The Book That Breathes New Life: Scriptural Authority and Biblical Theology

by Walter Brueggemann

"The purpose of this collection of Brueggemann's essays is to bring to the fore a much more extensive critical engagement on his part with the current discussion about the Old Testament, its character, its authority, its theology, and especially its God.... Readers of these essays who think they may have grasped what Brueggemann has to say about the theology of the Old Testament from reading his magnum opus will find that he is still thinking, still listening, and still helping us understand the scriptures of Israel and the church at an ever deeper level." from the foreword

252 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

Walter Brueggemann was an American Christian scholar and theologian who is widely considered an influential Old Testament scholar. His work often focused on the Hebrew prophetic tradition and the sociopolitical imagination of the Church. He argued that the Church must provide a counter-narrative to the dominant forces of consumerism, militarism, and nationalism.

Reviews

[Tim Callicutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brueggemann’s thoughts on scriptural authority prove revelatory at times. This collection’s careful editing leads to a surprisingly cohesive, singular argument, albeit with some understandable repetition and rabbit-chasing. The essays are split into three categories: “Biblical Authority,” “Old Testament in the Twentieth Century,” and “A Conversation with Other Theologians.”

In essence, Brueggemann argues that if we are to understand the Bible as authoritative, we must make it authoritative in our own lives. We must recognize its radical call to a new and unsettling life.

Therefore interpretation, the central act of recognizing scripture’s authority, becomes a central element to authority and can act as a revelation in itself. Interpretation is not distilling the settled tenants of Christianity, even though that is the starting point – it is largely taking this text and allowing it to speak into a modern context.

That is, interpretation is not eternal. It calls to us where we are and while attempting to attest to YHWH in the midst of it. This means that there is a plurality of interpretations, each applicable to its own context, and each subject to its own pitfalls.

However, this does not mean that interpretation is not binding. There are definite foundations that we must adhere to, particularly in the apostolic witness, if we are to interpret the text faithfully. That is, the text must speak for itself, but its actual application differentiates according to context

This becomes even more apparent when Brueggemann discusses the trajectory of Old Testament scholarship throughout the Twentieth Century and places each position within its context. In the end, he clarifies his own position as falling within the postmodern camp.

He rightfully points out the deconstructive element in postmodern interpretation in letting the text speak for itself. This includes examining contradictory claims, or testimony, within the Hebrew scriptures and dealing with them properly.

That being said, there is no surefire or dogmatic way to interpret these voices. For the most part, he pits the royal and prophetic voices against each other, with the royal testimony proclaiming the order and settlement of creation, while the prophetic voices declare the constant movement of God that leads us to become unsettled people.

For Brueggemann, such conflicting voices do not destroy the integrity of the text, but serve as an invitation for unity while still in debate. It allows us to wrestle with the text and never deem it closed. It is an evolving text as we are an evolving people attempting to follow an unsettling God.

Rating: 4/5

Three Highlights:

“Biblical Authority: A Personal Reflection”

“Biblical Authority and the Church’s Task of Interpretation”

“Biblical Theology Appropriately Postmodern”

[Andy Gore · Rating 5 out of 5]

As ever lots to think about but yet I was disappointed as essentially it discussed OT theology then Scripture per se.