A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
We were very happy to see the release of this well-deserved festschrift in honor of Michael Barrett of Puritan Reformed Seminary!
Publisher’s Description
This book celebrates Michael P. V. Barrett’s many contributions to the church and the academy. It covers a variety of topics and is divided into three major sections of essays: historical, exegetical/expositional, and theological. The historical section covers issues from the ancient Near East to Puritan preaching and the importance of the Reformation. Though these may seem disparate subjects, they reflect Barrett’s love for the world of the Old Testament as well as his allegiance to Protestant and Reformed Christianity. The exegetical and expositional essays range from Genesis to the poetic literature of the Hebrew Bible, from historical and expositional theology to the details of textual criticism. Finally, the theological essays focus on three topics dear to Barrett’s heart: Christ in the Old Testament, a biblical and balanced view of God, and the wisdom of Qoheleth. This variety reflects the breadth and depth of Barrett’s own interest in the issues of reading, interpreting, and proclaiming the Scriptures.
Table of Contents
Preface
- The Wisdom of a Father: How the Old Testament Shaped a Home —Charles M. Barrett
Historical
- The Myth of Baal: Anat’s Battle in the Valley —John D. Currid
- The Puritan Preaching of the Old Testament —Joel R. Beeke
- Protestant Still: Why the Reformation Matters Today —Sean Michael Lucas
Exegetical and Expositional
- My Two Sons: Abraham and His Heir —Rhett P. Dodson
- Wrestling with Luther and Calvin at the Jabbok —Mark S. Gignilliat
- A Discourse Analysis of Exodus 32–34 —Ken Casillas
- The “Gods” of Psalm 82: Humans or Deities? —Kevin T. Bauder
- A Spider in a Psalm? Psalm 90:9 in Ancient Greek and Syriac Translations —Richard A. Taylor
- Righteousness, Justice, and Equity: Structure in Provers 2 and the Final Shape of Proverbs —A. Philip Brown
Theological
- Finding Messiah in the Old Testament—with the Rabbis —Russel T. Fuller
- The God of Love and His Command to Annihilate the Canaanites —Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
- Is Qoheleth’s Wisdom Trustworthy? —Steve L. Reynolds
- A Bibliography of the Writings of Michael P. V. Barrett —William E. Pareja
Endorsements
Sam Horn
This book is marked by scholarly excellence, faithful exegesis, historical sensitivity, accurate exposition, and a passion to serve Christ and His body. As such, it is a fitting tribute to my professor and role model Mike Barrett, whose life epitomizes each of these virtues. Time spent in these pages will not be wasted.”
Richard D. Phillips
The Old Testament Yesterday and Today is a fitting tribute to the outstanding ministry of Michael Barrett. Whether you are a scholar, pastor, or student, these essays in theology and biblical exegesis offer enriching insights into the study of God’s Word.”
About the Contributors
Charles Michael Barrett (BA, MA, PhD, Bob Jones University) is associate minister at Wayside Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Signal Mountain, TN. He also serves as adjunct professor at Belhaven University, Chattanooga, teaching courses in biblical studies and worldview. Before moving to Tennessee, he taught church history and systematic theology at Geneva Reformed Seminary. He has published articles in the Puritan Reformed Journal and contributed chapters in The Beauty and Glory of the Christian Worldview (RHB, 2017).
Kevin T. Bauder earned his PhD at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has two decades as both a pastor and a chaplain in the Air Force Auxiliary. His presently serves as research professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis, where he has served in several capacities. He has authored or contributed to multiple works on fundamentalist theology and history, and he is the editor of Heart, Soul, Might, a volume of devotional theology.
Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is President and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, editor of Puritan Reformed Journal and Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice-president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. He has written and co-authored one hundred books (most recently, A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life; Knowing and Growing in Assurance of Faith; Prepared by Grace, for Grace: The Puritans on God’s Ordinary Way of Leading Sinners to Christ; and Debated Issues in Sovereign Predestination), edited another one hundred books, and contributed 2,500 articles to Reformed books, journals, periodicals, and encyclopedias. He is frequently called upon to lecture at seminaries and to speak at Reformed conferences around the world. He and his wife Mary have been blessed with three children and two grandchildren.
Philip Brown II (MA in Bible; PhD in Old Testament Interpretation, Bob Jones University) is a Professor of Bible & Theology and Graduate Program Director at God’s Bible School and College in Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Brown is the author of Hope Amidst Ruin: A Literary and Theological Analysis of Ezra and coauthor with Bryan Smith of the Reader’s Hebrew Bible.
Ken Casillas (PhD, Bob Jones University) is Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at BJU Seminary and Senior Pastor of Cleveland Park Bible Church (Spartanburg, SC). He is the author of The Law and the Christian: God’s Light within God’s Limits and Beyond Chapter and Verse: The Theology and Practice of Biblical Application.
