Unger,
Merrill F. Introductory Guide to the Old
Testament. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishers, 1977. http://www.amazon.com/Introductory-Guide-Testament-Merrill-Unger/dp/0310334012/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381624859&sr=8-1&keywords=merrill+unger+introductory+guide+to+the+old+testament
Psalm 19.9-10: “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More
to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold.”
Merrill Frederick Unger (1909–1980) was a Bible commentator, scholar, and theologian. He earned his A.B. (with honors) and Ph.D degrees at Johns Hopkins University, and his Th.M. and Th.D. degrees at Dallas Theological Seminary (magna cum laude). His Ph.D. from Hopkins was in Biblical archaeology. After serving as a pastor at several churches, Unger taught for a year at Gordon College. For the next 19 years, until 1967 – at which time he became professor emeritus, Unger was professor of Old Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Unger was a prolific writer who authored some 40 books many of which are well received in Christian colleges and seminaries. Unger was also a well-known Biblical archaeologist.
Selected works
- Unger's Bible Dictionary
- Unger's Bible Handbook
- Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament
- Archaeology and the Old Testament
- Archaeology and the New Testament
- New Testament Teaching on Tongues: A Biblical and Historical Survey (1971)
- Baptism and Gifts of
the Holy Spirit, (Moody Press)
- Demons in the World Today, (Tyndale House Publishers), 1971
Reviewers from the book-jacket:
“It treats such general matters as the canon, the text, the
Apocrypha, and various versions as well as more specific introduction such as a
defense of the authenticity of the Pentateuch. Prefatory remarks concerning
each individual book of the Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi…His
bibliographies are comprehensive and up-to-date” Southern
Presbyterian Journal
“…deserves to be studied by all students of the Bible. How
refreshing it is to see how he (Unger) defends verbal inspiration in so true
and sincere a Christian way! How great a joy it is to see how he rejects the
critical theory. Would that all seminary
students would study Unger!” The Late
Dr. J. Theodore Mueller, Concordia Theological Seminary
PART
1
GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
1.
The Uniqueness of the Old Testament
2.
The Inspiration of the Old Testament
3.
The Canon of the Old Testament
4.
The Apocrypha of the Old Testament
5.
The Text of the Old Testament
6.
Ancient Versions of the Old Testament
PART
2
THE
PENTATEUCH
7.
The Importance and Scope of the Pentatuch
A. Genesis
B. Exodus
C. Leviticus
D. Numbers
E. Deuteronomy
8.
The Authorship of the Pentateuch
9.
The Mosaic Unity of the Pentateuch
PART
3
THE
PROPHETS
10. The
Former Prophets
A. Joshua
B. Judges
C. Samuel
D. Kings
11. The
Latter Prophets
A. Major
Prophets
i.
Isaiah
ii. Jeremiah
iii. Ezekiel
B. The
Minor Prophets
i.
Hosea
ii. Joel
iii. Amos
iv. Obadiah
v. Jonah
vi. Micah
vii. Nahum
viii. Habakkuk
ix. Zephaniah
x. Haggai
xi. Zechariah
xii. Malachi
PART
4
THE
WRITINGS
12. The
Major Poetical Books
A. The
Psalms
B. Proverbs
C. Job
13. The
Rolls
A. Song
of Solomon
B. Ruth
C. Lamentations
D. Ecclesiastes
E. Esther
14. The Historical Books
A. Daniel
B. Ezra
C. Nehemiah
D. Chronicles
Chapter 1: The Uniqueness of
the Old Testament
·
“Incontestably” the Bible is the “Book of Books”
·
“Most abused” piece of literature: has faced
hatred, sword, persecution, fire, misrespesentation and interpretative abuses
·
The “most effective foes are neglect and
skepticism” (13)
·
Faced “radical hypotheses and unwarranted
assumptions,” “totally negative” and “destructive”
·
After answering the critics (we’d call them “Biblical
vandals”), the Old Testament must be put forward positively and constructively
·
Augustine’s motto: the “New Testament is
enfolded in the Old and the Old unfolded in the New Testament”
·
Separate departments of study in seminaries and
graduate schools: “mandatory” due to the
bulk of studies for each department, but presents “grave perils” if the
essential unity of the Bible is missed.
We would heartily endorse this view and have seen this more widely. All the departments, not just Biblical, but
systematics and church history must be involved in the theological inquiry, exposition
and application
·
Evidences for divine origin
1.
Repeatedly, “Thus saith the Lord…” (Ex. 4.22,
for example)
2.
“Hear the word of the LORD…” (Is. 1.10)
3.
Often, writers commanded to write (Ex. 17.14;
24.4, 7). We are particularly impressed
by repeated citations of this.
4.
Evidence that Biblical authority accepted from
the very start
5.
Book production was heavy even in Solomon’s
time. “Of the making of books, there is
no end” (Ecc.12.12). For example, the “Book of Jasher” (Josh. 10.13; 2 Sam.
1.18) and the “Book of the Wars of the LORD” (Num. 21.14)
Further volumes for review:
Eckman, G.E. The Literary Primacy of the Bible. No location: HardPress
Publishing, 2013. Recommended by Mr. Unger. 222 pages. http://www.amazon.com/Literary-Primacy-Eckman-George-1860-1920/dp/1313529230/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381780292&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=G.E.+Eckman+the+literary+primacy+of+the+bible
Kent, C.F. The Origin and Permanent Value of the Old Testament. Hodder and Stoughten, 1906. Recommended by Mr. Unger. http://www.amazon.com/Origin-permanent-value-Old-Testament/dp/B0026CD7UA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381779880&sr=8-1&keywords=C.F.+Kent+the+origin+and+permanent+value+of+the+old+testament
Martin, H. The Meaning of the Old Testament. No location: SCM, 1949. Recommended by Mr.
Unger. http://www.amazon.com/The-Meaning-Old-Testament-Martin/dp/B0010WN1CG/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381780415&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=H.+Martinl+the+meaning+of+the+old+testament
Peake, Arthur S. The Bible, Its Origin, Its Significance, and Its Abiding Worth. No location: Ulan Press, 2012. Recommend by Mr. Unger. 566 pages. http://www.amazon.com/The-Bible-origin-significance-abiding/dp/B00AQOJCEU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381780122&sr=8-2&keywords=A.S.+Peake+The+Bible%2C+Its+Origin%2C+Its+Significance%2C+and+Its+Abiding+Worth
Rowley, H.H. The Rediscovery of the Old Testament. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1946. Recommended by Mr. Unger. http://www.amazon.com/The-re-discovery-Testament-H-H-Rowley/dp/B00114US1K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381780761&sr=8-2&keywords=H.H.+Rowley+the+rediscovery+of+the+old+testament
Sands, P.C. The Literary Genius of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1926. Recommended by Mr. Unger. 123 pages. http://www.amazon.com/Literary-Genius-Old-Testament-Sands/dp/B0006DBPKK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381780518&sr=8-2&keywords=P.C.+Sands+Literary+Genius+of+the+Old+Testament
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