Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture

by Brevard S. Childs

This Introduction attempts to offer a different model for the discipline from that currently represented. It seeks to describe the form and function of the Hebrew Bible in its role as sacred scripture for Israel. It argues the case that the biblical literature has not been correctly understood or interpreted because its role as religious literature has not been correctly assessed.

Genres: Old Testament, Biblical Studies, Theology, Nonfiction, Scripture, Christianity, Biblical

688 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Brevard Springs Childs was Professor of Old Testament at Yale University from 1958 until 1999 (and Sterling Professor after 1992), and one of the most influential biblical scholars of the 20th century. Childs is particularly noted for pioneering canonical criticism, a way of interpreting the Bible that focuses on the text of the biblical canon itself as a finished product. In fact, Childs disliked the term, believing his work to represent an entirely new departure, replacing the entire historical-critical method. Childs set out his canonical approach in his Biblical Theology in Crisis (1970) and applied it in Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture (1979). This latter book has been described as "one of the most discussed books of the 1980s".

Reviews

[Caleb Rolling · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The major concern of this Introduction has been to describe the canonical shape of each of the Old Testament books within the context of Hebrew Scriptures" (pp. 660-661). This is Childs' goal throughout each chapter of the book, which he does with varying levels of success. The greatest weakness of the book is simply its age (published in 1979). This is not the place to go when looking for a survey of OT scholarship or up-to-date bibliographies, and this is not the place to go for as one's only OT introduction or survey. But one ought to have a copy of "Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture" right alongside another OT introduction or survey.

Despite its age, this is a tremendously valuable book, as it introduces one to Childs' so-called "canonical criticism" and the function of the OT as canon. This and the "theological and hermeneutical implications" section of each chapter are timeless. If one is to understand "canonical criticism," then this is required reading, and I highly recommend it. So-called "canonical criticism" ought not be lost in the twentieth-century or isolated to Childs; therefore, younger scholars and pastors ought to seriously study such an approach, and in my opinion, the ultimate purpose of the Bible will become all the clearer, and their scholarship, ministry, and personal faith alike will be enriched.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those reviews where I want to give the book 3.5 stars rather than having to choose 3 or 4 (I chose 3). This book has some great things to recommend it:

(1) a good exposition of Childs' contribution to Biblical Studies in canonical criticism--the Introduction is particularly good

(2) an Evangelical hermeneutic (if you are Evangelical)

But it has drawbacks:

(1) as an introduction to the OT books, it lacks some basic topics that you would expect in an introduction: authorship, authenticity, date, provenance, redaction history, survey of historical interpretation, review of important commentaries, only the role within the canon is consistently addressed

(2) it is very out of date

Were I to choose only one Old Testament introduction to own, this would not be it. I like: Lawrence Boadt, Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction, 2nd edition, revised by Richard Clifford and Daniel Harrington, New York: Paulist, 2012.

[Dave Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childs takes a canonical approach to scriptural study, meaning that he emphasizes what the redactors and compilers of of the Hebrew Scriptures likely intended to convey through their edits and inclusions. Honoring the Scripture as God's word while also viewing the human elements that brought it together enhances, rather than subtracts from, our ability to draw toward the divine.

[John Pawlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I read Scripture I expect will be forever transformed by Childs’s canonical perspective! Seeing the Old Testament as a collection of books in which the community of faith was not a passive recipient but an active partner in responding to God’s word has been transformative to say the least!

If you find yourself with a good bit of motivation and perhaps a summer to get into a good reading project, this book will not disappoint!

[Matthew Bonzon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Childs’ is interesting because he doesn’t squarely fit within classical liberalism, which largely is trying to make claims about historical reconstruction and development of religion, Childs’ rather moves from the final form of the text to his proposed theology of the OT. However, he still has most of the hallmarks of higher criticism such as redaction, and his proposition of what is authoritative cannot work. Childs’ for this reason seems to be a precursor to much of modern TIS.

[Carson Harraman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admittedly didn't read every page of this book, but I have read enough to highly recommend it. Childs' concept of canonical criticism is invaluable for those who still consider the Bible to be authoritative, all the while accepting the conclusions of redaction, form, and other critical scholarship.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Introduction to a Canonical Reading of the OT/HB. Will continue to revisit.

[Daniel Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can't look at the (multiple-page, multilingual) bibliographies at the start of each chapter of this book without an overwhelming sense of your own inadequacy. Childs ranges with humility but without apparent effort over a huge range of both biblical scholarship and historical theology. Sadly, much of his assessment of the current state of academic discourse is presumably out of date now (this book came out in 1979), but he remains enormously influential.

[R. Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I don't find all his critical conclusions convincing, I still find that this volume is immensely helpful in OT/HB research. It is one of the most penetrating OT introductions in English. I'd give it 5/5, but I feel it necessary to stick with 4/5 because at times Childs's style of writing can be boring. Not always, but also not infrequently.