Roots: Let the Old Testament Speak

by J. Alec Motyer

Publisher:

Christian Focus

, 2019

Overview

The title, Old Testament, creates difficulties of its own. If it is “Old” and we are people of the “New”, surely we may properly let it fade away into history? Besides, it seems very unlike the New Testament, even contradictory: all those wars when Jesus is the Prince of peace; all those commandments to obey when we are not under law but under grace. And can the God of the Old Testament be a God of love like the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?"

These are the questions that Alec Motyer, a life long lover of the Old Testament, seeks to answer starting with the conviction that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Old Testament Scripture. This is for the Christian who wants to know what the Old Testament has to do with the New Testament and why the Christian should read it.

A comprehensive survey of the Old Testament organised around its authors and major characters, the theme of this book is that the Holy Spirit chose, fashioned and equipped the biblical authors to convey distinctive truths through each of them.'

Key Features

• Provides a comprehensive survey of the Old Testament organised around its authors and major characters
• Explores what the Old Testament has to do with the New Testament
• Examines the major themes of Scripture

Contents

• Starting with Jesus
• The message and its men
• Moses: Pentateuch panorama
• Moses: Foundational principles
• History is his story
• Joshua to Kings: The national portrait gallery
• Psalms: The singers and their songs
• Elijah and Elisha: A resounding “No”
• Amos and Hosea: Voices in the North
• Isaiah: Jerusalem’s crisis
• Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah: The Nineveh file
• Wrestling Jeremiah: The reluctant prophet
• Ezekiel: To know the Lord
• Daniel: Good news from a distant land
• The loving wisdom of our God
• Haggai and Zechariah: The two visionaries
• Ezra, Nehemiah: The two administrators
• Malachi and Joel: Hoping to the end

Praise for the Print Edition

This is vintage Motyer; it is affectionate—the writer's sheer delight in ‘the law of the Lord’ tends to ooze out from behind the print; it is fresh—he’s familiar with the scholarly waterfront but Jacob-like has wrestled and stewed over these texts himself (and his struggle is our gain); it is devious, for Alec clearly wants to hook you on the Old Testament! Huge kudos to ‘Focus’ for this format.

—Dale Ralph Davis, Respected Author and Old Testament Scholar

There can be no doubt that this book benefits greatly from Alec Motyer’s lifetime of Old Testament study. His mastery of the Hebrew text, his knowledge of the Old Testament background, and his conviction that Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of the law and prophets together give him a rare ability to paint the big picture and to tell the 'story within the story' of the Old Testament.

—John Stott, (1921-2011), Rector Emeritus, All Souls Church, Langham Place, London

Product Details

• Title: Roots: Let the Old Testament Speak
• Author: J. Alec Motyer
• Publisher: Christian Focus
• Print Publication Date: 2019
• Pages: 400
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Resource ID: LLS:RTSLTLTSTMNTSPK
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2020-08-19T15:29:12Z

About J. Alec Motyer

Alec Motyer was Vice Principal of Clifton Theological College and vicar of St Luke’s, Hampstead, before becoming Principal of Trinity College, Bristol, UK. He is much loved on both sides of the Atlantic as a Bible expositor and a prolific author. He is the Old Testament editor of the IVP commentary series, The Bible Speaks Today.

Sample Pages from Roots: Let the Old Testament Speak