T. Desmond Alexander
Author of New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring the Unity Diversity of Scripture (IVP Reference Collection)
About the Author
T. Desmond Alexander (PhD, The Queens University, Belfast) is senior lecturer in biblical studies and director of postgraduate studies at Union Theological College in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Image credit: via Goodreads
Works by T. Desmond Alexander
New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring the Unity Diversity of Scripture (IVP Reference Collection) (2000) — Editor — 1,011 copies, 3 reviews
Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series) (2003) — Editor — 765 copies, 1 review
The City of God and the Goal of Creation (Short Studies in Biblical Theology) (2018) 219 copies, 1 review
Face to Face with God: A Biblical Theology of Christ as Priest and Mediator (Essential Studies in Biblical Theology) (2022) 141 copies, 1 review
Law 1 copy
The Kingdom of God 1 copy
Temple 1 copy
Associated Works
NIV Zondervan Study Bible, Hardcover: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message (2015) — Editor — 483 copies, 2 reviews
The Lord's Anointed: Interpretation of Old Testament Messianic Texts (Tyndale House Studies) (1995) — Contributor — 90 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Alexander, Thomas Desmond
- Birthdate
- 1955
- Gender
- male
- Occupations
- theologian
- Organizations
- Union Theological College, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- Short biography
- Dr Desmond (Desi) Alexander took up the position of Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Director of Postgraduate Studies at Union Theological College in Belfast, Northern Ireland in September 2009, having been Director of Christian Training for the Presbyterian Church in Ireland for ten years. He had previously lectured for 18 years in Semitic Studies at the Queen's University of Belfast. He has written and contributed to a wide variety of academic and reference books on the Bible, most recently From Eden to the New Jerusalem (IVP; Kregel). His areas of expertise are the Pentateuch and Biblical Theology. An elder in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, he is married to Anne, and they have two children, Jane and David.
- Nationality
- UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- UK
Members
Reviews
The City of God and the Goal of Creation (Short Studies in Biblical Theology) by T. Desmond Alexander
This was a fascinating read! I haven't read much in the way of theology in 2019; this book helped convince me to change that come 2020.
Alexander writes well (only a few times over my head, lol), and admirably charts the topic from Genesis to Revelation. I especially enjoyed the section on Babel. Did you know this is the only section where the word is translated as Babel and not Babylon in the entire Bible? The rest of the time, it is in fact rendered Babylon; the two can be considered one show more and the same. I often wondered about that!
The author's explanation of the laws from Exodus to Numbers provided a refreshing recap without the repetition! This allows the present-day reader to see divine rationale without getting -- frankly -- bogged down in material initially geared for an orally-based culture.
Alexander also loops in the Psalms at relevant points, reminding the reader that they aren't an isolated collection of songs. Rather, they point back to their base and roots in said oral culture.
For all its initial focus on the Old Testament (has to start somewhere!), The City of God always looks ahaed to the city's ultimate fulfillment in Christ's return and God coming to dwell permanently with mankind. God's creativity was not limited to his initial creation in Genesis; rather, we see it throughout both the Bible, into present day, and the anticipation of the perfect city to come.
I received a copy of the book from Crossway. All opinions are my own. show less
Alexander writes well (only a few times over my head, lol), and admirably charts the topic from Genesis to Revelation. I especially enjoyed the section on Babel. Did you know this is the only section where the word is translated as Babel and not Babylon in the entire Bible? The rest of the time, it is in fact rendered Babylon; the two can be considered one show more and the same. I often wondered about that!
The author's explanation of the laws from Exodus to Numbers provided a refreshing recap without the repetition! This allows the present-day reader to see divine rationale without getting -- frankly -- bogged down in material initially geared for an orally-based culture.
Alexander also loops in the Psalms at relevant points, reminding the reader that they aren't an isolated collection of songs. Rather, they point back to their base and roots in said oral culture.
For all its initial focus on the Old Testament (has to start somewhere!), The City of God always looks ahaed to the city's ultimate fulfillment in Christ's return and God coming to dwell permanently with mankind. God's creativity was not limited to his initial creation in Genesis; rather, we see it throughout both the Bible, into present day, and the anticipation of the perfect city to come.
