Old Testament Theology
Reviewed by Robert P. Mills, July 16, 1999
While the phrase “evangelical Old Testament theology” is in no immediate danger of becoming a cliché, the publication of this volume makes it is less likely to be deemed an oxymoron. In welcome contrast to many Old Testament scholars of the last 100 years, House believes “theology should come from the Bible itself, not from the system I bring to the Scriptures.” Willingly benefiting from modern scholarship without being in thrall to it, he emphasizes the authority and unity of Scripture as he explores the canonical and historical context of each Old Testament book.
House unpacks the theological themes contained in the Old Testament by giving an overview of a portion of the book under consideration then providing a “canonical synthesis” in which he links the current passage to similar themes in both Testaments. For example, in discussing Israel’s rebellions as recorded in Numbers 13-20, House also draws on texts from Deuteronomy, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Amos, Hebrews and several Psalms.
While the book was written “primarily for college and seminary students,” the language is straightforward and non-technical, making the overviews and syntheses particularly useful for pastors, Sunday school teachers and lay people who would like to enhance their understanding of biblical books with which they may not be that well acquainted.
The dangers of limited familiarity with the Old Testament are discussed by House in his concluding chapter where he observes, “Those who do not know the Old Testament canon are more vulnerable to unbiblical definitions of God than are those who do. Only serious attention to the Old Testament’s theoretical, historical and experientially based statements about the Lord can render a full and certain theology. Anything less rests on a foundation weaker than the one the New Testament writers themselves considered safe.”
We should take that warning to heart, for, unfortunately, many evangelicals are largely unfamiliar with large swaths of the Old Testament. Whether that is due to the mistaken belief that the first two-thirds of the Bible are largely irrelevant to Christian faith and life, or to the unfortunately accurate assessment that these texts have suffered much at the hands of many, the result is vulnerability to those who would reimagine God to fit their own agenda. Those who recognize this deficiency in themselves, or who simply wish to strengthen this foundational area of their faith, will be well served by House’s careful, faithful scholarship.