Presence, Power and Promise: The Role of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament

David G. Firth, Paul D. Wegner

InterVarsity Press, Oct 6, 2011 - Religion - 414 pages

From the first verses of Genesis, the Spirit of God makes a dramatic appearance in the Bible. Yet there is surprisingly little scholarly work on the Spirit in the Old Testament. On examination, what we find are similarities but also some significant differences in emphasis from the New Testament. To unpack these emphases on creation, wisdom, prophecy, leadership, creativity and more, the editors of this volume have brought to the task a host of first-rate Old Testament scholars. Together they present a comprehensive examination of the issues facing interpreters and exegetes on the identity and activity of the Spirit in the Hebrew Bible. This volume provides readers with an able guide to the interpretative background of ancient Near Eastern literature, the major themes and motifs, and particular texts and passages that contribute to an understanding of the Spirit in the Old Testament. Contributors include: Andrew Abernethy Richard E. Averbeck Daniel I. Block Robert B. Chisholm Rosalind Clarke Daniel J. Estes Jamie A. Grant Richard S. Hess Robert L. Hubbard Tremper Longman III Geert W. Lorein Hilary Marlow Eugene Merrill Erika Moore John Oswalt Robin Routledge Willem VanGemeren John Walton Lindsay Wilson

Contents

• Contributors: 8
• Introduction: 15
• Orientation to the Spirit in the Old Testament and: 23
• The Spirit and creation: 71
• The Spirit and wisdom: 93
• 3 the Spirit of God in my nostrils: 111
• Spirit and the psalmist in Psalm 51: 122
• 23? Lindsay Wilson: 147
• The Spirit and creativity: 159
• The Spirit and prophecy: 173
• 14? John N Oswalt: 208
• 19: 220
• 16 a trinitarian enigma? Paul D Wegner: 233
• Joels promise of the Spirit: 245
• The Spirit and leadership: 257
• The Samson saga and spiritual leadership: 281
• Is Saul also among the prophets? Sauls prophecy: 294
• The Spirit and the future: 319
• restoration: 346
• The Spirit at Qumran: 369
• Geert W Lorein: 395
• Ancient sources index: 415

About the author

David G. Firth is Old Testament tutor and head of research at St. John's College, Nottingham, England. He is the author of 1 & 2 Samuel (Apollos Old Testament Commentary), The Message of Esther, and The Message of Joshua, and he is the coeditor of Interpreting the Psalms, Interpreting Isaiah, and Words & the Word. Paul D. Wegner (Ph.D., Kings College, University of London) is a professor of Old Testament with a specialty in the study of Isaiah. He taught at Phoenix Seminary for eleven years and, before that, at Moody Bible Institute for nearly thirteen years. He is the author of A Student ́s Guide to Textual Criticism: Its History, Methods, and Results (IVP, 2006), The Journey from Texts to Translations:The Origin and Development of the Bible (Baker Academic, 2004) and Using Old Testament Hebrew Preaching: A Guide for Students and Pastors (Kregel Academic, 2009).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Presence, Power and Promise: The Role of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament
• Editors: David G. Firth, Paul D. Wegner
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press, 2011
• ISBN: 0830839577, 9780830839575
• Length: 414 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Biblical Studies / Old Testament