I received a copy of the book from Crossway. All opinions are my own. show less
Face to Face with God: A Biblical Theology of Christ as Priest and Mediator (Essential Studies in Biblical Theology) by T. Desmond Alexander
Summary: An exploration of the biblical theme of priesthood and mediation and how Christ fulfills these par excellence.
Throughout scripture, we learn that no one can see God face to face and live. Yet the promise of the New Testament is that one day we all will have the veil removed and see God face to face, and live forever in his presence. How can this be?
T. Desmond Alexander explores this in this sixth volume in the Essentials in Biblical Theology, focusing on the theme of priesthood and show more mediation throughout scripture, culminating with the portrait of Christ in Hebrews as a priest and mediator superior to all those who have gone before.
Alexander begins with a study of the portable sanctuary that Moses is instructed to erect amid the camp and how it is a model of the heavenly sanctuary, down to the perfect cubicle shape of the Holy of Holies, as is the new Jerusalem, descending from heaven as a cube. It is the place where heaven and earth meet, a footstool, as it were, of God’s heavenly throne. It also reproduces in its outer courtyard, holy place and Holy of Holies, the three zones on Mount Sinai, a new idea to me.
Then Alexander goes more deeply into the concept of holiness, the consecration of priests and of Aaron and the related concepts of clean and unclean, with the sanctuary being holy, the Israelite camp clean, and the world and nations beyond unclean. Yet with all of this, Aaron can only come before the Lord once a year, and not daily. But it is God’s intent, even if it is not yet truly face to face, that this be a tent of meeting, where God, mediated through the priests’ sacrifices, meets his people. He also deals with the “tent of meeting” where Moses talked to God “face to face” as it were, with the barrier of the tent between Moses and the cloud. When Moses asks to see God’s glory, he is told that he cannot see God’s face, lest he die. The mediation of human priesthood can only go so far. And even this is only possible by the daily intercession of Aaron and the priests, dramatically portrayed at one point when Aaron, burning incense, interposes himself between the dead and the living when God strikes Israel with a plague.
Daily sacrifices and incense are burned for the sins of the people, beginning at the outside of the camp and going into the holy place of the tent. Then on the Day of Atonement, the priest passes within the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice for the people. Alexander shows how this pattern is fulfilled once and for all by Christ who is both priest and sacrifice, who in himself is mediator. Yet how can Jesus, born of the tribe of Judah, and not a Levite, and certainly not a descendent of Aaron, do this? Alexander shows how this is the significance of the reference to Jesus as a priest of the order of Melchizedek, the king of Salem. He is the priest-king, David’s greater son of Psalm 110. Hence he mediates a better covenant as head of a kingdom of priests, devoted to the service of God.
The wonder, as Alexander shows, is that all this is possible through the priesthood and mediation of Jesus, by which we are cleansed, sanctified and perfected. It is not that we must serve God but rather that we may. Our hope is one of being able to boldly approach, looking for forgiveness and cleansing, not only to serve but to rest. Alexander traces all this out, step by step from Sinai and the portable sanctuary and priesthood, to the fulfillment in the Son who more effectively mediates for us and intercedes than any priest. Read this to not only understand all the regulations around the sanctuary and priesthood but to grasp their wondrous fulfillment in Jesus and what this has won for us as his people.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. show less
Throughout scripture, we learn that no one can see God face to face and live. Yet the promise of the New Testament is that one day we all will have the veil removed and see God face to face, and live forever in his presence. How can this be?
T. Desmond Alexander explores this in this sixth volume in the Essentials in Biblical Theology, focusing on the theme of priesthood and show more mediation throughout scripture, culminating with the portrait of Christ in Hebrews as a priest and mediator superior to all those who have gone before.
Alexander begins with a study of the portable sanctuary that Moses is instructed to erect amid the camp and how it is a model of the heavenly sanctuary, down to the perfect cubicle shape of the Holy of Holies, as is the new Jerusalem, descending from heaven as a cube. It is the place where heaven and earth meet, a footstool, as it were, of God’s heavenly throne. It also reproduces in its outer courtyard, holy place and Holy of Holies, the three zones on Mount Sinai, a new idea to me.
