Digital Logos Edition
This book focuses on the relation between the law of the Old Testament and the nature of God and of grace. Asserting that the laws are a result of theology, and not the other way around, McConville acknowledges Deuteronomy as a book of history and documentation of law, but also believes it gives great insight into the character of God. He begins his study with an introduction to the general theology of Deuteronomy. McConville then concentrates on several specific areas:
McConville examines the text from historical, linguistic, literary, and theological standpoints. He includes notes, a bibliography, and indexes.
“To their voices may be added that of von Rad, who speaks of a ‘declension from grace into law’.2 For these scholars the demand for obedience has somehow detracted from the excellence of the theology of Yahweh’s giving of the land, which they rightly see as central to the book.” (Page 10)
“In our view, however, the influence has passed in quite the reverse direction—from the theology of Deuteronomy to the style and theology of the laws.” (Page 8)
“The aim of the present study is to examine the relation of Deuteronomy’s laws to the theology of the book as a whole.” (Page 1)
“in what sense and to what extent a concept of covenant may be said to be reflected in the laws” (Page 10)
“The laws we have mentioned, therefore, are more than just a call to humanitarian action; rather they illustrate that moral order to which we have referred. This order consists in the paradox we have already mentioned, that the enjoyment of the land and its benefits depends upon a readiness to relinquish them.20 A relationship between blessing and obedience is built into it.” (Pages 17–18)
McConville’s arguments should be required reading for all who are interested in the critical problems of Deuteronomy. And even those who aren’t particularly interested in the critical problems will still find McConville’s exposition of the theology of Deuteronomy well worth while.
Walter Moberly, Durham University, in , Themelios Volume 12 - Issue 1