Journal: Global Journal of Classical Theology
Volume: GJCT 01:1 (Sep 1998)
Article: Book Review
Author: Anonymous

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Book Review

All Things New: The Significance of Newness for Biblical Theology, by Carl B. Hoch. Baker Book House, 1995. ISBN 0–8010-2048–4. $19.99 (paper). 365pp.

Reviewed by Stephen D. Lowe, Ph.D.
Dean, Department of Christian Education
Trinity College & Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana

Although in practice, most Christians read and study the New Testament more than the Old, the reality is most would be hard pressed to tell you exactly what is so “new” about the New Testament. My former New Testament professor, Carl Hoch, helps alleviate that embarrassing problem through the publication of All Things New. In this important contribution to the field of New Testament theology, Hoch sets out material many of his students were privileged to learn under his capable teaching at the Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary for almost twenty years.

Hoch’s objective is to explore the New Testament concept of “newness” and situate it within a biblical theology framework that is rich with exegetical and textual analysis. The book is divided into three major sections:

Part I The Commencement of Newness

Part II The Configuration of Newness

Part III The Significance of Newness

In Part I he lays out the distinctive place for the concept of newness in Luke’s redemptive-historical framework as set forth in both his Gospel and Acts, with a special emphasis on the distinctive nature of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.

In Part II he explores all of the New Testament themes of newness including the themes of new wineskins, new teaching, new covenant, new commandment, new creation, new man, new name, new song, new Jerusalem, new heavens and earth, all things new.

In Part III he explains the significance of newness for the individual believer and for the church in its corporate manifestation as the body of Christ.

The book contains two appendices that elucidate Hoch’s views on the relationship between the church and Israel (Appendix A: “The Israel Problem: Is the Church the New Israel?” and Appendix B: “The Term Israel in the New Testament”).

The book contains a complete bibliography as well as end of chapter citations. Indicative of his expertise as a classroom teacher, Hoch also includes a number of helpful diagrams and figures that support and illustrate his development of the theme of newness in the New Testament. The one complaint I have with these helpful additions, is directed more to the publishers (Baker Book House) than to Hoch. In nearly every case, the diagrams or figures are displayed in such a way in the text that it is impossible or extremely difficult to reproduce them for clas...

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