Mr. (Dr. Prof.) Gustav Oehler: Outline of "Theology of the Old Testament"

        Oehler, Gustav Friedrich. Theology of the Old Testament (trans. George E. Day). Minneapolis, MN: Klock and Klock Christian Publishers, 1978 reprint.  Originally, it was printed by T & T Clark in 1878.

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Preliminary Statements

§ 1. Summary

I.            Definition and Limits of Old Testament Theology

§ 2. Definition of Old Testament Theology. It embraces the whole field of revelation in the Old Testament

§ 3. Relation of Old Testament Theology to other Old Testament branches.

§ 4. Sources of Old Testament Theology

II.          Fuller Statement of the Scientific Standpoint of Old Testament Theology

§ 5. The view of the Old Testament religion proper to Christian theology

§ 6. The Biblical idea of revelation. General and special revelation

§ 7. Historic character and gradual progress of revelation. Its relation to the whole of man’s life. Its supernatural character.

§ 8. The Old and New Testaments in their relation to heathenism and to each other

 

III.        History of the Cultivation of Old Testament Theology in the Christian Church

§ 9. Theological View of the Old Testament in the Early Church and the Middle Ages

§ 10. Theological View of the Old Testament in the Reformation

§ 11. Theological conception of the Old Testament in the older Protestant theology

§ 12. Conception and treatment of the Old Testament from the end of the 17^th to the end of the 18^th century

§ 13. Rise of a Biblical theology distinct from a dogmatic treatment of the Old Testament by Rationalism, and by the newer history and philosophy of religion

§ 14a. Theological view of the Old Testament in the earlier Supernaturalism and in the most recent literature

§ 14b. Continuation: the most recent literature

IV.        Method of Biblical Theology. Division of Old Testament Theology

§ 15. Characteristics of the historico-genetic method

§ 16. Division of Old Testament Theology stated and defended

PART ONE: MOSAISM

FIRST SECTION. THE HISTORY OF REVELATION FROM THE CREATION, TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COVENANT PEOPLE IN THE HOLY LAND.

                § 17. Division of this history

I.            The Primeval Age 

§ 18. The account of creation

§ 19. The origin of evil

§ 20. The first offering. Cainites and Sethites. Tradition of  the Flood 

II.          The Second Age of the World

§ 21. Covenant with the world. Noah’s saying. Division of mankind

§ 22. The foundation of the people of God

III.        The Time of the Patriarchs

§ 23. Abraham

§ 24. Isaac and Jacob

§ 25. The Twelve Patriarchs 

IV.          The Time of Moses and Joshua 

1.  The deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage 

§ 26. Condition of the people of Israel in Egypt

§ 27. The deliverance from Egypt 

2.  The institution of the covenant of the law and the march through the wilderness 

§ 28. Educational aim of the march through the wilderness. The Covenant of Law established

§ 29. The first breach of the covenant. Order of the camp. Departure from Sinai. Sentence on the people.

§ 30. The wandering during thirty-seven years in the wilderness, and events up to the occupation of the land on the east side of Jordan

§ 31. Deuteronomy. Death of Moses. His position among the organs of revelation 

3.  The settlement of Israel in the Holy Land 

§ 32. Occupation of Canaan. Extermination of the Canaanites.

§ 33. Division of the land. Character of the promised land. Israel at the close of this period.

SECOND SECTION: THE DOCTRINES AND ORDINANCES OF MOSAISM

                § 34. Survey

First Division: THE DOCTRINE OF GOD AND HIS RELATION TO THE WORLD

FIRST CHAPTER: The Mosaic Idea of God

                § 35. Survey

I.            THE MOST GENERAL NAMES OF THE DIVINE BEING, EL, ELOAH, ELOHIM, EL-ELYON 

§ 36.  

II.          EL-SHADDAI 

§ 37. 

