A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament

This book has become a standard text in seminary and university classrooms. The purpose of this second edition is to help readers come to a critically informed understanding of the Old Testament as the church's scripture. This book introduces the Old Testament both as a witness of ancient Israel and as a witness to the church and synagogue through the generations of those who have passed these texts on as scripture.

The authors of this volume share a commitment to the interpretation of the Old Testament as a central resource for the life of the church today. At the same time, they introduce the Old Testament witness in a manner that honors the importance of biblical scholarship in helping students engage the variety of theological voices within the Old Testament.


This second edition gives special attention to deepening and broadening theological interpretations by including, for example, issues related to gender, race, and class. It also includes more detailed maps and charts for student use.

Walter Brueggemann (1933-2025), one of today’s preeminent interpreters of Scripture, was William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. He authored numerous scholarly articles and over one hundred books, including his magnum opus Theology of the Old Testament, The Prophetic Imagination, and Message of the Psalms.

Bruce C. Birch is Dean and Professor of Old Testament at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC. He is a contributing author to volume II of the New Interpreter's Bible and The Old Testament: A Theological Introduction.

2001 TERENCE E. FRETHEIM is Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and has been on the faculty of 7 seminary schools, including Princeton, Graduate Theological Union, Vancouver and McCormick. He has authored or contributed to eighteen books, four by Abingdon and a forthcoming commentary on Jeremiah.

David L. Petersen is Franklin N. Parker Professor of Old Testament at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Professor Petersen is a distinguished Old Testament scholar. His current research focuses on the book of Genesis and on prophetic literature. During 2004, Petersen served as president of the Society of Biblical Literature. An ordained Presbyterian minister, Dr. Petersen has written, coauthored, or coedited a number of scholarly and popular books and articles. He was the senior Old Testament editor for The New Interpreter's Bible.