Sacred Tension

 Book Review

Sacred Tension: Embracing Dissonance and Dialogue in the Old Testament by William P. Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This well-written book offers fundamental yet crucial insights and interpretations of the Old Testament. It covers critical topics such as the creation story, the nature of God, and theodicy. Brown argues that Scripture should be read dialogically, respecting its diversity and dissonance. The Bible is not a single book! It contains a collection of diverse authors, crafted over a thousand years. The implication is that the reader determines the ultimate significance of the text. This book is a valuable resource for serious readers of the Bible.

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"Biblical truths are often more timely than timeless, shaped by the context in which they are read and understood" (231).

All things express a kind of contextual truth, which does not dominate all other viewpoints. For example, in early narratives of the Old Testament, for instance, in the Decalogue (Exod 20:5-6; c.f. 34:6-7), there are ideas about transgenerational punishment. But later prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel rebut such views. Jeremiah dared to speak: "But all shall die for their own sins" (Jer 31:30). Likewise, Ezekiel clearly states the following (Ezek 18:2-4): 

2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? 3 As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins who shall die.

In earlier times, the emphasis was on collective identity and responsibility. But in later times, the most felt need was to rebuild the community through a new covenant. For this purpose, individual empowerment and agency became significant. 

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