The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective

by Terence E. Fretheim

Overtures to Biblical Theology (14)

On This Page

Description

In this comprehensive and thought-provoking study, Terence Fretheim focuses on the theme of divine suffering, an aspect of our understanding of God which both the church and scholarship have neglected. Maintaining that "metaphors matter," Fretheim carefully examines the ruling and anthropomorphic metaphors of the Old Testament and discusses them in the context of current biblical-theological scholarship. His aim is to broaden our understanding of the God of the Old Testament by showing that show more "suffering belongs to the person and purpose of God". show less

Tags

Recommendations

Member Reviews

2 reviews
The Suffering of God is good, hearty biblical theology that can be applied to preaching, academia, or faith formation. Fretheim lays out the pathos of God, the giving in and giving up of God's self for humanity's sake. From the beginning, when God breathes life into the first human being, "the words imply that God's life was in some sense being expended." Fretheim's alternative reading of the Bible in this way creates a space in which believers can rethink the character of God and their relationship to the divine, who may not just be all-powerful but also compassionate enough to give up that barrier of strength and unknowability for our sake.
I am currently reading this book. Fretheim is certainly not your average fundamentalist orthodox Christian in the way he thinks. He says some things in this book that would make your pastor turn red in the face and excommunicate you. I believe he provides great information and Biblical theology is much more useful than systematic theology. This guy is worth reading and is very deep. It is definately a book I will read again.

Members

Recently Added By

Author Information

Picture of author.
28+ Works 2,459 Members
Terence E. Fretheim (ThD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, where he has taught for over fifty years. He is the author of more than twenty books, including commentaries on Genesis, Exodus, First and Second Kings, and Jeremiah and God and World in the Old Testament, The Suffering of show more God, and The Pentateuch. show less

Series

Common Knowledge

Canonical title
The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective
Original publication date
1984
Canonical DDC/MDS
231
Canonical LCC
BS1199.S82.F74 1984

Classifications

Genres
Religion & Spirituality, Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
231ReligionChristianityGod
LCC
BS1199 .S82 .F74Philosophy, Psychology and ReligionThe BibleThe BibleOld TestamentWorks about the Old Testament
BISAC

Statistics

Members
271
Popularity
119,091
Reviews
2
Rating
(4.00)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
2
ASINs
1