Gary Schnittjer, author of Old Testament Narrative Books: The Israel Story, joins the hosts to discuss the importance of presenting the biblical story with an emphasis on redemption. They also introduce Gary's new book and the 'Scripture Connections' textbook series. The podcast explores the exile and restoration narrative in the book of Ruth and discusses the utility and value of a textbook as a teaching resource.
Understanding the Israel story is essential for comprehending the message of the New Testament, particularly the unexpected nature of Jesus as the Messiah, breaking traditional expectations.
The book 'Old Testament Narrative Books: The Israel Story' focuses on the themes of kingdom, exile, and return, revealing the ongoing rebellion of the Israelites even after their restoration, highlighting the need for a different solution.
Deep dives
The Israel Story: Connecting the Ancient and Modern
The podcast episode discusses the significance of the Israel story in connecting the ancient biblical world with the modern Christian faith. The host and guest emphasize that understanding the Israel story is essential for making sense of the gospel and Christianity as a whole. They highlight the narrative structure of the Old Testament books, which are not presented in chronological order but are written with a theological purpose. The guest, Gary Snicker, also stresses the importance of the exile and restoration theme in the Israel story, highlighting the tension between God's promises and the reality faced by the Israelites. The podcast emphasizes how the Israel story provides the necessary context for comprehending the message of the New Testament, particularly the unexpected nature of Jesus as the Messiah, breaking traditional expectations.
The Structure and Aims of the Scripture Connections Series
The podcast explores the Scripture Connections series, which this book is a part of. The series aims to provide short, focused textbooks on each book of the Bible, highlighting the ancient connections, gospel connections, life connections, and biblical connections within each book. The guest, Gary Snicker, explains that the focus of the series is on helping students and ministers of the Word understand how each book of the Bible is connected to its ancient biblical world, as well as its relevance to life and the gospel of Christ. The series editors have gathered world-class scholars to contribute to the series, which covers various sections of the Old and New Testaments.
Understanding the Old Testament Narrative Books
The podcast delves into Gary Snicker's new book, 'Old Testament Narrative Books: The Israel Story.' The book covers the narratives of the rise and fall of the Hebrew kingdoms (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings) as well as the narratives of exile and restoration (Ruth, Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, and Chronicles). The guest explains that the book focuses on the themes of kingdom, exile, and return present in the Israel story. It highlights how these narratives reveal the ongoing rebellion of the Israelites, even after their exile and restoration, emphasizing the need for a different solution. The podcast also discusses the significance of Jesus as the unexpected Messiah, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant and embodying the suffering David. The book is presented as a valuable resource for theological students, ministers, and individuals seeking a deeper understanding of these often-neglected parts of the Bible.
Gary Schnittjer is back on the podcast to discuss his most recent book, Old Testament Narrative Books: The Israel Story, a survey of the histories of the Hebrew kingdoms. Gary's book expertly ties these Old Testament narratives to the overarching theme of redemption throughout the Bible. Tune in to hear James and Jonathan chat with their old friend and newly-crowned honorary co-host of Theology on the Go.
Congratulations to Barb P. from Langhorne, PA and Bobby F. from North Richland Hills, TX, each of whom won a copy of Gary Schnittjer’s book, courtesy of B&H Academic.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
