The Promise-Plan of God: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments

by Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

What is the central theme of the Bible?Given the diversity of authorship, genre, and context of the Bible’s various books, is it evenpossible to answer such a question? Or in trying to do so, is an external grid being unnaturallysuperimposed on the biblical text?These are difficult questions that the discipline of biblical theology has struggled to answer.In this thoroughly revised and expanded edition of his classic Toward an Old Testament Theology,Walter Kaiser offers a solution to these unresolved issues. He proposes that there is indeeda unifying center to the theology and message of the Bible that is indicated and affirmed byScripture itself. That center is the promise of God. It is one all-encompassing promise of lifethrough the Messiah that winds itself throughout salvation history in both the Old and NewTestaments, giving cohesiveness and unity to the various parts of Scripture.After laying out his proposal, Kaiser works chronologically through the books of both testaments,demonstrating how the promise is seen throughout, how the various sub-themesof each book relate to the promise, and how God’s plan to fulfill the promise progressivelyunfolds. Here is a rich and illuminating biblical theology that will stir the emotion and theintellect.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Religion, Faith, Old Testament, New Testament

432 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Walter C. Kaiser Jr. (PhD, Brandeis University) is president emeritus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He previously taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and at Wheaton College. Kaiser is active as a preacher, speaker, researcher, and writer and is the author of more than forty books, including Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament and The Majesty of God in the Old Testament.

Reviews

[Nate Claiborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end result of Kaiser's book is a very coherent tracing of the single promise-plan of God throughout the whole Bible. Kaiser is clearly working an “old-man’s game” as some of my professors at Dallas call biblical theology. I was amazed at the breadth and antiquity of many of his sources. What Kaiser presents is a timely and relevant proposal for biblical theology, but he does so by relying on authors who were writing in many cases over a hundred years ago. I’m used to that sort of thing when it comes to patristic or Reformation sources, but Kaiser has a very firm handle on the theologians and biblical studies writers from the early half of the 20th century which seems somewhat neglected elsewhere. The effect is that Kaiser’s ideas seem fresh and new, but the sources he use suggest they really aren’t.

For the full review, visit my blog

[Alexandria Bousselot · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Promise-Plan of God captures the entire essence of God’s power in the Old Testament while connecting paths to the New testament. A common theme Kaiser keeps throughout the whole book is how the New and the Old Testament are united together not fragments pieced together. I really enjoyed how he goes into specifics from each chapter of the Old Testament. The in-depth work he does into each chapter allows a natural progression of your own personal theological study. He uses a clear and concise writing style which makes the text easier to follow along too. Overall, if you are looking for a text to assist you in research of the continuity and discontinuity of Gods Promise-Plan, this is the book for you!

[Tony Comer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book six stars I would! Such a helpful guide to Biblical theology!

[Rocky Woolery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I didn't agree with all of the conclusions of this book, the general idea that the Bible is one over arching story and the necessity of seeing that helps make sense of so much.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect

[Alex Monseth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful resource. Didn't get through the whole thing, but the parts I read helped tie Scripture together.

[Charlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Less than promised. The author attempts to treat the entire Bible under the structuring principle of "promise-plan," a graceless term that he proposes as an alternative to both covenant theology and dispensationalism, but which receives insufficient elucidation in the introduction. Even if promise is a biblical theme, it is not obvious that it deserves pride of place. Among the New Testament books the term is primarily Pauline, and even in those books may not carry all the weight Kaiser assigns to it. The writing is uneven and digressive. It is provincial, both because it positions itself within merely one subset of Christianity (Reformed and dispensationalists) and because the argument rests on a controversial conservative dating of the biblical books.

[Scott Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kaiser attempts to distinguish his view from both Covenant and Dispensational theology, creating a new way to understand redemptive history. Not an absolutely terrible resource, but will not be looking back at it often, if ever.

[Andy]

0567

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read - much needed contribution to the two classic systems of understanding law and grace - church and Israel - maybe will serve as a foundation for future dialogue between the two systems

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good.