Bøker av Walter C. Jr. Kaiser

Biblical prophecy comprises one of the most rewarding topics of Bible study. Difficulty of subject matter and unfamiliarity with the literary forms, however, deter many students. 'Back Toward the Future' removes these obstacles and invites exploration of this exciting subject. The author, a respected expert in the field, presents an introductory guide to the issues and methods of interpreting prophetic literature. The principles he formulates, coupled with his mature insights, will help students avoid many exegetical pitfalls. Part I helps the reader to discern conditional and unconditional prophecies, comprehend apocalyptic symbols, and understand future events in expressions of the past. Part 2 provides specific steps for interpreting prophetic passages. And Part 3 discourages Bible students from finding double meanings in prophetic statements and encourages them to embrace the author's single-truth intention. A Scripture index concludes 'Back Toward the Future'.

The debate over whether New Testament writers were entirely accurate in their quoting from the Old Testament has raged since before the turn of the century. This fundamental question has been one starting point in thought for both redaction and canon criticism. A majority of contemporary scholars have even agreed that New Testament writers (and readers) permissively interpreted the Old Testament text. Author Walter Kaiser, Jr., elucidates how this state of doctrinal affairs came about. He references the Old Testament text for accurate exegesis and content to answer the one question symbolizing the entire work: Have the New Testament writers fairly cited the Old Testament quotations according to their real truth-intention and original writer's meaning in their attempt to show that the Messiah and many of the events in the first century A.D. church had indeed been anticipated by the O.T. writers? The apostles preached and wrote while utterly convinced that Old Testament writing had anticipated the marvelous events they proclaimed. Did they give meaning to meaningless Old Testament texts? Did they squeeze fulfilled prophecy out of a dry passage? These are the central questions answered in this work.

Distinguished Old Testament scholar Walter Kaiser believes that the Old Testament is sorely neglected today in teaching and preaching, but it is even more neglected when it comes to setting forth the hope that Christians have for the future. Firmly believing that the Old Testament offers important insights into biblical eschatology and the Christian life, he provides guidance for expositing fifteen key Old Testament eschatological passages to preachers, teachers, and Bible students. Each chapter focuses on a single biblical text. Kaiser introduces the topic, examines the issues, notes who has contributed to some of the solutions, and shows how this sets up the text to be exegeted and prepared for exposition.

Walter Kaiser questions the notion that the New Testament represents a deviation from God's supposed intention to save only the Israelites. He argues that--contrary to popular opinion--the older Testament does not reinforce an exclusive redemptive plan. Instead, it emphasizes a common human condition and God's original and continuing concern for all humanity. Kaiser shows that the Israelites' mission was always to actively spread to gentiles the Good News of the promised Messiah. This new edition adds two new chapters, freshens material throughout, expands the bibliography, and includes study questions.