Old Testament Theology

John Kessler's Old Testament Theology: Divine Call and Human Response helps students navigate the often confusing thought world of the Old Testament by identifying key theological streams and the kind of response each one seeks from the people of God.

~Marion Ann Taylor, Professor of Old Testament, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto

John Kessler has integrated his responses to the ground problems and antagonisms regarding the Scriptures into his exegetical method. The author challenges readers to look after other streams that determine the faith tradition from which the Hebrew Bible ensues. The study relies on thorough knowledge of the Scriptures themselves, the history of their interpretation, the contemporary discussion on language concerning transcendental issues and the large variety of historical and literary methods applied. Therefore, master and postgraduate students, teachers and pastors of every Christian denomination, moreover readers of divergent disposition, in love of or curious about or even prejudiced against the Old Testament as part of the Christian Bible, will find their questions taken seriously to the end while being helped to assess the Book at its true values.

~Willem A. M. Beuken, Catholic University Leuven

Kessler's sensitive and deep-level readings provide a helpful guide through the diverse traditions of the Old Testament in order to hear the relational responses being summoned from the text throughout. This is the work of a confident and bold scholar who is not threatened by the theological diversity running along the crevices and fractures of the Old Testament text.

~Bill T. Arnold, Acting Dean, School of Biblical Interpretation and Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, Asbury Theological Seminary

An appealing, innovative work.

~John Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary, Interpretation