Neglected VoicesPeace in the Old Testament by David A. Leiter |
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The Bible has a reputation among some believers for being about violence in the Old Testament and about peace in the New Testament. David A. Leiter deconstructs that oversimplified notion as he explores passages in which God calls for the making of peace. By identifying key typologies for peace, Leiter shows the Old Testament's relevance to today's struggles for peace.
"Perhaps Leiter's greatest gift in this book is his contention that the Old Testament contains a systemized typology for peace. In seeking to demonstrate the truth of this conviction, he introduces multiple distinct ideologies of peace that demonstrate where the Old Testament contains nonviolent responses to conflict. The presence of these ideologies of peace recasts the dominant perception that the Old Testament only supports violence." - from the foreword by Jay W. Marshall
"David A. Leiter opens up the Old Testament as a significant resource for those committed to making peace. Leiter demonstrates that the theme of peace cuts across the literary genres of narrative, prophecy, legal texts, proverbs, and psalms, and offers an unexpected range of strategies for raising consciousness and posing questions about social justice. Leiter puts before his readers a wide range of contemporary situations that would be improved if those involved took seriously the implications of these Old Testament texts." - Sister Patricia McDonald, SHCJ, author of God and Violence
About the Author
David A. Leiter is pastor of the Green Tree Church of the Brethren in Oaks, Pennsylvania. He holds a master of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary and a PhD in biblical studies from Drew University. He has taught at New York Theological Seminary and the Ecumenical Institute of Theology in Baltimore. He has published numerous articles and essays in Old Testament studies.