Then Alexander goes more deeply into the concept of holiness, the consecration of priests and of Aaron and the related concepts of clean and unclean, with the sanctuary being holy, the Israelite camp clean, and the world and nations beyond unclean. Yet with all of this, Aaron can only come before the Lord once a year, and not daily. But it is God’s intent, even if it is not yet truly face to face, that this be a tent of meeting, where God, mediated through the priests’ sacrifices, meets his people. He also deals with the “tent of meeting” where Moses talked to God “face to face” as it were, with the barrier of the tent between Moses and the cloud. When Moses asks to see God’s glory, he is told that he cannot see God’s face, lest he die. The mediation of human priesthood can only go so far. And even this is only possible by the daily intercession of Aaron and the priests, dramatically portrayed at one point when Aaron, burning incense, interposes himself between the dead and the living when God strikes Israel with a plague.
Daily sacrifices and incense are burned for the sins of the people, beginning at the outside of the camp and going into the holy place of the tent. Then on the Day of Atonement, the priest passes within the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice for the people. Alexander shows how this pattern is fulfilled once and for all by Christ who is both priest and sacrifice, who in himself is mediator. Yet how can Jesus, born of the tribe of Judah, and not a Levite, and certainly not a descendent of Aaron, do this? Alexander shows how this is the significance of the reference to Jesus as a priest of the order of Melchizedek, the king of Salem. He is the priest-king, David’s greater son of Psalm 110. Hence he mediates a better covenant as head of a kingdom of priests, devoted to the service of God.
The wonder, as Alexander shows, is that all this is possible through the priesthood and mediation of Jesus, by which we are cleansed, sanctified and perfected. It is not that we must serve God but rather that we may. Our hope is one of being able to boldly approach, looking for forgiveness and cleansing, not only to serve but to rest. Alexander traces all this out, step by step from Sinai and the portable sanctuary and priesthood, to the fulfillment in the Son who more effectively mediates for us and intercedes than any priest. Read this to not only understand all the regulations around the sanctuary and priesthood but to grasp their wondrous fulfillment in Jesus and what this has won for us as his people.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. show less
Very good introduction to biblical theology. Though it does not deal with issues of methodology, and has a narrow thematic approach, this book wonderfully displays the importance of the theme of God's Dwelling Place in understanding the biblical narrative. I've learned much from this book. T. Desmond Alexander does a good job surveying biblical scholarship relating to this topic. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in biblical theology.
Will the whole world be the Temple (immediate dwelling place of God), or will that be limited to the New Jerusalem (the cubic city)? 45, 74, 99, 107, 171
Great summaries: 73, 74, 98, 115-6, 121, 138, 188-92
World Mountain 52
priestly status 74, 76, 79, 84
Sean 99
Mike Goff 150, 152, 172, 181, Luz 175, 187, L 186
? 105, 111
Millennialism 117
King David 106, 123-4, 189
Leviticus-the holiness of God 140-1
Death/hope 174
Great themes within metanarrative:
kingdom 109-11
throne 75
priesthood 129
Christ show more 94
priest-kings 96
holy people, tree of life, nations 139
Typo 63; 101/118/etc "secondly/thirdly"; 184 competition show less
Great summaries: 73, 74, 98, 115-6, 121, 138, 188-92
World Mountain 52
priestly status 74, 76, 79, 84
Sean 99
Mike Goff 150, 152, 172, 181, Luz 175, 187, L 186
? 105, 111
Millennialism 117
King David 106, 123-4, 189
Leviticus-the holiness of God 140-1
Death/hope 174
Great themes within metanarrative:
kingdom 109-11
throne 75
priesthood 129
Christ show more 94
priest-kings 96
holy people, tree of life, nations 139
Typo 63; 101/118/etc "secondly/thirdly"; 184 competition show less
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 22
- Also by
- 8
- Members
- 4,841
- Popularity
- #5,188
- Rating
- 4.1
- Reviews
- 12
- ISBNs
- 66
- Languages
- 6
- Favorited
- 1