III.        THE NAME JEHOVAH 

§ 38. Pronunciation and grammatical explanation of the name

§ 39. Signification of the name

§ 40. Age and origin of the name Jehovah

§ 41. Comparison of the name Jehovah with Elohim and El

§ 42. Attributes or names of God which are derived immediately from the idea of Jehovah

§ 43. The Unity of God 

IV.        God as the Holy One 

§ 44. Formal definition of the idea

§ 45. Fuller definition of the idea

§ 46. Characteristics connected with the Divine Holiness:

Impossibility of picturing god, Omnipresence    Spirituality

                § 47. The Divine righteousness, faithfulness and truth

                § 48. The jealous God 

SECOND CHAPTER: THE RELATION OF GOD TO THE WORLD

                § 49. General Survey

                First Doctrine. On the Creation and Preservation of the         World

I.            On the Creation 

§ 50. Creation by the Word

§ 51. The Divine Spirit in the Creation 

II.          On the Preservation of the World 

§ 52.  

Second Doctrine.  The Divine Aim of the World. Divine Providence 

§ 53. The design of Creation, and it realization through Providence

§ 54. Relation of the Divine causality to moral and physical evil 

Third Doctrine. Of Revelation. 

§ 55. Introductory remark and general view 

I.            The Revelation of the Divine Being

§ 56. The Divine Name

§ 57. The Divine Countenance

II.          The Forms of Revelation

§ 58. The Divine Voice

§ 59. The doctrine of the Angel of the Lord, of the Countenance, of the Covenant. The exegetical state of the case.

§ 60. Continuation. The different views.

§ 61. Other Points of Mosaic angelology

§ 62. The Shethina

§ 63. The doctrine of miracle. Its appearance in history and its various names

§ 64. Continuation. More exact definition of miracle

§ 65. On the Spirit of God

§ 66. The psychical states of the organs of revelation

Second division. THE DOCTRINE OF MAN.

                § 67. General view.

I.            THE IDEA OF MAN 

§ 68.  

II.          MAN IN RELATION TO SEX AND RACE 

§ 69 

III.        THE CONSTITUENT PARTS OF MAN 

§ 70. Body, soul and spirit

§ 71. The heart and its relation to the soul 

SECOND CHAPTER. The doctrine of man in reference to contradictory elements which entered by sin into its development

I.            THE PRIMITIVE STATE OF MAN

 

§ 72.  

II.          OF SIN 

1.  The origin of sin 

§ 73. The formal principle of sin

§ 74.  The material principle of sin. The Old Testament names of sin 

2.  The state of sin 

§ 75. Sin as an inclination.  Transmission of sin.

§ 76. Antagonism of the good and the evil in man. Degrees of sin. Possibility of a relative righteousness.

III.        ON DEATH AND THE STATE AFTER DEATH 

§ 77. The connection between sin and death.

§ 78-79. The doctrine of Mosaism on the condition after death 

Third Division. THE COVENANT OF GOD WITH ISRAEL AND THE THEOCRACY

FIRST CHAPTER. The nature of the Covenant

                § 80. Preliminary remarks and general survey 

First doctrine. The Divine Election

                § 81. Israel’s election as the full act of God’s love

§ 82. Forms in which the election of the people is expressed

Second Doctrine. MAN’S OBLIGATION.

                § 83. The servant of Jehovah

                § 84. The Law.

                § 85-86. The Decalogue. Its division.

                § 87. Circumstances. Its historical origin

§ 89. Religious import of circumcision. The giving of a   name.

Third Doctrine. Divine Retribution

                § 90. Blessing and curse

§ 91. Solution of the apparent contradiction between the Divine election and the Mosaic doctrine of retribution. Attacks on the latter.

SECOND CHAPTER. The Theocracy

                § 91. The idea of Divine Kingship

First Doctrine. The Theocratic Organism, and the Ordinances of Law and Justice connected therewith.

I.            THEOCRATIC ORGANIZATION OF THE PEOPLE 

§ 92. The division into tribes. Israel’s representation before Jehovah 

1.  The Levites

§ 93. The mode and meaning of the representation of Israel by the Levites

§ 94. Official functions, dedication, and social position of the Levites

2.  The priesthood

§ 95.

