The Concept of Biblical Theology: An Old Testament Perspective

James Barr offers critical insight on the craft of writing First Testament theologies, ...He also critically reviews the work of numerous significant biblical theologians, including Brevard Childs and Walter Brueggemann in particular' Robert Gnuse, Biblical Theology Bulletin `Anyone interested in "biblical theology" will find much here that is helpful, and much for which to be grateful.' DJ Reimer Journal for the Study of the Old Testament. The Concept of Biblical Theology is the result of more than 25 years of teaching and writing, and is Barr's discussion of the whole idea of biblical theology, its possibilities and its prospects. He has made no attempt to survey all the Theologies that have been written nor all the material that has been brought forward in the discussion, but has selected persons and themes that have seemed fruitful for his own thinking. Many scholars believe the study of biblical theology to be in decline, and Barr has been a severe critic of tendencies in biblical theology in his time, but here he guides the reader through the various supportive and opposing arguments, providing his compelling conclusion that something of the nature of biblical theology remains necessary, and that biblical scholarship would be much the poorer without it. Prior to retiring, James Barr was Professor of Hebrew Bible Emeritus at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville. His teaching career has also included professorships at Edinburgh University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Manchester University, and Oxford University. He has held visiting professorships and delivered major lecture series in Europe, the United States, Africa, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand.