Journal: Reformed Baptist Theological Review
Volume: RBTR 06:2 (Jul 2009)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

---

RBTR 6:2 (July 2009) p. 115

Book Reviews

Readers will understand that we are not able to supply these books.

From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology, T. Desmond Alexander (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2008), 208pp

T. Desmond Alexander’s From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology provides the reader with what its title indicates and more. It is both an introduction to biblical theology and an excellent example of inner-biblical/textual/canonical/typological interpretation, a crucial (and too often neglected!) element in the hermeneutical process. It also whets the appetite for more to come, something which Alexander promises (see below).

The book’s chapters are as follows: 1. Introduction, 2. From sacred garden to holy city: experiencing the presence of God, 3. Thrown from the throne: re-establishing the sovereignty of God, 4. Dealing with the devil: destroying the source of evil, 5. The slaughter of the Lamb: accomplishing the redemption of creation, 6. Feasting from the tree of life: reinvigorating the lives of people from every nation, 7. Strong foundations and solid walls: living securely among the people of God, and 8. Conclusion.

The book’s origin comes from Alexander’s study of Revelation 20-22. He says:

This study began life as a short course exploring what Revelation 20-22 reveals about life after death. In unpacking this, two things became evident: (1) the biblical description of our future existence has more in common with our present life than most people assume; (2) the concluding chapters of Revelation offer a window through which the main themes of the biblical meta-narrative may be studied. (7)

Alexander’s words reminded me of a book that read several years ago: The End of the Beginning: Revelation 21-22 and the Old Testament by William J. Dumbrell (a book I highly recommend).

Alexander identifies his approach. “The approach adopted here is to begin at the end. As is often the case, a story’s conclusion provides a good guide to the themes and ideas dominant throughout” (10). He sees Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 20-22 as framing the entire Bible. “The very strong links between Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 20-22 suggest that these

RBTR 6:2 (July 2009) p. 116

passages frame the entire biblical meta-story” (10). This approach will allow us to see the big picture and not loose the...

visitor : : uid: ()