3.  The high priest

§ 96

II.          THE THEOCRATIC AUTHORITY 

1.    The legislative authority

§ 97

2.    The judicial power

§ 98. The principle and organization of the administration of justice

§ 99. The course of justice and punishment

3.The executive power

§ 100

III.        THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FAMILY, AND THE LEGAL PROVISIONS OF MOSAIC FAMILY LAW 

§ 101. The subdivisions of the tribes. The principles and division of Mosaic family law.

1.  The law of marriage

                § 102. The contracting of marriage: the dependent position of the wife and the forms of marriage contract

                § 103. Bars to marriage.

                § 104. The dissolution of marriage

2.  The relation of parents to children

§ 105

3.  The law of inheritance, and provisions for the permanence of families and their inheritance

§ 106. The law of inheritance. Laws concerning heiresses and the levirate marriage

§ 107. Provisions concerning the preservation of the family inheritance

§ 108. The avenging of blood

4.  The rights of servants in the house

§ 109. Bondage in the time of the patriarchs. The principles of the rights of bondmen

§ 110. The regulations concerning Hebrew servants

§ 111. The position of servants not Israelites

Second Doctrine. The Mosaic Public Worship.

§ 112. General introductory remarks. Essential character of this worship.

§ 113. The place of the word in public worship.

I.            THE PLACE OF WORSHIP 

 

    § 114. The requisites for a place of worship

    § 115. The arrangement of the Mosaic sanctuary

`   § 116. Mearning of the sanctuary. Its three divisions.

    § 117. Sacred vessels in the court and in the sanctuary

§ 118. The ark of the covenant, with the Kapporeth and the tables of the law.

§ 119. The Cherubim. 

II.          THE ACTIONS OF THE MOSAIC WORSHIP 

§ 120. Introductory remarks. On the idea of offerings in  general

§ 121. Pre-Mosaic sacrifice and Mosaic covenant. Sacrifice as the basis of the Mosaic sacrificial worship 

1.  The material of the offerings 

    § 122. Bloody and bloodless sacrifice

    § 123. The material of the animal offerings

    § 124. The ingredients of the vegetable offerings. Salt in         the offerings.

§ 125. The principle on which the material of the offerings was fixed 

2.  The ritual of sacrifice 

§ 126. The ritual of animal sacrifice. Presentation at the altar; laying on of the hands; slaughter.

§ 127. The use made of the shed blood

    § 128. The burning of the-offering

    § 129. Ritual of the food-offering 

3.  On various kinds of offerings with reference to their purpose 

    § 130. Various kinds of offerings as thus distinguished. 

(a)  The burnt-offering 

§ 131.  

(b) The peace-offering 

§ 132. The name, notion and division.

§ 133. The ritual of the peace-offering

§ 134. Of vows

§ 135. Nazaritism 

Appendix. The theocratic taxes 

§ 136. 

(c)  The atoning sacrifices 

§ 137. The difference between the trespass-offering and the sin-offering with respect to the end in view

§ 138. The ritual and import of the trespass and the sin offerings. The trespass-offering

§ 139. The ritual of the sin-offering.

§ 140. The ritual of the Day of Atonement.

§ 141. Signification of the ritual and antiquity of the Day of Atonement. 

Appendix. Purification. 

§ 142. The Levitical purifications.

§ 143. Acts of purifications for removing the suspicion of guilt

III.        THE SACRED SEASONS 

1.  Sacred Seasons in general

§ 144. Survey of the Sacred Seasons and their designations

§ 145. Reasons which determine the times of the feasts

§ 146. The celebration of the holy days

2.  The Sabbatical Seasons 

 

(a)  The weekly Sabbath  

§ 147. Antiquity and origin of the Sabbath

§ 148. The idea of the Sabbath

§ 149. The celebration of the Sabbath

(b) The new moon Sabbath

§ 150

(c) The Sabbatical year and the year of Jubilee

§ 151. Legal enactments

§ 152. Import and practicability of the institution of the Sabbatical year and the year of Jubilee

3.  The three pilgrimage feasts 

(a)  The Passover 

§ 153.  Enactments concerning the solemnity

§ 154. Significance of the feast of the Passover, and questions connected with it 

(b)  The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

§ 155.

