Die Prophetie im alten Israel ist eine einzigartige Erscheinung von welt- historischer Bedeutung. Tief verwurzelt in den geschichtlichen Zusammen- hangen der ersten Halfte des ersten vorchristlichen Jahrtausends hat sie den drei groBen Weltreligionen Judentum, Christentum und Islam ihr Erbe hin- terlassen, unter ihnen weitreichende Wirkungen ausge16st und Krafte der Hoffnung und Zuversicht, der unbedingten GewiBheit im Vertrauen auf gottliche Zusagen entbunden. Ihre Geltung bis auf den heutigen Tag lebt im religiosen BewuBtsein fort und vermag Grundpositionen religioser, aber zuweilen auch von ihnen abgeleiteter religionsphilosophischer Denksysteme 1 und in ihnen wirksamer Einzelelemente zu stutzen und zu bestatigen - DaB der Prophet, unter welchen Voraussetzungen auch immer, das Kommende mit GewiBheit voraussage, ist selbst dem popularen AllgemeinbewuBtsein eine bekannte und gelaufige Vorstellung. Damit mag es zusammenhangen, daB Prophetie" in erster Linie dem Ressort der Religionswissenschaft und Theologie zugesprochen wird. Histo- rische Wissenschaften und Darstellungen der Geistesgeschichte vermerken das Phanomen am Rande. Es ist fur sie kein Forschungsobjekt von eigen- standiger Bedeutung. So kam es, daB die Masse der wissenschaftlichen Litera- tur zu diesem Thema aus theologischer Feder stammt und sich in der Regel aum in der theologischen Debatte erschopft, ohne den Zusammenhang von t Hingewiesen sei auf die Vorlesungsreihe von W. Zimmerli, Der Mensch und seine Hoff- nung im Alten Testament, Kleine Vandenhoeck-Reihe 272 S, 1968, wo auch die Ausein- andersetzung mit dem nPrinzip Hoffnung" bei Ernst Bloch gefiihrt wird.

This book examines community identity in the post-exilic temple community in Ezra-Nehemiah, and explores the possible influences that the Achaemenids, the ruling Persian dynasty, might have had on its construction. In the book, David Janzen reads Ezra-Nehemiah in dialogue with the Achaemenids' Old Persian inscriptions, as well as with other media the dynasty used, such as reliefs, seals, coins, architecture, and imperial parks. In addition, he discusses the cultural and religious background of Achaemenid thought, especially its intersections with Zoroastrian beliefs. Ezra-Nehemiah, Janzen argues, accepts Achaemenid claims for the necessity and beneficence of their hegemony. The result is that Ezra-Nehemiah, like the imperial ideology it mimics, claims that divine and royal wills are entirely aligned. Ezra-Nehemiah reflects the Achaemenid assertion that the peoples they have colonized are incapable of living in peace and happiness without the Persian rule that God established to benefit humanity, and that the dynasty rewards the peoples who do what they desire, since that reflects divine desire. The final chapter of the book argues that Ezra-Nehemiah was produced by an elite group within the Persian-period temple assembly, and shows that Ezra-Nehemiah's pro-Achaemenid worldview was not widely accepted within that community.

ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award When the Israelites exclaimed, "Here are your gods!" at the sight of the golden calf, they were attempting to hold on to the God of their history while fashioning idols for their own purposes. In today's Western world, plenty of shiny false gods still hold power--idols of prosperity, nationalism, and self-interest. Christians desperately need to name and expose these idols. We must retrieve the biblical emphasis on idolatry and apply it anew in our journey of following Jesus. In "Here Are Your Gods," Old Testament scholar Christopher J. H. Wright combines a biblical study of idolatry with practical discipleship. He calls readers to consider connections between Old Testament patterns and today's culture, especially recurring temptations to trust in political power. Now as much as ever, we need a biblically informed understanding of the many ways humans make gods for themselves, the danger of idols, and how God calls us to join him in the battle against idolatry as part of his ongoing mission to be known and worshiped by all peoples.

Thru the Bible commentary series includes Dr. McGee's insightful study of each book of the Bible with in-depth, paragraph-by-paragraph discussions of key verses and passages.

For years, Douglas Stuart's Old Testament Exegesis has been one of the most popular ways to learn how to perform exegesis-the science and art of interpreting biblical texts properly for understanding as well as proclamation. This new edition includes a major revision and expansion of online and other resources for doing biblical research and updates past editions by including a helpful configuration of the format for the exegesis process. Stuart provides guidance for full exegesis as well as for a quicker approach specifically tailored to the task of preaching. A glossary of terms explains the sometimes-bewildering language of biblical scholarship, and a list of frequent errors guides the student in avoiding common mistakes. No exegetical guide for the Old Testament has been more widely used in training ministers and students to be faithful, careful interpreters of Scripture.