I
don’t remember where I had read about the book God
and His Image: An Outline of Biblical Theology by Dominique
Barthelemy, but I am glad I added it to my Wish List and got around to
ordering it. Fr. Dominique Barthelemy O.P. was an
internationally recognized expert on Old Testament studies and a member
of the Pontifical Biblical Commission who died in 2002.
The book is exactly as it advertises an overview of Bibical Theology
and thus salvation history. Fr. Barthelemy asks very
interesting questions throughout and then writes to answer them as to
what can be known from the scriptural evidence. What I like
is that he doesn’t overstep what can be known just to advance some
theory. He also has the ability to write deeply on scripture
while at the same time not becoming too technical and overwhelming the
reader. I certainly don’t claim to be any kind of expert, but
I found at no time in the book did I get lost in the points he was
making.
I think just the chapter he wrote “The idols and His Image” to be worth
the price of the book by itself. When he writes that when man
tries to build bridges to God he creates idols and when God builds a
bridge to man it was the Incarnation. His insights make you
look at what you might already know and to see it fresh and more
deeply. Viewing Biblical theology in this outline view helps you to see
the big picture of salvation history that is mainly concentrated within
the Old Testament but sees its fulfillment in new Testament.
I do hope that more of his work is translated into English if this book is any indication and
since this book was published by Ignatius Press I hope they bring more
of his work to us if possible.
3 comments
I recently acquired the book myself. I thought beginning his “outline of Biblical Theology” with the figure of Job was brilliant. The opening lines of chapter one, entitled “A Wrong View of God: Job,” shows the rhetorical strategy.
“If we want to succeed in seeing things clearly, we have must necessarily begin in the dark. This may appear paradoxical, but in the Old Testament it is no use seizing on the first glimmer of light in which we think we discern an obvious reflection of the New Testament. We must first approach what would seem to be the very opposite of this, because the light found in the Old Testament is only the dim light of dawn, and if our eyes are dazzled by full sunshine, we cannot perceive the twilight.”
In order to fully understand the effect Christ’s coming had on faithful Jews like Simeon, whose eyes have seen God’s salvation as a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to Israel; and, likewise, to appreciate the full significance of his coming upon those who “sat in darkness,” one must begin in the shadows of the Old Testament, removed (as far as it is possible for a Christian) from the NT. The more one is able to appreciate,-and then proceed from,- the Old Testament to the New, the better one is able to appreciate them both in their unity.
Jeff,
Thank you for this review! I almost bought this the other day. Now I certainly will…
Fr. Philip, OP
He is an incredible author and we are using his writings in my Old Testament class (grad level). He makes excellent points in a very coherent manner – we all came to a greater understanding thanks to his scholarship.