(c)  The Feast of Tabernacles

§ 156.

PART II – PROPHETISM

FIRST SECTION. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEOCRACY FROM THE DEATH OF JOSHUA TO THE CLOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT REVELATION

First Division. THE TIMES OF THE JUDGES

I.            THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE THEOCRACY TILL THE TIMES OF SAMUEL 

§ 157. Course of events. Import of the office of Judge.

§ 158. Religious condition. Decline of the theocratic institutions

§ 159. Religious syncretism of this period

II.          RESTORATION OF THE THEOCRATIC UNITY BY SAMUEL. GROWTH OF PROPHETISM. FOUNDATION OF THE MONARCHY. 

§ 160. The Philistine oppression. Changes effected by Samuel.

§ 161. Nature, impotence, and first beginnings of the prophetic office

§ 163. The foundation of the Israelitish Kingdom: consecration of the king.

Second Division. PERIOD OF THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM.   

I.            SAUL

           § 164 

II.          DAVID 

 

§ 165. History of his reign. His theocratic position and personal religious development.

§ 166. The form of worship under David 

III.        SOLOMON 

§ 167. The building of the temple

§ 168. Significance and dedication of the temple

§ 169. The Hebrew proverbial poetry. The Hhakkamim

§ 170. Solomon’s external organizations. The dark sides of his reign. Division of the Kingdom

Third Division. THE KINGDOM OF THE TEN TRIBES

             § 171. Preliminary remarks

FIRST PERIOD. From Jeroboam 1 to the overthrow of the dynasty of Omri.

§ 172. Jeroboam 1 to Omri.

§ 173. The dynasty of Omri.

§ 174. Schools of the Prophets and characteristics of the prophetism of the period.  The Rechabites.

SECOND PERIOD. From Jehu to the overthrow of the ten tribes.

§ 175. The Dynasty of Jehu

§ 176. From Zachariah to the carrying away of the ten tribestribes

§ 177. Origin of the Samaritans

Fourth Division. THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH

             § 178. Preliminary remarks and survey

             FIRST PERIOD. From Rehoboam to Ahaz.

             § 179. Rehoboam to Jehoshaphat

             § 180. Jehoram to Jotham

             SECOND PERIOD. From Ahaz to Josiah.  

             § 181. Ahaz and Hezekiah

             § 182. Manasseh and Amon

             THIRD PERIOD. From Josiah to the overthrow of the state

             § 183. Josiah

§ 184. Profane history of this period. Death of Josiah. Jehoahaz.

§ 185. Jehoiakim and Jehoiakin

§ 186. Zedekiah. Fall of the State and of Jerusalem

§ 187. Gedaliah and the remnant of the people

Fifth Division. HISTORY OF THE JEWISH NATION FROM THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY TO THE CESSATION OF PROPHECY

§ 188. Condition of the people and agency of the Prophets during the Captivity.

§ 189. Deliverance and return of Jews from Babylon. Commencement of the rebuilding of the temple.

§ 190. The period from Cyrus to Darius Hystapsis

§ 191. The Jews Under Xerxes. Beginning of Ezra’s administration

§ 192. Ezra and Nehemiah. The close of prophecy.

§ 193. The beginning of Sopherism. Public worship at the close of this period.

SECOND SECTION. THE THEOLOGY OF PROPHETISM.

             § 194. Summary

First Division. THE DOCTRINE OF THE LORD OF HOSTS AND OF ANGELS

§ 195. Form and occurrence of the name of God. Partial views of its original meaning.

§ 196. The host of heaven. The heavenly bodies.

§ 197. The host of the heavenly spirits.

