Do the Old Testament prophets have a stake in modern ethics? They had a great impact in shaping Israel’s ethics, and they should also have an impact on ours, writes biblical scholar Joseph Jensen.
In Ethical Dimensions of the Prophets, Jensen shows us how the prophets never soft-peddled God’s message. Jeremiah lashed out against a tyrannical king. Hosea accused Israel of harlotry for worshiping false gods. And Amos railed about the God’s wrath because Israel failed to behave compassionately toward the weak and the poor.
Jensen wants readers to hear the prophets in their own terms as they addressed their biblical contemporaries. Yet he asserts that the teachings of the prophets contain valuable lessons for us to ponder and apply today, particularly when it comes to social justice. This book is designed for readers eager to move beyond an introductory understanding of the Bible.
| Format: | Paperback book |
|---|---|
| Product code: | LP5983 |
| Dimensions: | 6" x 9" |
| Length: | 216 pages |
| Publisher: |
Liturgical Press
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| ISBN: | 9780814659830 |
| 1-2 copies | $21.95 each |
|---|---|
| 3-9 copies | $20.95 each |
| 10-49 copies | $19.96 each |
| 50-99 copies | $19.46 each |
| 100+ copies | $18.71 each |
Praise
This is a valuable book for those seeking a deeper understanding of the prophets and in particular their message. . . . Certainly the times that we live in today require that we spend more time working for peace worldwide and the prophets suggest over and over again the way to achieve peace is through compassion and justice for the lost, the least, and the lonely. When we seek justice for these we will begin to approach a just world where all can live in peace. I recommend this book without reservation. It is good to ponder the words of the prophets.
The book is full of astute observations . . .
This book helps fill a void in the study of ancient Israel's prophetic literature.
. . . a useful and challenging work.
The book will be of interest to students of the Old Testament as well as all those wishing to know more about the origins of the Judaeo-Christian ethical stance.
Jensen makes a significant contribution to biblical ethics with the understanding of prophetic ethics as linked with values and a way of living in response to a defining covenant relationship. As such it is important reading for the biblically-orientated ethicist and theological.
The scholarly work has readers hearing the prophets in their own terms as they addressed their contemporaries. It includes valuable lessons for modern-day readers to ponder and apply today, particularly when it comes to social justice.
. . . a thoughtful discussion of the teachings of the prophets, written for intermediate to advanced Biblical scholars. Ethical Dimensions of the Prophets especially notes the strength and fervency of the prophets' messages of social equality, the importance of justice, and the evils of tyranny. A serious-minded discussion that reviews the prophets both in terms of their era and in terms of how their message in ethics and morals speaks to modern times.
With characteristic breadth and depth, Joseph Jensen explains the ethical teachings of the biblical prophets in their historical and social contexts and suggests contemporary applications. But he moves beyond the historical and social aspects to examine the theological foundations upon which the prophets built their ethical teachings, namely, each prophet's understanding of who God is and what Israel's relationship with God requires. It is at this level that readers-both scholars and non-specialists-will be most richly rewarded and deeply challenged. A profitable book for all!
Author
Joseph Jensen, OSB, taught Scripture for many years. He is the author of several articles and books including God’s Word to Israel, published by Liturgical Press.
