Biblical Theology

Abstract

Biblical Theology Benedict Schöning, Christopher T. Begg, Thomas Hieke, Joel M. LeMon, and Joseph E. Jensen 2241. Gerlinde Baumann, "Gewalt im Alten Testament. Grundlinien der Forschung—hermeneutische Überlegungen—Anregungen," Macht – Gewalt – Krieg, 29-52 [see #2367]. B. reviews past research concerning violence in the OT, presents contemporary hermeneutic approaches to violence, and points to ongoing desiderata generated by these approaches. She sees progress in research mainly in the exegesis of certain texts, whereas in lexica and theologies of the OT the topic is still (as of 2011) underrepresented. B. categorizes previous research in terms of historical, literary, and reception-history approaches, along with a strong representation of feminist theology. These approaches can be also apologetical or critical, and may also highlight potential new violence, when the texts in question are read today. Further research on violence in the OT is required: the notion of God would be improperly truncated, if exegesis ignores violence in biblical texts. There is also the danger of anti-semitism, if Christian anthropology were to disregard violence as an object of research because it was overcome by Christ. B. suggests that future research should emphasize the collective aspect of violence, even in texts concerning individuals, as violence is part of a relational network. The history of interpretation needs critical reflection, and the coherence between the two Testaments of the Christian Bible should be emphasized by collaboration with NT scholars. Interreligious comparisons are also called for.—B.S. [End Page 740] 2242. [Genesis 1–2] Bernardo Corrêa d'Almeida, "Um olhar sobre o ser humano segundo as Sagradas Escrituras [A Look at Human Beings according to Sacred Scripture]," HumTeo 39 (2, 2018) 49-89. This article surveys the way in which Scripture understands human beings. In so doing, it begins with the two accounts of creation presented at the beginning of the Book of Genesis. Taking these chapters as a basis, the article seeks to identify the main characteristics of humans as created by God, i.e., humans' being created in the image and likeness of God, this highlighting human beings as beings made for communion. More specifically, being human is a communion between two beings, one masculine, the other feminine, who are unique, complementary, equal, and sacred, capable of fulfillment, evolution, and generation, situated within an ecologically open system, and moved by the Spirit that created them and re-creates them on the basis of both their innate and acquired attributes. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 2243. Steven R. Coxhead, "The Cardionomographic Work of the Old Testament," WTJ 79 (2017) 77-95. For those unfamiliar with the Greek vocabulary that makes up the components of this term [cardionomographic, a word coined, apparently, by C. himself], cardio denotes "heart," nomo stands for "law," and graphy indicates "writing." The term cardionomography simply denotes, therefore, the writing of the law on the heart. One can even speak of pneumato-cardionomography in order to make clear that the work of writing God's law is the work of the Holy Spirit. [p. 77, adapted] In the continuation of his article, C. develops his understanding of the above term under four heads: (1) The Concept of Cardionomography in the OT; (2) The Reality of Cardionomography in the Old Covenant Age; (3) The Importance of Pneumato-Cardionomography in Salvation History; and (4) The Importance of Obedience within Deuteronomic Soteriology. On the basis of his discussion of these points, C. concludes his essay with the following synthesis concerning his findings (p. 95): "To summarize what has been argued above, the message of the OT, by recording the historical failure of Adam and Israel due to a limited cardionomographic work of the Spirit during the pre-Christian era, highlights the need for the internalization of the word of God in the human heart. In other words, the OT highlights the great need for the cardionomographic work of the Spirit on an international scale, and it looks forward to the time when this would take place, to the time of the new covenant, when God would write his law on the hearts of his people through his Spirit in a comprehensive and ultimately complete...