In the book of Jeremiah, the vocabulary of 'word' and 'words' is not only uniquely prevalent, but formulae marking divine speech also play an unprecedented role in giving the book's final form its narrative and theological shape. Indeed, 'the word of the Lord' is arguably the main character, and a theology that is both distinctive and powerful can be seen to emerge from the unfolding narrative. In this stimulating study, Andrew Shead examines Jeremiah's use of word language; the prophet's formation as an embodiment of the Word of God; his covenant preaching and the crisis it precipitates concerning the recognition of true prophecy; and, in the 'oracles of hope', how the power of the Word of God is finally made manifest. Shead then brings this reading of Jeremiah to bear on some issues in contemporary theology, including the problem of divine agency and the doctrine of Scripture, and concludes by engaging Jeremiah's doctrine of the Word of God in conversation with Karl Barth. The prophet's major contribution emerges from his careful differentiation of 'word' and 'words'.
About the AuthorAndrew Shead is an ordained Christian minister and biblical scholar from Sydney, Australia. He currently serves as head of the Old Testament department of Moore Theological College, Sydney, where he helps to form pastors, Bible teachers, and scholars. Andrew's PhD (Cambridge University) examined the ancient texts and versions of the book of Jeremiah, and Jeremiah has remained a research interest ever since. He also writes and teaches in the areas of Hebrew language, textual criticism, poetry, prophets, biblical theology, biblical interpretation, and preaching. He is a member of the NIV Committee on Bible Translation. Andrew is married with three adult children. He loves good conversation, stories that reveal the world through others' eyes, and beautiful spaces.
Book InformationISBN 9781844745968
Author The Revd Dr Andrew SheadFormat Paperback
Page Count 328
Imprint ApollosPublisher Inter-Varsity Press
Weight(grams) 426g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 140mm * 25mm