John H. Walton

A challenging book. Worth reading, but challenging on multiple levels. For one, it's not the easiest read. You definitely want to follow the details and argument, and do not get confused about locution vs. illocution whatever you do.

But more importantly, the content is challenging. For those of us with a particular view of how scripture works and where its authority lies, you really have to wrestle with the implications. I come from a background that more-or-less assumes that Isaiah sat down one day and wrote sixty-some chapters (with near dictation from the Holy Spirit), signed his name at the end, and sent it off to the publisher, without any errors. There had been cracks in that model showing for a while, and this book systematically dismantles it.

A few major insights: There's a whole lot less writing going on, and a whole lot more speaking. There's also some amount of editing and variation. Authority is tied to the aut-, uh, excuse me, *speaker*'s intent and not to the words or style themselves. And the style of the words needs to be interpreted from the way that style worked in that time, not the way it works in ours.

And let's be clear that this is not an excuse to throw out scripture. The authors take a high view of scripture. They are not heretics. Scripture remains God's communication to humanity and is without error in what it affirms. They just use a whole lot more nuance than normal in saying that, including the importance of figuring out what is or is not being affirmed (the intention or "illocution") and observing that generating scripture was a much longer process than is often assumed (i.e. years of oral repetition, transcription, editing, and not just Samuel writing a book one afternoon).

It was badly needed, but uncomfortable. But at the end of the day, I want my view of scripture be based on reality rather than what is most comfortable. I'm not sure exactly what the implications will be over the long term, but I very much appreciate the adjustments coming from authors who still hold to the value of scripture even with the changes.… (més)

Walton guia o leitor em uma viagem pelo mundo da Bíblia hebraica e faz com que os textos antigos ganhem vida. Nesta obra, John H. Walton, coautor do Comentário histórico-cultural do AT, investiga como os povos vizinhos de Israel pensavam sobre os deuses e seus templos, sobre a formação do universo, sobre os seres humanos e seus governantes e até mesmo sobre sua produção cultural, a fim de desvendar como tudo isso moldou a forma como Israel pensava acerca de si, do mundo e de Deus. Walton vai além do academicismo e mantém um objetivo prático ao longo da obra: ajudar seus leitores a aperfeiçoar a exegese do Antigo Testamento com base em informações do mundo antigo. Com dezenas de ilustrações e quadros com análises comparativas, Pensamento do antigo Oriente Próximo é um recurso indispensável para todos que desejam estudar e expor o texto bíblico fielmente.… (més)