We should be grateful for books like this. We should be grateful,
because God made history and history matters. Apart from the
conviction that our faith is a historical faith, we are left only
to cast about. But, when we are fully persuaded that sacred history
meshes with the history in which we live and move and have our
being, that is when biblical faith becomes a real possibility.
Likewise, every intellectually serious reader of the Bible (pious
or not so pious) will learn to think twice before allowing himself
or herself to be bullied (happily or anxiously) by the skeptics.
True, there is so much we don't know. But, by the same token, there
is much we can know-and know with some confidence. ---NICHOLAS
PERRIN, Franklin S. Dyrness Chair of Biblical Studies, Wheaton
College Graduate School
What Other Are Saying: Andrew Steinmann has placed biblical
scholarship in his debt by this meticulous and magnificent addition
to (indeed, replacement of) such magisterial works on biblical
chronology as those by Edwin Thiele and Jack Finegan, the former
limited to Israel's United Monarchy and the latter embracive of the
full canon. Grounded in primary texts, Steinmann lays out here a
foundation that doubtless will provide the basis for all subsequent
discussions of biblical chronology, an indispensable preliminary to
a proper understanding of the biblical narrative.-Eugene H.
Merrill, PhDDistinguished Professor of Old Testament StudiesDallas
Theological SeminaryDistinguished Professor of Old Testament
InterpretationThe Southern Baptist Theological Seminary I can see
this work appealing to both specialists and non-experts in the
field, and indeed even to interested laypeople. Its combination of
detailed table of contents, well organized and straightforward
presentation, and especially the abundance of charts and graphics
suggests that it will serve well as a reference tool. I very much
appreciate Dr. Steinmann's even-handed and respectful tone. I say
this because, although Steinmann assumes an unabashedly
conservative posture with respect to the Scriptures and the
Church's traditional hermeneutic, he does not shy away from
engaging scholarship that proceeds from different presuppositions.
While arguing against opinions and conclusions with which he is at
odds-for example those of higher critics-Steinmann does not
belittle or condescend. . . . Where he synthesizes and explains the
well-founded conclusions of previous scholarship, he does so
clearly and effectively. On the other hand, in those places where
he challenges consensus views and presents new proposals, he does
so persuasively, on the basis of careful research and well-reasoned
arguments.-Robert A. Sorensen, PhDAssociate Professor of Greek and
TheologyConcordia University Chicago Readers familiar with standard
works in this field such as Merrill's Kingdom of Priests will be
pleased to find much new information in this volume. New insights
into the Quirinius census, the matching of Jubilee/Sabbatical year
cycles with the date of the Exodus, the timing of the Magis' visit,
and the sequence of events of the Passion Week-including the moon
"turning to blood" immediately after the death of the Messiah-are
part of Dr. Steinmann's intensely interesting study. Laymen and
scholars alike will find their faith strengthened by the precision
and factuality of the Bible in historical matters.-Rodger C.
YoungIndependent Historian and ChronologistSt. Louis, MO Dr. Andrew
E. Steinmann is Professor of Theology and Hebrew at Concordia
University, Chicago, IL. He has over 25 years of experience guiding
students into a deeper understanding of biblical history. Among his
numerous scholarly and
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