The Gospel and the Land: Early Christianity and Jewish Territorial Doctrine

by William David Davies

Hardcover, no dust jacket. Very good. Blind-stamp on ffep, previous owner's purchase record note on bfep.

520 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

William David Davies, often known as W. D. P. Davies, (18 January 1897 – 7 July 1969) was a Welsh Presbyterian minister and writer on theological topics. After becoming the first Welsh student to obtain a Bachelor of Divinity degree from the University of Oxford, he turned down an offer to become a theology tutor at Oxford, along with a college fellowship, preferring to become a Presbyterian minister. He wrote various theological works and was regarded as an excellent scholar as well as a powerful preacher.

Reviews

[Sanjuro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Davies' study on the theme of "the land," and territorial doctrine in the Bible, is a seminal study on this theme, and a very enlightening study for our understanding of important themes across Scripture. The land is of primary importance in the Pentateuch, and then as the Old testament period winds down it loses its luster. By the New testament era it becomes nearly a non issue, as Jesus takes the place of "sacred space" among Christians. Davies does a masterful job, for the most part, as surveying the important scholarship on this theme, and providing his own answers to difficult questions.

My only gripe with this book is Davies' treatment of Matthew and Mark. Even when discussing the other gospels his work is exceptional, and all other sections are helpful. However, on Mark and Matthew, the section is preoccupied with only a single question, and that question maintains virtually no importance in the modern era. Aside from this one critique, I found this book indispensable for the study of "the land" in Scripture.