Digital Logos Edition
The book of Jeremiah is arguably the longest and most complex book in the Bible. Jeremiah focuses on divine action and human response. The range and rigor of its rhetoric and the initial promise of the “new covenant” has left its mark on both the Old and New Testaments. This prophetic book presents many difficult literary, historical, and theological issues. In this volume of the highly successful Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary Series, renowned Old Testament scholar Terence Fretheim expertly leads his readers through the difficulties to present the message of Jeremiah as one of grace and hope for today’s world. After a lengthy introduction, Fretheim’s commentary presents the text in sections and focuses on literary and theological issues. His thoughtful reflections are useful for teaching God’s message from the pulpit.
“The new covenant is to be accompanied by a repopulation of the land (vv. 27–28) and a rebuilding of Jerusalem (vv. 38–40). The context is earthly, not heavenly; it is historical, not beyond this world. Notably, this covenant is given to Israel, not to some new people that God will create in the future.” (Page 441)
“The God of Jeremiah not only speaks, but listens, and is open to taking new directions in view of what is heard (e.g., 18:7–10).” (Page 6)
“The prophet’s suffering is not simply empathetic and personal, however; the prophet embodies the suffering of God” (Page 9)
“conveys a sense of urgency as various voices get into the conversation about the nature of the crisis at hand” (Page 6)
“word of God is conveyed not simply in the words that are spoken but also in and through the prophets’ actions” (Page 10)