Anabaptistica
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 56, No. 2 – Spring 2014
Managing Editor: Terry L. Wilder
Biblical Theology of the New Testament. By Darrell L. Bock. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012. 495 pages. Hardcover, $39.99.
Darrell Bock has published lengthy commentaries on both Luke and Acts in the BECNT commentary series. He is therefore well-suited for writing a biblical theology of Luke and Acts. This work includes three parts: (1) introductory mat- ters; (2) major theological themes; and (3) Luke and the canon. Chapter 2 covers introductory matters summarized from Bock’s commentaries and argues for tradi- tional and conservative views on the Lucan materials. Chapter 3 argues for reading Luke-Acts as a unified work, in spite of recent arguments to the contrary. Chapter 4, concluding part one, is a lengthy summary of the entire work of Luke-Acts.
The second part covers fourteen theological themes. These include (1) God’s plan, (2) Christology, (3) pneumatology, (4) salvation, (5) Israel, (6) the nations (7) the church, (8) discipleship and ethics, (9) the response to Jesus, (10) women and the poor, (11) the law, (12), ecclesiology, (13) eschatology, and (14) the Scriptures. In the first four themes, Bock has a chapter that surveys the theme in narratival order from Luke 1 to Acts 28, with a second chapter synthesizing the material in sub-themes. The organization of these chapters was disappointing since there was so much overlap and so little depth to the discussions. Bock attempts to mention every verse in Luke-Acts that refers to the chapter’s respective theme, leaving little room for any exegetical discussion or debate with other scholars. The lack of footnotes in many of the chapters evidences the summary nature of the material. Rather than read Bock’s narratival chapters, one would be better served by reading Luke-Acts for oneself. Theologically, Bock’s progressive-dispensational viewpoint comes out in his discussion throughout the work, but especially in his treatment of Israel, the nations, and the church.
In the concluding chapter, Bock relates six “core themes of Luke-Acts,” which he considers to be “the most central points around which Luke builds his theology” (450). First, Jesus’ coming represents the inauguration of God’s promised plan in the OT. Second, Israel’s story is not anti-Semitic, as some recently have claimed; it is an in-house debate especially regarding the nations and their role in the church. Third, the Spirit is the sign of a new era. Fourth, salvation and identity is tied to Jesus’ work rather than to explicit statements of what the cross accomplished as in Paul’s letters. Fifth, Luke tells a trinitarian story. Sixth, Luke tells a story that is in direct continuity with the OT story.
The methodology of this work is something to consider. Bock’s intent was to explicate major theological themes in Luke-Acts. But is this truly the task of someone writing a biblical theology of Luke-Acts? Obviously the question of meth- odology is subjective and vexing. But it seems insufficient anymore simply to lay out various themes within a biblical corpus and leave it at that. Moreover, the OT and its storyline is really only discussed as it arises with specific Lucan texts that refer to the OT. Allusions, such as those to Ps 2:7 and Ps 110:1, are explained briefly but this is only a piecemeal exposition of various portions of OT salvation-history. Without stating any specific ways to improve upon the methodology employed here, it seems that something other than an explication of major themes would have been more helpful.
Overall, the work is helpful as an introduction to students studying Luke- Acts. The narratival portions are helpful if one wanted to read them alongside one’s own reading of Luke-Acts for brief commentary. Among other works produced on Lukan theology, it is longer and perhaps less methodologically satisfying. Yet, one would come away from reading this book with a decently solid base for beginning theological studies in Luke-Acts.
