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Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology. By Jeffrey J. Niehaus. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008, 203 pp., $18.99 paper.
In this volume, Jeffrey Niehaus seeks to link themes common to ANE cultures and the Bible in a Christological manner. The themes include the royal shepherd; covenant and conquest; city; temple; image; abandonment and restoration; covenantal household; and restoration of all things. Niehaus focuses upon similarities between the Bible and ANE cultures since God's purpose in instituting these parallels "was to make such ideas somewhat familiar to God's people so that, when he actually broke into the historical plane and acted, his acts would be recognizable against their cultural background" (pp. 29-30).
Niehaus's approach contains three parts: (1) the OT contains the true versions of events while other documents preserve corrupted accounts; (2) the OT uses literary and legal forms common to the ANE; and (3) the correct views of pagan cultures are due to common grace while distortions occur as a result of demonic activity (pp. 29, 54). At this point we can appreciate Niehaus's approach that values theological fidelity and seeks to employ self-consciously a methodology that reflects biblical truth. However, his execution is often in need of strengthening.
His discussion...