The Triumph of Grace in Deuteronomy

by Paul A Barker, Gordon J Wenham (Foreword by)

Overview

Does the Old Testament have an optimistic outlook for the people of God, ancient Israel, or is it pessimistic? The strands of optimism and pessimism seem to be juxtaposed throughout. In this study of Deuteronomy, a linchpin book within the Old Testament, the so-called tensions between optimism and pessimism are shown to cohere theologically. Despite the faithlessness of Israel, Yahweh's faithfulness to his promises results in the triumph of grace. The Book of Deuteronomy is frequently misread as a legalistic document with a somewhat mechanical ethic of rewards and punishments. Paul Barker shows convincingly that, on the contrary, it engages subtly and profoundly with the issue of law and grace. His lucid analysis of key passages of the book makes an important contribution to the exegetical and theological study of the book. --Gordon McConville, Professor of Old Testament Studies, University of Gloucestershire This is an important and compelling contribution to our understanding of God's unfolding master plan in the Old Testament. Paul Barker's careful and penetrating analysis of key chapters in Deuteronomy not only opens up crucial aspects of the biblical theology of divine grace and human sinfulness, but exposes fatal flaws in earlier attempts to read the text diachronically. This is a 'must-read' for anyone studying Deuteronomy. --J. Gary Millar, author of 'Now Choose Life: Theology and Ethics in Deuteronomy' This . . . is a most important discussion for anyone trying to understand the theology of Scripture and to preach it in a Christian context. But it is also a most thorough work that interacts with all the significant recent discussions of Deuteronomy in a very judicious way. --Gordon Wenham, from the Foreword Paul A. Barker is lecturer in Old Testament at Ridley College, Melbourne; Vicar of Holy Trinity, Doncaster; and Archdeacon of Box Hill. His PhD thesis was awarded by the University of Bristol under the supervision of Professor Gordon Wenham.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781597527873
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Series:	Paternoster Biblical Monographs
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 8.36(h) x 0.68(d)

About the Author

Paul A. Barker is lecturer in Old Testament at Ridley College, Melbourne; Vicar of Holy Trinity, Doncaster; and Archdeacon of Box Hill. His PhD thesis was awarded by the University of Bristol under the supervision of Professor Gordon Wenham.

Table of Contents

Foreword     xiii
Preface     xv
Abbreviations     xvii
Introduction     1
Faithless Israel, Faithful Yahweh in Deuteronomy 1-3     7
History of Interpretation     7
Deuteronomy 1-3 as Introduction to Deuteronomy     12
Faithless Israel in Deuteronomy 1     17
Structure and Speeches     17
Unholy War and Anti-Exodus     22
Moses' Exclusion     23
Paradigmatic Sin     24
Good and Evil     29
Faithful Yahweh in Deuteronomy 1     30
Yahweh's Promise     30
Yahweh's Command     34
Faithfulness and Faithlessness     34
Faithful Yahweh in Deuteronomy 2:1-3:20     36
Structure of Deuteronomy 2:1-3:11     37
Sihon and Og: Divine Initiative     41
Transjordanian Land     43
Edom, Moab, Ammon     44
The Priority of Yahweh's Faithfulness     47
Moses in 3:21-29     48
3:21-22     48
3:23-25     49
3:26-29     50
Conclusion     51
Faithless Israel, Faithful Yahweh in Deuteronomy 8-10     55
Introduction     55
Deuteronomy 8     57
Structure     58
Wilderness Test     64
Israel's Heart and Knowledge     68
Observing the Commandments and Memory     71
Allusions to the Spies Incident     73
Faithful Yahweh     73
The Final Warning (8:19-20)     76
Conclusion     77
Deuteronomy 9:1-6     78
Introduction     78
Theology     79
Allusions to the Spies Incident     82
Significance     83
Deuteronomy 9:7-24     84
Structure     85
Israel's Sin     86
Allusions to the Spies Incident     91
Significance     92
Deuteronomy 9:25-10:11     93
Moses' Intercessory Prayer (9:25-29)     94
The Answer to the Prayer (10:1-11)     98
Deuteronomy 10:12-22     101
Structure     102
Theology     103
Conclusion     106
Faithless Israel, Faithful Yahweh in Deuteronomy 29-30     107
Introduction to 28:69-30:20     108
Survey of Approaches     108
28:69: Superscript or Subscript?     110
Horeb and Moab     112
Deuteronomy 29:1-8     117
Structure     117
Responsibility for Knowledge     119
A Heart to Know     121
Eyes to See     123
Heart and Eyes     125
Ears to Hear     126
Conclusion     129
Deuteronomy 29:9-28     131
29:9-14     131
29:15-20     133
29:21-27     137
29:28     139
Conclusion     140
Deuteronomy 30:1-10     140
Structure     141
The Priority of Yahweh     144
The Heart     157
The Patriarchal Promises     168
Grace and Law     175
The Frame of the Law     178
Conclusion     181
Deuteronomy 30:11-14     182
The Relationship of 30:11-14 to 30:1-10     182
The Grounds for Israel's Capacity to Obey     187
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 in Romans 10     194
Conclusion     198
Deuteronomy 30:15-20     198
Introduction     198
Israel's Choice     200
Absence of Israel's Reponse     202
The Source of Life     206
The Context of 30:15-20     209
Conclusion     214
Conclusion     217
Bibliography     223
Author Index     253
Scripture Index     259

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"The Book of Deuteronomy is frequently misread as a legalistic document with a somewhat mechanical ethic of rewards and punishments. Paul Barker shows convincingly that, on the contrary, it engages subtly and profoundly with the issue of law and grace. His lucid analysis of key passages of the book makes an important contribution to the exegetical and theological study of the book."

—Gordon McConville, Professor of Old Testament Studies, University of Gloucestershire


"This is an important and compelling contribution to our understanding of God's unfolding master plan in the Old Testament. Paul Barker's careful and penetrating analysis of key chapters in Deuteronomy not only opens up crucial aspects of the biblical theology of divine grace and human sinfulness, but exposes fatal flaws in earlier attempts to read the text diachronically. This is a 'must-read' for anyone studying Deuteronomy."

—J. Gary Millar, author of 'Now Choose Life: Theology and Ethics in Deuteronomy'

"This . . . is a most important discussion for anyone trying to understand the theology of Scripture and to preach it in a Christian context. But it is also a most thorough work that interacts with all the significant recent discussions of Deuteronomy in a very judicious way."

—Gordon Wenham, from the Foreword

Editorial Reviews

"The Book of Deuteronomy is frequently misread as a legalistic document with a somewhat mechanical ethic of rewards and punishments. Paul Barker shows convincingly that, on the contrary, it engages subtly and profoundly with the issue of law and grace. His lucid analysis of key passages of the book makes an important contribution to the exegetical and theological study of the book."

—Gordon McConville, Professor of Old Testament Studies, University of Gloucestershire


"This is an important and compelling contribution to our understanding of God's unfolding master plan in the Old Testament. Paul Barker's careful and penetrating analysis of key chapters in Deuteronomy not only opens up crucial aspects of the biblical theology of divine grace and human sinfulness, but exposes fatal flaws in earlier attempts to read the text diachronically. This is a 'must-read' for anyone studying Deuteronomy."

—J. Gary Millar, author of 'Now Choose Life: Theology and Ethics in Deuteronomy'

"This . . . is a most important discussion for anyone trying to understand the theology of Scripture and to preach it in a Christian context. But it is also a most thorough work that interacts with all the significant recent discussions of Deuteronomy in a very judicious way."

—Gordon Wenham, from the Foreword

From the Publisher