. The book answers that with their complex theology and also developments. I also appreciate the many parallels and contrasts between Ancient Near East motif and Biblical motif. For example the Assyrians saw that it was important for their kings to be great hunters as we gleam from their surviving records. David as King can be seen as paralleling that. Later in the New Testament we do see Satan being described in 1 Peter 5:8 as a roaring lion but Jesus crushes Satan as the Hunter-Shepherd King! There’s instances reading this book made me pay closer attention to the Old Testament itself such as the author’s discussion about 2 Kings 17:24-28 where the Assyrian king after capturing Israel’s territory nevertheless sent a Jewish priest back to Samaria so the Assyrians residing there will live properly and disrespect Yahweh. The fact that the narrative describe this with no hesitation on the part of the king shows an understanding that a nation’s deity operates in the locale; of course there is only one God in Biblical Theology but here it does show God is not to be trifled with. The discussion of divine abandonment is also important here to understand God’s discipline of Israel and Judah for their idolatry. There’s so much more knowledge one gain from this book that it is worth purchasing. In fact even after finishing this I am keeping in mind of this as a reference for future Bible studies and sermons in which I can bring out some of the arguments and citation of primary sources that enrich one’s understanding of a biblical motif. So not only was I excited to read this book, and excited during my reading but I’m still excited after I read this book to use as resource!
I admit I have not heard of the author previously before and I did notice his PhD is from Harvard and he’s manage to be the best of both worlds in which he is scholarly informative and biblical. The amount of primary sources he cited and quoted is incredible for a book that is 208 pages: I counted 498 footnotes! What’s even more incredible is his citation comes from Egyptian, Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian primary sources (and also the occasional important secondary scholarly sources) which involves knowing different languages over a wide span of time but familiarity of what these literature is talking about. Incredible. And yet he wrote this in a way that’s accessible for the general Christian reader. One get a deeper appreciation of not only the Bible but God’s accommodation for our understanding of the Word of God. Even if you don’t plan to read this book yourself I do think this book makes a great gift idea for Pastors, Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, seminarians, etc. I suppose the best compliment I can give to this book is that I do want to read other works by this author in the future.
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Kregel Publications without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
August 11, 2019
Jefferey Niehaus looks at the major themes that appear in both ancient Near Eastern and biblical theology and summarizes the theological structure of thought the two share. No study of biblical material can now be complete without some understanding of its ancient background. In the past scholars have attributed the parallels to a universal view inherent in the primitive mind or borrowing of the Bible from ancient texts.
Some of these ideas focus on the Egyptian idea of ma'at, the just order the gods desire. A temple was not only a god's abode but in some sense, it was also the image of the god. It can also be understood as a way of life. The interiors of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian temples were made heavenly.
The Ancient Near Eastern context gives us another way to check our understanding of the Bible.
Some of these ideas focus on the Egyptian idea of ma'at, the just order the gods desire. A temple was not only a god's abode but in some sense, it was also the image of the god. It can also be understood as a way of life. The interiors of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian temples were made heavenly.
The Ancient Near Eastern context gives us another way to check our understanding of the Bible.
February 28, 2016
A useful overview of how ANE parallels can help with studying Biblical theology, The author doesn't limit the parallels to OT Theology, but also shows how they develop in NT Theology as well. Dr. Niehaus doesn't buy into the common approach that the parallels between the ANE and the OT are results of the OT authors plagiarizing ANE sources, rather he views the commonalities as truths taken from the Christian worldview that have been distorted in a polytheistic worldview, yet even some elements of truth remain despite being put into a pagan/polytheistic worldview.
There are a lot of useful sections such as the temple and city motifs, the Shepherd King motif, and the covenant household motif. Dr. Neihaus shows how these motifs developed in different ANE sources such as Egypt and Sumeria, and then shows the parallels and differences between how they are developed in ANE sources vs. the Biblical worldview. This is an excellent resource that doesn't just give historical background information, but also directly shows how that information contributes to understanding biblical theology. A necessary resource to have for studying biblical theology.
There are a lot of useful sections such as the temple and city motifs, the Shepherd King motif, and the covenant household motif. Dr. Neihaus shows how these motifs developed in different ANE sources such as Egypt and Sumeria, and then shows the parallels and differences between how they are developed in ANE sources vs. the Biblical worldview. This is an excellent resource that doesn't just give historical background information, but also directly shows how that information contributes to understanding biblical theology. A necessary resource to have for studying biblical theology.
September 24, 2018
For Christians who know little about the Ancient Near East and have been hearing about how the Bible is connected to literature from that time and place, this is a good primer. Niehaus stands at odds with those who would suggest that the biblical texts are derived from ANE sources or dependent upon them. His unabashed position is that all the sources derive from a single true source, and that the Scripture is the account that faithfully preserves this truth. So this puts him somewhat at odds with the Waltons and the Heisers and the Hays of this world.
Unfortunately, this book is not a scholarly work of great depth, and those hoping for more detail may be disappointed. The four stars are with its purpose in mind as simply an introduction to the concepts and the material. Much more work needs to be done in this area of study before these arguments will be convincing to those actually working in the field.
Unfortunately, this book is not a scholarly work of great depth, and those hoping for more detail may be disappointed. The four stars are with its purpose in mind as simply an introduction to the concepts and the material. Much more work needs to be done in this area of study before these arguments will be convincing to those actually working in the field.
June 30, 2020
This book is wonderfully written stemming across the major themes in the Old Testament and the ANE.although as he says himself in the conclusion, they are all really an extension of three varied categories. The book is not big enough to really dive far in depth or give specifics, but it does well given the space it has been given.
March 25, 2018
Great book on ANE parallels. His handling of the similarities is a great approach. I would only add a 4th dimension in that some of the parallels in the Bible are also polemical against Israel's pagan neighbors.
March 26, 2018
Interesting read and resource for paralle
ls in ancient near east religions with the Hebrew Bible. Not for novice. Helpful for scholarly work in Old Testament
ls in ancient near east religions with the Hebrew Bible. Not for novice. Helpful for scholarly work in Old Testament
February 10, 2012
A comprehensive refutation of the widely accepted documentary hypothesis that claims the Pentateuch was written throughout the 1st millenium BC and compiled later in post-exilic times. The book provides extensive examples that draw parallels from Ancient Near Eastern writings to central themes in biblical theology, proving that such religious concepts existed in the ancient world over a thousand years before the time of Moses.
Currently reading
November 6, 2008awesome background to the motifs in Scripture that have been discovered through the liberal search to uncover the untruths of Scripture. This volume seems to allow their findings to be present but can offer and alternative to their summaries that is surprising.
January 12, 2016
Whether you are a seasoned scholar or just getting your feet wet in biblical theology this is an excellent book that helps readers understand a commonly misunderstood topic; the relationship between biblical Israel and it environment on a literary and conceptual level. Highly recommended!
February 28, 2015
Imperative to reaf the Old Testament. Cover parallels with neighbouring cultures, differences and the setting in which the OT was written. Together with Waltons Ancient Near Eastern Thought opens up the OT world and brings the meaning into focus.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
April 1, 2020
Much better than expected.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews