Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\nReview by Dr. Jill Firth<\/p>\n
This acclaimed guide goes beyond exegesis to theology. Its twelve steps move from text to context to biblical and systematic theology to application. The book targets a broad audience, including those who don\u2019t know Hebrew, and students studying the Old Testament in the original languages. Each section is marked at one of three levels: Level 1 (\u2018easy\u2019) for beginning interpreters who have no Hebrew; Level 2 (\u2018moderate\u2019) which does not require Hebrew, but interacts with Hebrew which is translated; Level 3 (\u2018challenging\u2019) which is for more \u2018advanced\u2019 interpreters who know or are studying Hebrew. Each chapter includes a summary of key words and concepts, questions for reflection, and resources for further study. The end of the book also has a full glossary of the key terms.<\/p>\n
\u2018Part 1: Text\u2019 introduces genre, literary units, text hierarchy, text criticism, and translation. DeRouchie introduces his method of diagramming the thought flow of a text through indenting clauses which support a \u2018higher level\u2019 clause. Text hierarchy in Hebrew is determined by the presence of \u05d5\u05b0 which may signal coordination, result, purpose, \u2018or some other semantic value.\u2019 Disjunction is signalled by asyndeton, the lack of \u05d5\u05b0, and may utilise a subordinate conjunction such as \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9. A text block is a chain of clauses that should be read together. A block may extend to a paragraph or even a chapter of a text. The three most common text types are \u2018historical\u2019, \u2018anticipatory\u2019, and \u2018directive\u2019, each with its own characteristic verb patterns.<\/p>\n
\u2018Part 2: Observation\u2019 builds on Part 1, and introduces The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible<\/em> developed by Steven E. Runge and Joshua R. Westbury. DeRouchie recommends this resource as a good though not infallible aid to reading the Old Testament for depth. Argument Tracing is introduced in Chapter 6. Arcing and bracketing are tools used to capture \u2018the relationships of the various propositions\u2019 in a passage. Categories such as coordinate relationships, subordinate relationships, restatement, and contrary statement are proposed by DeRouchie to assess the argument of a text. DeRouchie proposes the use of Biblearc.com where a student can create a text hierarchy and then develop arcing or bracketing. Chapter 7 gives an introduction to word and concept studies.<\/p>\n\u2018Part 3: Context\u2019 invites consideration of historical and literary context. DeRouchie offers a summary of each Old Testament book and how it contributes to the message of the whole Old Testament. \u2018Part 4: Meaning\u2019 introduces biblical and systematic theology, and \u2018Part 5: Application\u2019 considers practical theology, including attention to specific issues as examples.<\/p>\n
DeRouchie\u2019s exegetical and theological method were impacted by his studies at Gordon-Conwell, and his interest in discourse analysis developed during doctoral studies at SBTS. Currently on faculty at Bethlehem College and Seminary, DeRouchie has been inspired \u2018to make much of Christ and the gospel from the Old Testament.\u2019 The volume was road tested in an intermediate course at Bethlehem Seminary.<\/p>\n
The volume could be used in a classroom or at home by students at an intermediate level. Preachers looking to build on their seminary training may value the book\u2019s clear step by step approach. A teacher or reader\u2019s interpretive decisions will sometimes vary from conclusions by DeRouchie, but anyone who values a highly structured approach to the text can benefit from this guide.<\/p>\n
Jill Firth is a Lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne. Her current research is in Psalms and Jeremiah.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jason S. DeRouchie. How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology. Phillipsburg: P&R, 2017. Available from Amazon.com Review by Dr. Jill Firth This acclaimed guide goes beyond exegesis to theology. Its twelve steps move from text to context to biblical and systematic theology to application. The book targets a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":15144,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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