1 Samuel as Christian Scripture: A Theological Commentary

by Stephen B. Chapman

This work by Stephen Chapman offers a robustly theological and explicitly Christian reading of 1 Samuel. Chapman’s commentary reveals the theological drama at the heart of that biblical book as it probes the tension between civil religion and vital religious faith through the characters of Saul and David.

Genres: Old Testament

359 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2016

About the author

Stephen B. Chapman, Born 1962; 1990 Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School; 1990 Ordination in the American Baptist Churches, USA; 1995 Master of Philosophy at Yale University; 1995-96 Whiting Research Fellow; 1998 PhD at Yale University; 1997 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Tubingen; currently Associate Professor Old Testament at Duke University, Durham, NC. - Amazon bio

Reviews

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an impressive commentary on 1 Samuel, part of the Deuteronimist story of ancient Israel. In this book of the Bible we meet up with Samuel the prophet, Saul and David. Saul is called to be king because the people are tired of inconsistent leaders. Saul fails in his calling, and is rejected. David becomes the anointed one, but he too has flaws.

This commentary, which was named as the Reference Book of the Year by the Academy of Parish Clergy, is written by an accomplished scholar of the Old Testament, who understands the importance of theology. There are a number of commentaries being written by theologians, bringing them back into the conversation, which is needed. Stephen Chapman is a biblical scholar, who is also theologically aware. I had the opportunity to meet him and hear him talk about the commentary. I greatly appreciated his vision of the craft of interpretation, and this is definitely on display here.

The commentary is composed of three parts. part one invites us to engage 1 Samuel as a literary work -- a book. Part 2, which takes up much of the book, reads the text closely, engaging many of the stories many of us know well, including David's encounter with Goliath and David's relationship with Jonathan. Then, in part three, Chapman engages the te text historically and theologically. In this last section, he helps us gain a better, deeper understanding of Saul, the one whom Barth saw as an image of Jesus, the rejected one. Intriguing!

If you're interested in exploring 1 Samuel, I would recommend this book!

[Daniel Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good literary commentary on 1 Samuel (section by section, not verse by verse), with substantive discussion of the hermeneutical issues involved in interpreting Old Testament narrative. Chapman rightly (I think) emphasizes the text itself as the bearer of meaning, and not the attempted reconstruction of history behind the text. Liberal and conservative scholars alike often focus so much on the historical events that the texts bears witness to (or often in the case of liberal scholars, does not bear witness to), that the books actual character as a book and work of literature is undermined. Chapman instead focuses on the presentation of the text as we have it and how it works.

“What emerges from my own literary exploration of 1 Samuel is the importance of the spiritual relationship between God and Israel, especially Israel’s leaders. The book of 1 Samuel does not merely detail the historical beginnings of the Israelite monarchy. It tells how the origin of the monarchy presented Israel with a challenge to its fundamental allegiance to God, a challenge represented above all by the twin threats of expedient politics and formulaic worship. Indeed, the book’s emphasis on personal piety subverts its ostensible description of the institutionalization of religion in the form of a monarchy. Saul proves unfit for the true task of leadership, while David rises to the occasion.”

[Dominic Venuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful for thinking about Samuel as a whole (not just 1 Samuel), with an emphasis on how to think about civil religion and individual faith.

[Travis Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A recent commentary riding against the river of recent commentaries. Instead of spotlighting what the text meant, Chapman centers the commentary on what the text means. To put it differently, instead of viewing 1 Samuel from a pre-cross Jewish perspective, he looks at it from the post-cross Christian perspective. It’s a wonder more modern commentaries won’t approach OT books similarly; I chalk it up to the modern reaction contra 1800 years of Christian (sometimes fanciful) interpretation of OT books. Repeatedly Chapman fills inordinate space justifying himself against modern interpretative trends (maybe 25%+ of the book), but maybe it’s just the necessary field clearing needed for this and subsequent commentaries to come.

[Charlie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant theological commentary on 1 Samuel. It is eminently readable - in fact the is the first biblical commentary which I have been able to read front to back. So much insight into 1 Samuel which has already informed personal devotion and pastoral preaching.

[Nate Duriga · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eminently readable and insightful commentary. Though not all of his arguments were convincing, they were thought-provoking and helpful.

[Laurent Dv · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excellent literary, rhetorical and theological insights but refuse to follow the classic typology of Jesus and David.

[Rachel Turner-Poteet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inadequate treatment of the themes of Amalek. Good literary criticism and treatment of Saul.