Reviews

"John Goldingay writes with magisterial knowledge of the biblical texts and a keen eye for how to open them in fresh ways for scholars, teachers, preachers and all serious readers. Drawing deeply and widely on the scholarly literature--and also on literature that most scholars would not think to consult--he demonstrates with utter lucidity and conviction how the Hebrew Scriptures present a vision of life in community that is still sane, salvific and maybe even more essential for this generation of faith than for our ancestors."--Dr. Ellen Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical Theology, Duke Divinity School "With his characteristic thoroughness and engaging writing style, Goldingay offers a rich reflection on the life God expects of his people. This third volume of his tripartite theology begins with God himself as the appropriate place to ground the meaning and significance of this life. It then turns to explain the centrality of the communities within which individuals share their existence, grow in virtue and find their true self. Faith in action, worship and spirituality as inseparable from ethics, and leadership as service--these are a few of the emphases of the message of the Old Testament developed in this work. Read Israel's Life and deepen your appreciation of the Old Testament's relevance . . . and enhance your vision of a life well-lived and pleasing to God."--M. Daniel Carroll R., Denver Seminary "The fruits of Goldingay's lifelong devotion to the study of the Old Testament are visible on every page. This work is a sure and steady guide that will lead the reader into the riches of Israel's legacy and its God."--Gary Anderson, professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, University of Notre Dame "Finally, Goldingay's OT ethics! In a highly readable fashion he demonstrates masterfully that Israel's vision of life before God is not irrelevant to modern existence. In fact, the communal shape of Israel's faith, as well as its profound sense of individual responsibility and freedom, cast our own society's peculiar sicknesses into sharpest relief and point firmly in the direction of a cure. This is first-rate, thrilling stuff--the appropriate culmination of a glittering trilogy."--Stephen B. Chapman, Duke University "Going through this volume was like sitting in on lectures from a well-informed, wise, and witty lover of the OT. . . . I enjoyed the book, learned from it, and recommend it."--James Limburg, Interpretation, October 2011 "A fresh and rich type of biblical theology for all."--James Chukwuman Okoye, The Bible in Review "I highly recommend this third volume, along with the other two, as a rich contribution to the study of Old Testament theology and a rich exposition of God's truths as relevant for the lives of His people."--Roger D. Cotton, Encounter: Journal for Pentecostal Ministry, Summer 2014, Vol. 11 "Every evangelical interested in biblical ethics will find practical insights within its pages as well as a challenge to respond to some tough questions."--William D. Barrick, The Master's Seminary Journal, Fall 2011" "In the third and final volume of his massive Old Testament Theology John Goldingay turns to ethics and explores 'the life of the children of God' (Barth). He shows how this is presented as response to the gospel as Israel experienced it and as an expression of their faith in Yhwh. Goldingay sees the ethics of the Old Testament as a direct call to us today: the presentation is as far from antiquarian as it could be. Christians and Jews alike will need to ponder this challenging work."--John Barton, Oriel & Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, University of Oxford