§ 198. Result with respect to the name Jehovah Sabaoth

§ 199. Angels of higher order and special office

§ 200. The doctrine of Satan

Second Division. MAN’S RELIGIOUS AND MORAL RELATION TO GOD.

I.            DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CEREMONIAL AND THE MORAL LAW 

§ 201 

II.          THE RUINOUS NATURE OF SIN. THE NEED OF A NEW DISPENSATION OF GRACE. 

§ 202.

III.        JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH 

§ 203. The Old Testament form of faith

§ 204. The Old Testament experience of salvation

Third Division. OF PROPHECY

First Subdivision. The prophetic consciousness.

             § 205. Negative propositions.

             § 206. Positive propositions.

§ 207. Psychological definition of the prophetic state in ancient times.

§ 208. Place of this subject under Protestant theology

§ 209. Continuity and elevation of the individual life in the prophetic state

§ 210. Prophecy an inward intuition

§ 211. The prophetic state illustrated by analogies: Dreams. Communion with God in prayer.

§ 212. The conceptions of genius and the natural powers of divination

Second subdivision: Of prophecy

             § 213. Its office in general

§ 214. The prediction of particular events an essential element of prophecy

§ 215-216. The peculiarities of Old Testament prophecy

Fourth Division. OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

             § 217. Survey

First Subdivision. The Purpose of God’s Kingdom; the contradiction thereto present by the present; the abolition of this contradiction.

I.            THE DESIGN OF GOD’S KINGDOM 

§ 218

 

II.          THE RELATION OF THE PRESENT TO THE PURPOSE OF THE DIVINE KINGDOM 

§ 219 

III.        THE JUDGMENT 

§ 220. The day of the Lord. The judgment upon the Covenant people.

§ 221. The judgment upon the heathen nations.

Second Subdivision. The Future Redemption.

I.            THE DELIVERANCE AND RESTORATION OF THE COVENANT PEOPLE 

§ 222. The restoration of Israel a necessary event

§ 223. The remnant of Jacob. The new covenant an everlasting one. The forgiveness of sins. The outpouring of the Spirit.

§ 224. Other features of the times of redemption.

 

§ 225-226. Death destroyed. 

II.          THE ADMISSION OF THE HEATHEN INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 

§ 227. The extension of the Kingdom of God in the times of redemption

§ 228. The conditions under which the admission of the heathen into the Kingdom of God is to take place 

III.        THE MESSIAH 

§ 229. Twofold view of the consummation of redemption. The word of Messiah. The roots of the Messianic hope in the
Pentateuch.

§ 230. The promise in 2 Sam. Vii. As the foundation of the Messianic idea in the stricter sense

§ 231. The development of the idea of the Messiah in the Prophets; the older prophetic writings; the prophetic doctrine concerning the nature of the Messiah

§ 232. The office and work of the Messiah. 

PART III – OLD TESTAMENT WISDOM

             § 235-236. General preliminary remarks.

I.            OBJECTIVE DIVINE WISDOM. 

§ 237. The part of wisdom as an attribute of God in the universe. Its personification.

§ 238. The Old Testament view of nature.

§ 239. The intervention of wisdom in human affairs. 

II.          SUBJECTIVE HUMAN WISDOM 

§ 240. The fear of the Lord the subjective principle of wisdom.

§ 241-242. Practical wisdom. 

III.        MORAL GOOD 

§ 243. Its realization in the individual life.

§ 244. Realization of  moral good in the various social sphere. The view take in Proverbs of evil and pain. 

IV.        THE ENIGMAS OF HUMAN LIFE 

§ 245. The enigmas themselves.

§ 246. The struggle to solve the enigmas relating to this subject in the Psalms

§ 247-248. Solution of the enigmas in the Book of Job 

V.          RENUNCTION OF THE SOLUTION IN THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES 

§ 249. Standpoint of this book. Inquiry concerning divine retribution and immortality.

§ 250. Moral teaching of the Book. Conclusion.

Index of names and subjects

Index of texts