TJieodore W. Jennings, Jr. The Meaning of ... - Quarterly Review

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limitations, even in quite valuable books such as these. Achtemeier is stronger on Pentateuch and wilderness themes than on prophecy, and postexilic writings are particularly poorly represented. Wisdom is overly moralized. These imbalances appear to be the logical result of her commitment to the biblical theology movement, which tends to level variation in search of the end of history. Brueggemann represents well the texts that better fit his themes. For instance, he frequentiy mentions Exodus texts, legal texts, and Psalms; but the historical writings and wisdom are mostly ignored. Though Achtemeier does a good job of showing the differences in the literary forms, the theological variation between different strands of thought are not as well illustrated. The oneness of the story is emphasized to the detriment, and almost to the exclusion, of the variations of perspective and the multiplicity of Hebrew Bible traditions about the one God. In contrast, Brueggemann shows a categorization of reality that is consonant with Hegel's dialectical philosophy. In the chapters, Brueggemann presents opposites ("reductions") and then constructs a middle path. Such patternings have enormous benefits for showing the inherent contradictions within many positions about biblical faith held by people today, and yet it tends toward oversimplification. An interesting comparison thus emerges. By stating that the texts are all part of the same singular story, Achtemeier oversimplifies and thus denies the diversity present in the Hebrew Bible. On the other hand, by creating dichotomies that may be too facile, Brueggemann oversimplifies at the level of interpretation. Though these books have limits of perspective, they are succinct and clear statements that can form the beginning for further inquiry. Neither book can function as the last word on preaching the Hebrew Bible, but both are powerful entries into the topics. There are noteworthy differences in theological perspective between Achtemeier and Brueggemann. Achtemeier is the more conservative of the two, as evidenced by her conscious adherence to masculine references for God and by her understanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. Brueggemann's more liberal perspectives will be seen in his references to liberation throughout today's world and in his close linking of faith with social and economic realities. Though they represent different positions 86 QUARTERLY REVIEW/SPRING 1993
within contemporary North American Christianity, they are both well within mainstream sensitivities. Conclusion and Recommendation Both of these books are quite valuable and are to be highly recommended. Achtemeier's Preaching from the Old Testament is a good handbook for exegetical methods, presenting straightforward guides for preaching the different genres within the Hebrew Bible. Moreover, her explicitiy New Testament orientation will assist readers in making connections between the two parts of the canon. Brueggemann's Finally Comes the Poet is a statement of a theological framework for preaching that is based firmly on the Hebrew Bible and is fully in agreement with the author's Christian faith. Both books may hold some appeal for interested laity. Achtemeier's book provides more than tips for preaching. There is an intelligent and helpful discussion of the need for a larger role for the Hebrew Bible in the life, education, and worship of the church. The organization by genres allows for solid discussion of the types of biblical literature and could help provide some general orientation to the Hebrew Bible. Laity who are interested in current theological appropriations of these ancient biblical traditions can read Brueggemann's contribution almost as a sermon itself. The book serves as a good expression of the range of Brueggemann's thought and summarizes many of the themes found in his other books. Though there are differences in style, in purpose, and in theological perspective, both books should be helpful to pastors. Also, they complement each other well, and many preachers will benefit from both. For developing a method to analyze Hebrew Bible texts and interpret them in preparation for preaching, Achtemeier's Preaching from the Old Testament provides a good handbook and will enable new skills in preaching Hebrew Bible texts. Brueggemann's Finally Comes the Poet lends good theological insights into important biblical themes highly relevant to modern life in the church and should start the preacher thinking about many potential sermons. The chief value of each book should be measured by how well they achieve their goal: improving the preaching of the Hebrew Bible in Christian congregations. THE MINISTER'S BOOKSHELF 87
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Quarterly Review/Spring 1993 55.00
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Quarterly Review A Journal of Theol
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VOL. 13, NO. 1 SPRING 1993 Contents
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I have always rather liked the gruf
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of discipleship in the New Testamen
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imagine a week without visiting the
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transform all of life, and all that
Page 16 and 17:
Contemporary North American Christi
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We must now see what it is that cha
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saying "call no one your father in
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13:12). There is no following of Je
Page 24 and 25:
Both New Testament discipleship and
Page 26 and 27:
17. "The Duty of Constant Communion
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earliest Christian congregations be
Page 30 and 31:
his baptism to the experience of Ch
Page 32 and 33:
Holy Spirit comes down willingly fr
Page 34 and 35:
The Sacramental Nature of the Bapti
Page 36 and 37:
to save them from "the wrath to com
Page 38 and 39:
aptism—for mature youth and adult
Page 40 and 41:
purpose of a rite of maturity is to
Page 42 and 43: church, namely, thatbaptism-chrisma
Page 44 and 45: 31. John Wesley, Works, X: 151. 32.
Page 46 and 47: In Baptismal Covenant I, in the "In
Page 48 and 49: of God without being born of water
Page 50 and 51: they urged a stronger claim for a p
Page 52 and 53: After analyzing how American Method
Page 54 and 55: eferred to as "a symbol of an inner
Page 56 and 57: of baptism is "the washing away the
Page 58 and 59: Although there is only scant likeli
Page 60 and 61: ut the inner man, where we have put
Page 62 and 63: Notes 1. Lawrence Hull Stookey, "Th
Page 64 and 65: 44. Borgen, 159f.; Stein, 319, f, 1
Page 66 and 67: I am not a liturgical scholar or pr
Page 68 and 69: ounden duty...to consecrate our chi
Page 70 and 71: formed in the gospel not only by le
Page 72 and 73: life, for one could always lose gra
Page 74 and 75: However, I have focused on human ac
Page 76 and 77: Osborne, Kenan B. The Christian Sac
Page 78 and 79: It was raining pretty hard one Satu
Page 80 and 81: the same time a young man came to s
Page 82 and 83: theologically unpacked. A pastoral
Page 84 and 85: Elizabeth Achtemeier's Preaching fr
Page 86 and 87: prophets by the traditions of ancie
Page 88 and 89: eading; it seems as if one is heari
Page 90 and 91: Brueggemann's discussion of royal v
Page 95 and 96: M. Eugene Boring Interpreting 1 Pet
Page 97 and 98: particular way. The particularity o
Page 99 and 100: in the capital of the empire felt m
Page 101 and 102: location but about the way we relat
Page 103 and 104: answer: Read. Interpret. Examine. B
Page 105 and 106: in liturgical settings. Yet all of
Page 107 and 108: word accomplished by Jesus, who cal
Page 109 and 110: community that does what priests do
Page 111 and 112: kings, slavery as a divinely author
Page 113 and 114: wives and husbands. To each it migh
Page 115 and 116: etained some of the oral style appr
Page 117 and 118: Brox, Norbert. Der erste Petrusbrie
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