Theological diversity and canonical authority : an examination of how diverse viewpoints in the Old Testament may be acknowledged, interrelated, and allowed to function theologically
The OT manifests considerable theological diversity. But if it is in some sense 'one' book, its diverse viewpoints should be capable of being brought into a coherent mutual relationship. One approach sets the OT's varied viewpoints against the background of their varied contexts. It is necessary to go on, however, to ask whether certain contexts allow individual theological themes to emerge more clearly or more profoundly than others. Examples are considered. The theme of the people of God in the OT is considered at greater length. What it means to be the people of God varies in different periods, but the eras of the theocratic nation and of the afflicted remnant allow the deepest insights to emerge. A second approach is to see some theological perspectives as preferable to others. If we are to continue affirming the scriptural status of the whole OT, it is necessary to make clear that such a judgment evaluates the relative worth of different viewpoints rather than totally rejecting some. The varied levels of material in Deuteronomy illustrate the point Its behavioural values and its theological perspective are accompanied by a pastoral strategy which -starts where people are as sinners and where they are
Goldingay, John
BS The Bible
Theological diversity and canonical authority : an examination of how diverse viewpoints in the Old Testament may be acknowledged, interrelated, and allowed to function theologically. The OT manifests considerable theological diversity. But if it is in some sense 'one' book, its diverse viewpoints should be capable of being brought into a coherent mutual relationship. One approach sets the OT's varied viewpoints against the background of their varied contexts. It is necessary to go on, however, to ask whether certain contexts allow individual theological themes to emerge more clearly or more profoundly than others. Examples are considered. The theme of the people of God in the OT is considered at greater length. What it means to be the people of God varies in different periods, but the eras of the theocratic nation and of the afflicted remnant allow the deepest insights to emerge. A second approach is to see some theological perspectives as preferable to others. If we are to continue affirming the scriptural status of the whole OT, it is necessary to make clear that such a judgment evaluates the relative worth of different viewpoints rather than totally rejecting some. The varied levels of material in Deuteronomy illustrate the point Its behavioural values and its theological perspective are accompanied by a pastoral strategy which -starts where people are as sinners and where they are
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