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This Strange and Sacred Scripture: Wrestling with the Old Testament and Its Oddities Paperback – Illustrated, February 17, 2015

by Matthew Richard Schlimm (Author)

4.5 96 ratings

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A Top Ten Book for Parish Ministry in 2015, Academy of Parish Clergy

The Old Testament can seem strange and disturbing to contemporary readers. What should Christians make of Genesis 1-3, seemingly at odds with modern scientific accounts? Why does the Old Testament contain so much violence? How should Christians handle texts that give women a second-class status? Does the Old Testament contradict itself? Why are so many Psalms filled with anger and sorrow? What should we make of texts that portray God as filled with wrath?

Combining pastoral insight, biblical scholarship, and a healthy dose of humility, gifted teacher and communicator Matthew Schlimm explores perennial theological questions raised by the Old Testament. He provides strategies for reading and appropriating these sacred texts, showing how the Old Testament can shape the lives of Christians today and helping them appreciate the Old Testament as a friend in faith.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Named a bestseller in the 2015 Fall Books issue of The Christian Century.

"In short, Schlimm has not turned a blind eye to the oddities and problematic issues of the Old Testament. His treatment of the difficult issues will assist laity, clergy, and graduate students who struggle with many of the same questions." -Word & World

"It certainly belongs in every church library." -Presbyterian Outlook

"College students and the younger generations will appreciate his candor, as well as enjoy his engaging style of writing.... The book is full of insights." -Review and Expositor

"New and Noteworthy." -Christianity Today

From the Inside Flap

"Some of my friends say strange things and hold strange views, but because they are my friends I can't just dismiss what they say. Having friends who think di!erently from me helps expand my thinking and rescue me from the limitations of my current perspective. I give my friends the benefit of the doubt when they say things that are outrageous. Matthew Schlimm invites us to do the same with the Old Testament, helps us to listen to many of its notoriously outrageous statements, and also shares with us worthwhile insights from other people who are friends with the Old Testament (and from yet other people who would not see themselves as its friends)."--John Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary
"At a time when many critique and marginalize the Old Testament, Schlimm argues that we need to appreciate it as a friend--a friend who is at once odd, insightful, complicated, controversial, and realistic. He is not willing to give up on the Old Testament or its God. This Strange and Sacred Scripture creatively engages the diffculties that trouble interpreters. While some may disagree with the author at points, this book's tone and presentation invite readers to join the conversation about and with this unique friend we call the Bible."--M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas), Denver Seminary

From the Back Cover

The Old Testament as a Friend in Faith

"Many of us have waited a long time for this book, a compelling engagement of the toughest questions about the Testament that both attracts and repels us. In plain language, without taking theological shortcuts, Schlimm shows why Christianity needs the Old Testament in order to address the complexities and real difficulties of life. His concrete guidance for how to read this strange literature and his suggestions for further study are invaluable."
--Ellen Davis, Duke Divinity School

"Schlimm adroitly considers many of the thorny issues that puzzle modern people of faith; he is a gifted guide in showing readers that the Old Testament's alien qualities do not render it useless for Christian faith. To the contrary, he reveals how often the Bible's strangeness leads us into deeper understanding of God and of ourselves."
--Jacqueline Lapsley, Princeton Theological Seminary

"The Old Testament has raised numerous questions for readers through the centuries. And it continues to do so! Matthew Schlimm explores many of these issues, especially those regarding creation, law, gender, images for God, and violence. With matters of biblical authority always in view, he works through these texts carefully and thoughtfully--and with clarity! With pastoral sensitivity, Schlimm provides an excellent case for understanding the Old Testament as our friend and not our enemy."
--Terence Fretheim, Luther Seminary

"Seminary and university Old Testament professors: make sure you have your students read this text. To the reader puzzled by much of what you encounter in the Old Testament: immerse yourself deeply in this book, and you will find much food for thought from an author who has addressed intelligently and provocatively the questions that linger in your mind. Matthew Schlimm: well done, thou good and faithful servant."
--Victor P. Hamilton, Asbury University

About the Author

Matthew Richard Schlimm (PhD, Duke University) is assistant professor of Old Testament at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He previously taught at Duke Divinity School and has held various ministry positions in United Methodist churches. He is the author of From Fratricide to Forgiveness: The Language and Ethics of Anger in Genesis and coeditor of the CEB Study Bible.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baker Academic; Illustrated edition (February 17, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801039797
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801039799
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.68 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #176,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #190 in Old Testament Criticism & Interpretation
- #529 in Old Testament Bible Study (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 96 ratings

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Matthew R. Schlimm

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Matthew R. Schlimm (Duke University, Ph.D.) is Professor of Old Testament at the University of Dubuque. He is an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church. He loves spending time with his family, fly fishing, and playing old videogames. Read more at www.MatthewSchlimm.com

