G.K. Beale. Redemptive Reversals and the Ironic Overturning of Human Wisdom. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, October 17, 2019. 208 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Do you appreciate irony? I love ironies and if there’s one literature that really got me interested in this literary device it was the Bible. In this book New Testament scholar G. K. Beale look at the various irony found throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. This is an excellent work on Biblical Theology and certainly I want to read more of Beale’s books.
I thought it was helpful that in the introduction the book defined what is irony. Irony is one of those things in life that you know it when you see it but it can be hard to put into words. Here Beale defined irony as saying something or doing something that implies its opposite. Beale also noted there are two kinds of irony: Retributive in which God punishes people using the very means of their own sins and there’s also redemptive irony where those who believed might appeared to be curse but are really blessed. This is no abstract literary criticism of the Bible; believers need to know about the ironies in the Bible in order that we be not discouraged during difficult times. In fact the author did a good job of drawing out a lot of practical applications throughout the book and applied it to the readers’ lives. It was spiritually edifying for the soul and not just for the Christian intellect!
Besides an introduction and a conclusion the book consists of six chapters. Chapter one looks at the irony of how God judges people by their own sin. Chapter two ten looks at how people resemble the idols they worship. This is followed by a chapter on the irony of salvation and then a chapter on ironies in the Christian life. Chapter five looks at Hebrews 11 of faith in unseen realities in contrast to trusting in superficial appearances. The last chapter looks at ironies in the topic of eschatology. While the chapter is arranged in a manner that resemble systematic theology nevertheless the meat of the chapter is more biblical theology of going from Old Testament to New Testament.
This is the seventh book I read from the “Short Studies in Biblical Theology” series published by Crossway. I have immensely enjoyed the other six volumes that I read from this series and this work is no different. It was though one of the longer books in this series, coming in at over two hundred pages.
Compared to the some of the other titles I felt this particular title I learn a lot more new knowledge than the other books in series. I took a lot of notes over four months. I read it at a much slower pace than most of my reading since it was that rich with insight. The discussion of hardening hearts in its Egyptian context and also the discussion about becoming like what we worship whether for good or bad was some of the gold in this book.
There are though constructive criticism I would have for the book. In chapter one Beale writes “I hope that no Christian is reading this and thinking that he or she is exmpt from God’s ironic forms of judgment. Although Christians will not suffer eternal judgment, they are not exempt from other temporal kinds of punishments.” It is important to make a distinction between punishment and discipline and while believers are disciplined by God I do think God has taken our punishment already on the Cross. Later in the same paragraph Beale does write that “The Lord may use such sin as the very thing that disciplines the sinner” showing he uses discipline language but to avoid confusion I think its helpful Beale rephrase it as “discipline” instead of punishment in the earlier sentence. I also thought the chapter on eschatology wasn’t as strong as the other chapters in the book but I admit that might be because of different eschatological disagreements I have with the author.
Overall a wonderful book that I highly recommend.
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway and Net Galley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
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Sounds like a great book…already agree with your constructive criticism. 😊
I will need to add this book to my amazon wish list. I also appreciate your distinction between punishment and discipline. J.
Thanks J. I recall you pointing out quite a few irony in your book on Genesis. Is there a book in the Bible you see as having the most irony? I think Esther comes to mind for me. I imagine you would enjoy this book.
Quite a number of books of the Bible include irony; I’m not sure I can choose one that has the most. Paul frequently used irony in his epistles; some translators miss the irony and mislead their readers. J.
Thanks for the good review! Looks like an interesting book. I also enjoy a good irony (unless I’m the one caught up in one!),
Good point about how irony is enjoyable unless one is caught up in one! This was one of the many books I was juggling for a long time like how you juggle all those many books in your own life! How many do you have going at this time?
RE: irony
This morning I toiled on the review of that anti-Protestant tome I finished that allegedly examined 19th century American anti-Catholicism. Ironically, the author/historian was guilty of the same sectarian bias that he accused Protestants of. That book wore me out so I’m currently reading only one book which is about the large number of homosexual Catholic priests (written by a conservative Catholic). It’s also a grind. Well, the new LSH comes out on Wednesday which will be some much needed light lifting.
This book sounds interesting and worth reading.
Nice review.
Thanks I love good books about God’s Word! So many bad ones out there unfortunately. Have a blessed Monday Maw Maw!
Blessings.:)
Ooooh this sounds like a great book!
Very interesting. This review brought up something I was working with a few years back. I felt (and still feel) that something is very sick in today’s sense of humor. It’s as if society thinks that anything ironic is funny. Not everything ironic is funny, just surprising.
I agree with your points. I also think the world today often go for cheap humor of something crass and inappropriate which is faster to make than actual thoughtful irony. I’m also apalled at those who attempt at humor has to involve cussing. Crass isn’t the same quality of humor as sanctified irony! Is this a post you were working on or an essay, book, etc?
Well, it was one of the points I was making with the villian “Hilaria” in “When Foxes Fly”, but that was the only long running presentation of the subject I did (and it was also very subtle). I haven’t had the courage to put together a fully researched post on it but perhaps I need to gather up some nerve and go for it.
Reblogged this on RG's 2 Cents Studios.
Thanks hadn’t heard about this book – I enjoy Greg Beale’s work so looks worth a read
Wow is there a work by Beale you recommend? I’ve always heard of him but only now have I read a book length treatment by him.
The Temple and Church’s Mission is very good. I’d like to read his New Testament Biblical Theology but not sure I can manage the 1000 pages! His seminary class on Biblical Theology is freely available on Gospel Coalition website which was great – although didn’t listen to it all.
Wonderful review. Sounds absolutely spectacular. Thinking about getting it. My only exposure to the Short Studies in Biblical Theology so far is The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross. It helped me saw how the Bible fits together.
I want to read books by Beale as well, especially on the Temple and garden imagery. Glad you liked this book, I like irony as well!
You need to read more Beale. All of it! His NT Biblical Theology is fantastic as well as his NT use of the OT. His commentary on Revelation is the best one I’ve ever read.