Messianic Revelation In The Old Testament

Books by evangelical scholars on messianism in the Old Testament are either outdated, too brief, or lack balance,Ó observes the author. Messianic Revelation in the Old Testament represents the most thorough, conservative analysis of the century. Van Groningen traces the messianic expectation as it is progressively revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures. He first introduces the messianic concept, defining its terms and uncovering its source. He finds these messianic presentations rooted in, and shaped by, divine revelation. The major part of this volume explores messianism's philological, historical, and theological aspects. The result of this study,Ó writes the author, reveals that the messianic concept refers to a royal-priestly-prophetic person...and his work.Ó Passages that deal with these messianic motifs have been selected for close scrutiny and evaluation.Ó The author believes that a correct understanding of messianism in the Old Testament requires a balanced hermeneutical approach - from exegeting the relevant texts and studying their historical context to interpreting prophecy and organizing its theological truths. In the words of the author, To omit one [element] is to do injustice to the Old Testament.Ó Van Groningen has included an extensive bibliography of both books and articles for those wishing to pursue additional study. A Scripture index helps one to locate the author's exegetical insights on various passages. An index of persons concludes the work.

The Old Testament both tells the story of Israel and points to the coming Messiah. Kaiser distinguishes between Old Testament passages that describe national Israel's glorious future and those that point to Christ and his kingdom. Kaiser's chronological approach traces Israel's developing concept of Messiah through different time periods.

Two issues in particular engaged me [when studying in seminary and graduate school]. Did God, the sovereign covenant Lord, actually communicate with men in human language? And did this Lord actually enable men to infallibly record in writing what he had made known to them? . . . The result was that I increasingly realized that unless I had confidence that the Scriptures were authentic, authoritative, and wholly reliable I would not have the certainty and conviction needed for preaching and teaching truths that I and all other sinful persons required for the assurance of the forgiveness of sin, salvation and God-honoring service. This book is, in a real sense, my answer to the questions I wrestled with initially. It is a testimony to the assurance and peace I had as I taught in Christian educational institutions. --from the Preface

It features the first discussion of the recently discovered text 'The Gabriel Revelation' - an apocalyptic text written on stone at the turn of the Common Era. This tablet provides revolutionary paths to the understanding of the historical Jesus and the birth of Christianity. It explores the formation of the conception of "catastrophic messianism" in the Gabriel Revelation. According to this conception, the death of a messianic leader and his resurrection by the angel Gabriel after three days is an essential part of the redemptive process. This conception is a new key which enables us for the first time to understand the messianic vision of the historical Jesus. This important and fascinating book will thus shed new and revolutionary light on our basic view of Christianity.

"This volume is exemplary of evangelical scholarship at its best. The theme is pertinent, indeed basic, to all expressions of Christianity, and the contributors engage their subject with the passionate inquiry and critical acumen it deserves. The essays are comprehensive in scope but unpredictable in conclusion, displaying a diversity of perspective united only by common allegiance to the advancement of biblical understanding. Anyone interested in biblical prophecy or a historical understanding of Jesus will find here a useful survey of the relevant materials and some surprising new insights." --Mark Allan Powell, Trinity Lutheran Seminary "Israel's Messiah is a very timely, helpful work on one of the more important topics for our day. In fairly short compass, it manages to cover nearly everything the student will want to know about the development of the messianic idea in Judaism and the early church. It is a must reading!" --Grant R. Osborne, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School "There has been a notion circulating in certain circles of New Testament scholarship that the concept of a messiah was of little significance in early Judaism. This volume helps dispel that notion and in the process gives us some keen insight into how the messianic material in the New Testament fits into the larger matrix of Old Testament and early Jewish messianic thought. Highly recommended." --Ben Witherington III, Asbury Theological Seminary "The complexities of biblical scholarship are all too often hidden from most students of the Bible. This collection of essays, however, opens up contemporary issues concerning the concept of the messiah. The main authors and respondents offer helpful and insightful presentations on the messiahship of Jesus Christ. The format of essays and responses enriches the volume by permitting the reader to weigh differing viewpoints on the vitally important topic. Here we have constructive, critical, evangelical scholarship of the highest quality." --T. D. Alexander, Union Theological College, Belfast, Ireland