Philosophical Interpretations of the Old Testament / Seizo Sekine.

• VerfasserIn: Sekine, Seizo,
• MitwirkendeR: Short, J. Randall,
• Place / Publishing House: Berlin ;, Boston : De Gruyter, [2014]; ©2014
• Year of Publication: 2014
• Language: English
• Series: Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft , 458
• Physical Description: 1 Online-Resource

Western biblical studies have tended to follow either faith-based theological approaches or value-free historical-critical methods. This monograph challenges the two extremes by pursuing the middle path of philosophical hermeneutics. While drawing on Eastern and Western philosophical writings from ancient to modern times, the author proposes original interpretive solutions to a wide range of important biblical texts, including the Akedah, Second Isaiah, the Decalogue, Qohelet, Job, and Jeremiah. Yet, this is not a collection of antiquarian studies. Readers will also gain fresh and stimulating perspectives concerning monotheism, religious faith and identity, suffering and salvation, and modern and postmodern ethics. Finally, in a supplementary essay, the author introduces readers to the history of Old Testament studies in Japan, and he outlines prospects for the future.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface -- Explanatory Notes -- Abbreviations -- Introduction. Philosophical and Historical Interpretations -- Part I. The Old Testament and Philosophy -- Chapter 1. Philosophical Interpretations of the Sacrifice of Isaac: Inquiring into the True Significance of the Akedah -- Chapter 2. The Paradox of Suffering: Comparing Second Isaiah and Socrates -- Chapter 3. Reconstructing Old Testament Monotheism: A Dialogue between Old Testament Studies and Philosophy -- Part II. Old Testament Thought and the Modern World -- Chapter 4. Modern Aspects of the Old Testament Understanding of God: Qohelet, Schoenberg, Jung -- Chapter 5. Toward Regenerating Ethics: Seeking an Ordered Path of Joyful Coexistence -- Part III. The Prophets and Soteriology -- Chapter 6. A Genealogy of Prophetic Salvation: Isaiah, Second Isaiah, and Jeremiah -- Chapter 7. The Prophets and Deuteronomism: The Book of Jeremiah -- Part IV. Old Testament Studies in Japan -- Chapter 8. Old Testament Studies in Japan: A Retrospect and Prospects -- Subject Index -- Author Index -- Ancient Sources Index