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Julie R

Great book, easy to read and understand complexities of Old Testament

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024

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Slightly biased review: I took an Old Testament class taught by Dr. Schlimm, and this was recommended reading on the syllabus (along with 4 other books not written by Dr. Schlimm). I found this to be the easiest to read and understand, and loved the conversational style of his writing. He tackles some challenging topics, like the "angry God of the Old Testament" and the issues of violence and narcissism, and he does it without flinching or making excuses. He doesn't pretend that the Bible is something other than what it is, and he reminds us all that this is a book of theology, not history or science, and he encourages us to befriend the Bible, in an authentic and honest relationship. Overall, i would strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand the Old Testament better or even just to understand why it is important (and yes, it is important - you can't understand the New Testament without it!). I also am certain that this is a book I will turn back to again in the future.

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California_Professor

Very impressed -- adopting it for my teaching

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015

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This is an excellent book that deserves a wide readership. I teach Old Testament at a major school of theology, and I share Schlimm's impression that a lot of people in churches don't know what to do with the Old Testament -- they want to take it as sacred scripture, but are put off by its strangeness. They are distressed by things like the violence depicted in some of the OT, or the ways it has been used to oppress women or deny science. Helping people find better ways through that negotiation is one of the greatest challenges to the study of the Bible today, and Schlimm's book does it excellently. Furthermore, I don't think it has any competition in the market.

I began reading it just to see what it was about, but I'm going to have to assign it in my classes. I think it would also function really well in a Bible study with educated participants. My favorite aspects of the book include:

(1) its incorporation of multiple voices. The book includes breakout boxes intermittently with great quotations by major thinkers about the topic at hand.

(2) Its conversational tone. The book does not read like a textbook. Frankly, I wouldn't mind if it did, but I think students and lay readers will appreciate the feeling of being in conversation with a wise mentor who has spent years thinking about these issues.

(3) Connected to the previous point, Schlimm brings a sense of humor to the topics, which could otherwise get very heavy.

No book is all things to all people. This book takes Christian faith as its starting point, so although readers who are secular of another faith would learn things from it, they may also be confused or left out at certain points. Also, buyers should note that Schlimm is a mainline-Christian scholar who got his PhD from Duke and teaches in a PC(U.S.A.) seminary. For me, that was all well and good, but buyers looking for conservative Christian apologetics will not get that here.

All in all, This Strange and Sacred Scripture is an excellent piece of work that deserves its glowing endorsements from major scholars. Highly recommended.

25 people found this helpful

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Wilson M. Harper

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2017

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gives better understanding of the complexity of OT

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Randall C. Mcgrady-beach

A Vista Worth Seeing

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2018

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This is an awesome book. It not only tackles passages which are confounding, but illuminates the cultural lens from a biblical time frame. Too often we look at the bible from a 21st Century view and we forget their expectations and world view was completely different. This book reminds me that rational thought, the Greek way of thinking, is not the mind set of the Hebrew. There are word plays with the Hebrew words that we have no clue are happening in the telling of the stories and factual information is not the reason for the story in the first place. I have found just in the first couple hours of reading an amazing new understanding and I am beginning to look at the OT as my friend and not my adversary or as the picture of a different God. There is only one God and that God has come down to our level of understanding. As that understanding increases so does our picture of God.

5 people found this helpful

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CityGirl

Great Service!

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2023

Verified Purchase

The book I ordered arrived in record time. It is used - and in perfect condition.

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Amazon Customer

Finally a book that deals honestly with the Old Testament and it’s strange tales and laws.

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

As an avid reader and student of the Bible, I am constantly searching for answers to the Bible’s hardest passages. Often answers are elusive and we stand in need of avenues for understanding rather than answers. This is one of the many benefits this book brings. It opens up paths that enable us to better wrestle with the passages that have long troubled us. It reveals ways to approach strange laws, hard-to-believe stories and images of an angry God. This is by far one of the best books I have read on this topic. I can’t recommend it enough.

5 people found this helpful

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L J Hallberg

A Welcome Contribution

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2015

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Having spent a number of years dealing with the Old Testament, I warmly welcome Dr. Schlimm's contribution. He calls the OT "our friend" and deals with some common questions about it without "copping out" with some type of subjective hypercriticism or denying its relevance altogether. He refuses to take the easy road of some scholars by simply saying something like,"Well, we moderns know better, don't we." Instead, he deals with difficult subjects with clear thinking about the nature of language and a view of the totality of the OT rather than dealing only with individual texts in isolation from the whole. A basic understanding of the language and historical milieu of the ancient Israelites is helpful, but not necessary, to benefitting from this book.

8 people found this helpful

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NV

Quick, Enlightening Read

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

Highly recommended for anyone struggling with the Old Testament. Clarified many of the issues that I had with the OT. Actually helps with perspective on the New Testament for that matter too.

2 people found this helpful

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