John D. Currid (PhD, University of Chicago) is the Chancellor’s Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary. Prior to coming to RTS, he served as Associate Professor of Religion at Grove City College. He is a trained archaeologist, having served on the staffs of the excavations of Carthage (Tunisia), Bethsaida, Tell el-Hesi, and the Lahav Grain Storage Project (director). Currid has authored numerous books such as The ESV Bible Atlas (with cartographer David Barrett, 2010) and Against the Gods (2013) both published by Crossway. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America, Dr. Currid currently serves as Pastor of Teaching and Preaching at Sovereign Grace Church (PCA) in Charlotte.
Rhett P. Dodson (BA, MA, PhD, Bob Jones University), editor, is the senior minister of Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Hudson, Ohio. His doctoral work was in Old Testament interpretation. In addition to serving in pastoral ministry, he has taught at Providence Theological Seminary, Geneva Reformed Seminary, and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He is the author of Unashamed Workmen: How Expositors Prepare and Preach, Every Promise of Your Word: The Gospel According to Joshua, and Marching to Zion: Ancient Psalms for Modern Pilgrims. Rhett and his wife, Theresa, live in Hudson, OH.
Russell T. Fuller (BS, MA, Bob Jones University; MPhil, PhD, Hebrew Union College; Doctoral Studies, The Dropsie College) is professor of Old Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Before his appointment at Southern in 1998, he was assistant professor of Bible and Bible languages at Mid-Continent College and interim pastor in Ohio and Kentucky. He is co-author of An Invitation to Biblical Hebrew.
Mark S. Gignilliat is Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University. He has degrees from Bob Jones University, Reformed Theological Seminary, and The University of St. Andrews, Scotland. His most recent publications are A Brief History of Old Testament Criticism, Reading Scripture Canonically: Theological Instincts for Old Testament Interpretation, and a commentary on Micah for the International Theological Commentary series. Mark is married to Naomi and has four children.
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. (BD, Wheaton Graduate School; PhD, Brandeis University) has taught at Wheaton College, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary. He served as president of Gordon–Conwell until his retirement and is currently President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and Ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, MA. Dr. Kaiser is the author of numerous books including Toward An Exegetical Theology, Toward an Old Testament Theology, and Toward Rediscovering the Old Testament.
Sean Michael Lucas (BA, MA, Bob Jones University; PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is senior minister at Independent Presbyterian Church (PCA), Memphis, TN, and the Chancellor’s Professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary. Prior to his present posts, he served congregations in Kentucky, Missouri, and Mississippi, as well as chief academic officer and associate professor of church history at Covenant Theological Seminary. The author of several books, his most recent publications were For a Continuing Church: The Roots of the Presbyterian Church in America (2015) and J. Gresham Machen (2015).
Will E. Pareja lives in the city of Chicago, IL. He is a member at and pastor of Addison Street Community Church. He is married to Rachel, and they are raising W. Haddon, Gabrielle, and Jacob. He is a graduate of Bob Jones University (BA, MA) and Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv). He has taught Bible and preaching courses at the Universidad Cristiana de Las Americas in Monterrey, Mexico. He was a student of our honoree from 1995-2000.
Steve L. Reynolds graduated with a B.A. in History, an M.A. in Bible, and a Ph.D. in Old Testament Interpretation from Bob Jones University. He joined with International Baptist Missions to minister in Asia after graduation. He spent fourteen years working as a church planter, pastor, and teacher in Singapore. While in Singapore, Steve traveled to small Bible Colleges around Asia on teaching trips. After passing on the Singapore ministries to national leaders, he relocated to the United States where he continues to equip students in limited access countries through internet training.
Richard A. Taylor holds the PhD in Semitic and Egyptian languages and literatures from The Catholic University of America. He serves as senior professor of Old Testament studies and director of PhD studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Representative publications include The Peshitta of Daniel (Monographs of the Peshitta Institute 7; Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1994); “Haggai,” in Haggai, Malachi (New American Commentary 21A; Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004); Reflections on Lexicography: Studies in Ancient Syriac, Hebrew, and Greek Sources, ed. Richard A. Taylor and Craig E. Morrison (Perspectives on Linguistics and Ancient Languages 4; Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias, 2014); Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature (Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis 6; Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2016); entries on Aphrahat, Ephrem the Syrian, and Shenoute, in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (3rd ed.; ed. Daniel J. Treier and Walter A. Elwell; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2017); “A Note on the Text of Dan 2:24 in Light of the Aramaic Expression עַל עַל ‘to enter upon,’ pages 142-54 in The Unfolding of Your Words Gives Light: Studies on Biblical Hebrew in Honor of George L. Klein, ed. Ethan C. Jones (University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns, 2018); forthcoming: The Book of Psalms [annotated translation and diglot edition of the Syriac Psalter] (Antioch Bible; Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias, 2019).
Buy the books
THE OLD TESTAMENT YESTERDAY AND TODAY: ESSAYS IN HONOR OF MICHAEL P. V. BARRETT, by Rhett P. Dodson, ed.