Review of The Divine Messenger
Posted: 12 Jul 2024, 06:43
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Divine Messenger" by Matthew Bryce Ervin.]
The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament by Matthew Bryce Ervin reexamines well-known Old Testament stories through the lens of Christophanies. Theophany" refers to a visible manifestation of God to humans, while a Christophany, more specifically, is an appearance or manifestation of Christ before His incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth. This book invites us to reconsider familiar narratives in a new light, revealing layers of meaning that have been previously overlooked.
The book brought forth the possibility that Jesus, often referred to as the Son of God in Christian theology, might have played a significant role in the events of the Old Testament. This fascinating idea suggests a continuity between the two parts of the Bible that I, for one, haven't considered up until now. By identifying potential appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ throughout the Old Testament, the author establishes a continuity of divine presence from creation to the New Testament era.
I love that various accounts in the Old Testament have been examined in this book, such as when Jacob wrestled with a divine being. A particular aspect of this book that I found fascinating is its focus on the presence of the "Word of God" throughout human history, even before the incarnation. This concept, rooted in the prologue of John's Gospel, is apparently traced through various Old Testament narratives. This perspective offers a unified view of God's interaction with humanity across both testaments of the Bible.
I recommend this book to those in theological circles, as it carefully studies and considers various biblical passages and their contexts. For me, this book provides a unified understanding of God's redemptive plan, as revealed throughout the entire Bible. Even though many stories in the Bible were repeated throughout the book, it still did not affect my reading in any way, and the book's editing was perfect. In the absence of any negative aspects, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.
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The Divine Messenger
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament by Matthew Bryce Ervin reexamines well-known Old Testament stories through the lens of Christophanies. Theophany" refers to a visible manifestation of God to humans, while a Christophany, more specifically, is an appearance or manifestation of Christ before His incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth. This book invites us to reconsider familiar narratives in a new light, revealing layers of meaning that have been previously overlooked.
The book brought forth the possibility that Jesus, often referred to as the Son of God in Christian theology, might have played a significant role in the events of the Old Testament. This fascinating idea suggests a continuity between the two parts of the Bible that I, for one, haven't considered up until now. By identifying potential appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ throughout the Old Testament, the author establishes a continuity of divine presence from creation to the New Testament era.
I love that various accounts in the Old Testament have been examined in this book, such as when Jacob wrestled with a divine being. A particular aspect of this book that I found fascinating is its focus on the presence of the "Word of God" throughout human history, even before the incarnation. This concept, rooted in the prologue of John's Gospel, is apparently traced through various Old Testament narratives. This perspective offers a unified view of God's interaction with humanity across both testaments of the Bible.
I recommend this book to those in theological circles, as it carefully studies and considers various biblical passages and their contexts. For me, this book provides a unified understanding of God's redemptive plan, as revealed throughout the entire Bible. Even though many stories in the Bible were repeated throughout the book, it still did not affect my reading in any way, and the book's editing was perfect. In the absence of any negative aspects, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.
******
The Divine Messenger
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon