The Bible Among the Myths: Unique Revelation or Just Ancient Literature?
Introduction
John N. Oswalt has spent much time specifically researching and studying the Ancient Near East. His work in this field began after he was first introduced to it in the 1960’s while taking a course called, “The Literature of the Ancient Near East”. After his time at Asbury Theological Seminary, Oswalt began further study in the Mediterranean Studies Department of Brandeis University. While there, he further developed his knowledge and understanding of the Ancient Near East and later, further developed said knowledge by means of thinking them through with his own students. John Oswalt has now, per this book, taught at Asbury Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Wesley Biblical Seminary.
In his introduction, Oswalt discusses how roughly sixty years ago it was widely agreed upon in academic circles that the Israelite religion stood apart from their neighbor’s Semitic religion. However, the tide has now turned, for the world of academia largely affirms the Israelite faith is just another religion in the sea of Ancient Near Eastern mythology and religion. Oswalt questions why this drastic change has come. He believes the data from the past is no different then the data used today. Therefore, the problem is how one interprets the data. He discusses the use of “accidentals” and “essentials” while studying the similarities and differences between the Old Testament and mythology.
In brief, Oswalt discusses how, in the past, scholars focused on the essentials while now, it seems, they put more emphasis on the accidentals. He uses the example of temples in the Ancient Near East. The Israelite’s and their neighbors shared similarities in how they constructed their temples. This would be defined as an accidental. However, the Israelites had no idols or graven images of worship in their temple while their neighbors did. One should focus on the essentials when comparing Israel to other faiths and mythologies.
In closing, Oswalt
John N. Oswalt has spent much time specifically researching and studying the Ancient Near East. His work in this field began after he was first introduced to it in the 1960’s while taking a course called, “The Literature of the Ancient Near East”. After his time at Asbury Theological Seminary, Oswalt began further study in the Mediterranean Studies Department of Brandeis University. While there, he further developed his knowledge and understanding of the Ancient Near East and later, further developed said knowledge by means of thinking them through with his own students. John Oswalt has now, per this book, taught at Asbury Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Wesley Biblical Seminary.
In his introduction, Oswalt discusses how roughly sixty years ago it was widely agreed upon in academic circles that the Israelite religion stood apart from their neighbor’s Semitic religion. However, the tide has now turned, for the world of academia largely affirms the Israelite faith is just another religion in the sea of Ancient Near Eastern mythology and religion. Oswalt questions why this drastic change has come. He believes the data from the past is no different then the data used today. Therefore, the problem is how one interprets the data. He discusses the use of “accidentals” and “essentials” while studying the similarities and differences between the Old Testament and mythology.
In brief, Oswalt discusses how, in the past, scholars focused on the essentials while now, it seems, they put more emphasis on the accidentals. He uses the example of temples in the Ancient Near East. The Israelite’s and their neighbors shared similarities in how they constructed their temples. This would be defined as an accidental. However, the Israelites had no idols or graven images of worship in their temple while their neighbors did. One should focus on the essentials when comparing Israel to other faiths and mythologies.
In closing, Oswalt