Ebook: The Theology of the Book of Joel

After an introductory discussion of method and major critical issues raised by the book of Joel, Prinsloo works through each pericope of the prophecy in turn. He is particularly interested in structure, genre and traditional motifs, believing that they furnish the necessary clues to establishing the book’s theology. In dialogue with H. W. Wolff, he suggests that the argument of the work develops from one section to the next, “each presenting a Steigerung on its precursor”. Though primarily concerned with the book as it stands, he also argues strongly for its substantial original unity, and he is particularly reluctant to indulge in textual speculations. The theological conclusions to emerge from all this effort are not particularly novel or unexpected, and the chief value of the book will be found to lie elsewhere: though not itself a commentary, it methodically undertakes all the critical preliminaries on which a commentary must be based.