Global Theological Education
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 66, No. 2 - Spring 2024
Editor: Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Edited by G. K. Beale, D. A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2023. 964 pp., $64.99.
The New Testament use of the Old Testament is a burgeoning field in biblical and theological studies. Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (DNTUOT) is a timely and important addition to this field. It won the 2023 Southwestern Journal of Theology Book of the Year award. Full-time faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) and Texas Baptist College nominated books in 13 categories of theology and ministry, and this book rightly earned first place.
Written as a companion volume to the excellent Commentary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (CNTUOT), published in 2007, the new volume addresses several needs: (1) additional book-by-book reflection, with essays on every biblical book, (2) examination of the OT use of the OT, and (3) more emphasis on biblical theology. Thus, the essays in DNTUOT cover topics arranged alphabetically from “Abraham and Abrahamic Tradition” (1-6) to “Zephaniah, Book of” (886-90). The focus of each essay fits in one of five categories: biblical book surveys (55 essays, since some books are combined, such as “John, Letters of”), biblical-theological topics (54 essays), Jewish exegetical tradition (7 large topics divided into 25 essays), inner-biblical exegesis (20 essays), and systematic theology (5 essays) (ix-x, xvi).
Seasoned Scholars. A leading expert in the field wrote each specific topic, and most of these scholars have published an article or book on their essay subject. The advantage is obvious: each article is often a distillation of a scholar’s published material on a topic along with up-to-date research, fresh insights, and a curated bibliography to guide the reader in further study. SWBTS is represented in this erudite scholarly group by two graduates: George H. Guthrie and J. Daniel Hays, and two professors, Craig Blaising and J. Daniel Hays.
Benefits. The purpose of a Bible dictionary, like a commentary, is not for a person to read the book from cover to cover. Rather, one reads a specific topic in the dictionary, gains a better understanding of it, learns ideas related to the subject, and finds a list of resources to guide further study. DNTUOT fits this need admirably, and it has the bonus of work- ing well with the CNTUOT. For instance, one wants to study Paul’s use of Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4:3, 5, 9, 22. Starting with the CNTUOT, it explains the meaning of this verse in Romans by examining: (1) the OT context, (2) Jewish Second Temple usage, and (3) Paul’s use of this OT verse in Romans. Then the DNTUOT adds to this study, giving information on Genesis themes (61-63), the use of the OT in Romans (711-17), the specific use of Genesis 15:6 in the Dead Sea Scrolls (176-78) and the pseudepigrapha (665-67), its possible use in Nehemiah 9:8a (250), and over thirty references to this verse in other essays. Each essay lists helpful resources for additional information.
Of course, the DNTUOT is an excellent stand-alone volume with rich insights. The intriguing “Serpent and Antichrist” essay creatively describes a biblical theme as “kill the Dragon [Satan], get the girl [the people of God] (775-78)!” “Letter Couriers” examines often neglected aspects of the letter genre: the difficult task of letter delivery and the complex role of the carrier (455-61). This reader also enjoyed the longer series of essays—such as those on the Apocrypha (29-51), Dead Sea Scrolls (165-87), which included helpful charts of references (173-76), and the History of Interpretation (300-27).
The DNTUOT introduces the reader to some relatively new topics in biblical studies, such as “Prosopological Exegesis” (641-48). “New Areas for Exploration of the OT in the NT” encourages the reader to consider two major areas for further study involving a macro and a micro exam- ination of the NT text (560-68). “Temple” is thought provoking and unusual—claiming the Garden of Eden was the first temple or sanctuary (830-32) and the Jewish temple reestablished the Garden of Eden’s temple (832-34)—thus, encouraging the reader to study the topic further.
Suggestions. Here are some suggestions for minor improvements to this volume. The “Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Writings” is indispensable (891-964), but a subject index would be a useful addition. Each essay has a helpful bibliography primarily listing English sources, but adding more foreign language writings would benefit the student and scholar. Although this volume has a synchronic focus, there are essays where it would help to add a section on Second Temple usage, such as “Consummation” (114-19) and “Day of the Lord” (161-65). The essay on the important subject “Quotation, Allusion, and Echo” needs some biblical examples of echo (690-91).
This reviewer highly recommends this volume as an indispensable tool for anyone interested in the NT use of the OT. It is a welcome and important addition to its companion volume, but it is a valuable resource on its own. It is well written and accessible. Not only are the contributors notable scholars in their areas of expertise, they are excellent communicators. This volume is helpful for students and pastors, and it is also beneficial for scholars doing research in this fruitful field of study.
