Tuesday, May 02, 2006

The Drama of Scripture

A friend of mine was kind enough to purchase for me a copy of The Drama of Scripture by Craig Bartholomew & Michael Goheen. He has asked me to read and evaluate it. So in the next couple of weeks I hope to make some posts on aspects of the book I find interesting. But in the meantime, have any of you read it? What was your take? What things should I be looking for as I read?

8 comments:

Josh O. said...

This is a great book, overall. Not overly technical,so it makes a great resource for introducing the unity of the biblical story/drama of redemption. I read through quickly this past fall. I plan on using it this fall for a Sunday School class. Probably the best feature about the book is the authors' complimentary website: http://www.biblicaltheology.ca/. It's full of articles and powerpoints ready-to-go. There's even an 8pg article that summarizes the book.

David said...

Graeme Goldsworthy has reviewed this book on our website: www.beginningwithmoses.org

Go to 'books' and locate The Drama of Scripture in the alphabetical library.

Matthew S. Harmon said...

Josh,

Thanks for posting that link; I had come across that but should have posted it.

David,

Thanks, I did come across that after I posted. Excellent stuff as usual from your site.

Anonymous said...

I’ve recommended it as a core, ‘good-to-buy-and-read’ book for my level 1 (first year of BA in UK theological education institution) biblical theology module. My few whinges about it (which would be the same sort of whinges about a number of the ‘story’ approaches to biblical theology, particularly those which foreground one or two major themes) probably wouldn’t concern Craig, and (in any case) are more than outweighed by just how helpful and important I think it is. I would dearly love all my students to read it.

Anonymous said...

Two other things following on from my last post:

1. We’ve had lots of reflection on the ‘creation-fall-redemption’ schema from those (e.g. Wolters, Pearcey) who want to underscore the importance of it for a biblical worldview. Discussions of the biblical story by such writers don’t often rise above generalisations on those major plot points, and The Drama of Scripture helps fill out the biblical story from the same sort of ‘worldview’ perspective. This, I think, could be seen as a distinctive contribution of the book.

2. SPCK in the UK have recently published an abbreviated version of the book, slightly smaller in size as well. It has far fewer endnotes and lacks the maps and diagrams, but it contains sections of reflection on contemporary significance and study questions not found in the Baker edition.

Matthew S. Harmon said...

Antony,

Thanks for the thoughts. Have you used the powerpoint slides made available at their website, or any of the other resources there as aides in using the book in your courses?

Anonymous said...

Hi Matt

I haven’t used any of the slide presentations, but may borrow some of the maps from them for upcoming sessions. I have directed students to the site in general as a good resource, as well as to some of the articles in particular as providing further methodological reflection on their work.

Thanks

Antony

markb said...

I have just started my BA Theology if any would like a study partner especially with review of this book in mind I would be interested in hearing from you.