OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY

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OLD TESTAMENTTHEOLOGY
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O. T. Theology Origin
Johann Gabler, in 1787, delivered an address on
the difference between Dogmatic and Biblical
Theology

• Biblical Theology
• Simple
• Treats the religion of the Bible
• Historical (discusses what the sacred writers
  thought of divine things)
• Special Revelation

• Dogmatic Theology
• Complex
• Biblical Theology and philosophy
• Didactic (what the theologians think)
• Special and General Revelationgt

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O. T. Theology Definition

• Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology is that
  branch of Exegetical Theology which deals with
  the process of the self revelation of God
  deposited in the Bible. Biblical Theology, 13.

• John Murray, Biblical theology deals with the
  data of special revelation from the standpoint of
  its history systematic theology deals with the
  same in its totality as a finished product. The
  method of systematic theology is logical, that of
  biblical theology is historical. WTJ, 261,
  33.gt

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O. T. Theology The Redemptive Historical
Framework

• Exegesis (then interpretation)
• Compare with other passages
• Formulate ideas without distorting the facts
• Be aware of the flow of Biblical revelationgt

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O. T. Theology Techniques

• Word Studies key words their theological
  thrust one cannot exegete without knowing the
  meaning of the words
• Subject Studies tracing the growth or
  development of a subject determining the key
  verses
• Theology of Biblical Books What does_____say?
  Examines the book as a literary unit. Determines
  the theme or themes. How do the parts support
  that theme? 
• Theology of the Old Testament such as Vos,
  Payne, etc.gt

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O. T. Theology and Systematic Theology

• Biblical theology is the ground for systematic
  theology
• Biblical and systematic theology are
  complementary, not antithetical
• There is a difference in method and nature of the
  approach
• Biblical Theology- what has God revealed?
• Systematic Theology- what is true about God?gt

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O. T. Theology and Systematic Theology

• The Danger of Systematic Theology
• Theological drift the system is substituted for
  Scripture
• Strong denominationalism leads to failure to
  recognize the catholicity of the Church
• Biased exegesis (the whole determines the meaning
  of the parts)gt

• The Value of Systematic Theology
• It presents the results of Bible study in capsule
  form
• It is useful in combating heresy
• It provides conventional language

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O. T. Theology History

• The Rise of Old Testament Theology
• Federal Theology Cocceius (1603-1669)
• Attempt to escape from traditionalism and
  confessions to purely Biblical orientation
• Developed theology around the structure of
  covenant (foedus)
• Pietism Spener and Francke- (1635-1705)
• Emphasized practical orientation of theology and
  the devotional use of Bible
• Argued for historical interpretations as opposed
  to prooftexting
• Johann Gabler Father of Biblical Theology, a
  rationalist, seeking to explain the biblical
  religion in terms of universal laws of reasongt

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O. T. Theology History

• The Triumph of Israels Religion Extreme
  Rationalism (1790-1830)
• Hermann Samuel Reimarus, 1694-1768
• Wolfenbüttel Fragments
• J.D. Semler, 1725-1792, canon the result of human
  endeavors entirely
• Georg Lorenz Bauer, 1755-1806, rationalist
  theology, Theologie des Alten Testaments
• W.M.L. de Wette, first to do Biblical Theology
  under influence of Kantianismgt

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O. T. Theology History

• Rationalism under the influence of a philosophy
  of religion (Historicists)
• Hegel The dialectic
• Schleiermacher the focus of theology  
• Wilhelm Vatke Biblische Theologie, 1835,
  developed the history of religions approach
  (Religionsgeschichte)
• Bruno Bauer a student of Vatke, wrote a second
  history of religions, Old Testament theology
  based on the Hegelian philosophygt

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O. T. Theology History

• Julius Wellhausen wrote Prolegomena zur
  Geschichte Israels, 1878
• Signaled a shift in Biblical Theology from
  rationalism to the history of Israel's religion
• Based on Graf and Keunen
• OT prophets lived before the giving of the OT
  law.
• OT religion grew out of nature religion
• Behind the sacrifices and rituals of Israel lay
  the agricultural feasts of her pagan neighborsgt

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O. T. Theology Wellhausian Scheme

• Animism moving objects are indwelt with spirits
• Gen 147, spring of judgment
• Gen 126, oaks of Moreh 1318, oaks of Mamre
• Polytheism Joshua 1511, baals
• Totemism- some members of tribes related to
  animals Caleb-dog, or el names as descendants
  of some god
• Taboo- certain prohibited foods (can't eat
  because they belong to the tribal gods)
• Ancestor worship- Genesis 23
• Monolatry recognize many gods, worship one
• Monotheism eighth century, J documentsgt

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O. T. Theology Key Themes in the
Religionsgeschichte Approach

• Late date assigned to P document in
  Pentateuchal criticism
• New picture of Israels religion, based on
  documentary hypothesis
• Evolutionary model, based on Hegel and Darwingtgt

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OLD TESTAMENTTHEOLOGY