Theological Diversity and the Authority of the Old Testament

In this book John Goldingay examines how the diverse viewpoints reflected in the Old Testament may be acknowledged, interrelated, and allowed to function theologically. In doing so he analyzes as well as synthesizes, treating both the biblical text and scholarly interpretations of it. / Following an introductory overview of the theological diversity in the Old Testament and the questions raised by this diversity, Goldingay examines three approaches: the contextual or historical approach, the evaluative or critical approach, and the unifying or constructive approach. In each case he devotes one chapeter to explainging the particular approach, and immediately follows with a chapter applying that approach to a particular Old Testament theme. / A thoroughly researched and original work, this book will appeal to students and scholars interested in ways of moving from acknowledgment of diversity in the Old Testament to a creative but disciplined recognition that those diverse viewpoints belong to one canon.