Contents

xv

xxvii

Abbreviations

Introduction: The “Magic Eye” of the Crucified Christ

Part I. The Centrality of the Crucified Christ

1. The Faith of Jacob: Wrestling With“Strange” and “Alien” Portraits of God

3

2. The True Face of God: The Absoluteness of theRevelation of God in Christ

35

3. Finding Jesus in the Old Testament:The Christocentric Hermeneutic of theEarly Church

93

4. The Cruciform Center, Part 1: The Cross as theSupreme Revelation of God

141

5. The Cruciform Center, Part 2: The Cross as theThematic Center of the Gospel

173

6. Is the Centrality of the Cross Thesis Defensible?Responding to Objections

229

Volume 1

Part II. The Problem of Divine Violence

7. The Dark Side of the Bible: Taking a Hard Look atScripture’s “Texts of Terror”

279

8. Wrestling with Yahweh’s Violence, Part 1: TheDismissal Solution

335

9. Wrestling with Yahweh’s Violence, Part 2: TheSynthesis Solution

379

Part III. The Cruciform Hermeneutic

417

463

513

553

563

583

593

10. A Meaning Worthy of God:The Reinterpretation Solution

11. Through the Lens of the Cross:Finding the Crucified Christ inViolent Depictions of God

12. Interpreting Scripture as God’s Word: TheCruciform Hermeneutic and the TheologicalInterpretation of Scripture

Appendix I: The Alleged Anti-Judaic Attitudeof the Gospels

Appendix II: Jesus and Violence

Appendix III: Violence in thePauline Epistles

Appendix IV: Violence in theBook of Revelation

Part IV. The Principle of CruciformAccommodation

13. The “Masks” of a Humble God:Revelation and the Eternal Outpouring of theTriune God

641

14. The Heavenly Missionary: Yahweh’sAccommodation of the Law, Nationalism, andViolence

701

Part V. The Principle of Redemptive Withdrawal

15. Divine Aikido: The Cross as the Revelation of God’s“Wrath”

767

16. Crime and Punishment: Divine Withdrawal and theSelf-Destructive Nature of Sin

805

17. Doing and Allowing:The Crucicentric Significance of Scripture’s DualSpeech Pattern

851

18. A Question of Divine Culpability: Responding toObjections to the Principle of RedemptiveWithdrawal

891

19. Defending Divine Genocide: The Inadequacy ofTraditional Defenses of the Conquest Narrative

917

20. When God’s Nonviolent Plans Fail:The Cruciform Interpretation of the ConquestNarrative

961

629Introduction: Something Else Is Going On

Volume 2

22. Caught in the Cross Fire: Cosmic Conflict and theNew Testament

1041

23. When Hell Breaks Loose: Redemptive Withdrawaland Cosmic Conflict

1099

24. The Dragon-Swallowing Dragon: Examples ofCosmic-Level Aikido Warfare

1143

Part VII. The Principle of SemiautonomousPower

25. Mauling Bears and a Lethal Palladium: WhenDivine Power Gets Misused

1195

Postscript:Unlocking the Secret of the Scroll

1249

Appendix V: The Escalation of Violence in the PromisedLand

1263

Appendix VI: Hardening People’s Hearts 1267Appendix VII: Can Satan’s Kingdom Be Divided againstItself?

1273

Appendix VIII: The Quail Plague 1277Appendix IX: The Testing of Abraham 1283Appendix X: The Issue of Supersessionism 1297Suggested Readings on Central Topics in The Crucifixion ofthe Warrior God

1303

Acknowledgments 1341Index of Authors and Subjects 1347Index of Scripture 1391

Part VI. The Principle of Cosmic Conflict

21. The Battle of the Gods: Cosmic Conflict and the OldTestament

1005

Abbreviations

ÄAT Ägypten und Altes Testament

AB Anchor Bible

ABC Anchor Bible Commentary

ABD Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman, 6 vols. (New York:Doubleday, 1992)

ABR Associations for Biblical Research

ACW Ancient Christian Writers

AJP American Journal of Psychotherapy

ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers

Anth Anthropos

AOTC Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries

ApOTC Apollos Old Testament Commentary

AR Archiv für Religionswissenschaft

ARS Annual Review of Sociology

ASCE Annual of the Society of Christian Ethics

ASM American Society of Missiology

ASV American Standard Version

AThR Anglican Theological Review

AugStud Augustinian Studies

AUSS Andrews University Seminary Studies

AYBC Anchor Yale Bible Commentary

BA Biblical Archeologist

xv

BAR Biblical Archeological Review

BASOR Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research

BBR Bulletin for Biblical Research

BECNT Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

BHT Beitrage zur historischen Theologie

BI Biblical Illustrator

Bib Biblica

BibInt Biblical Interpretation

BJMP British Journal of Medical Psychology

BJRL Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester

BPG Bulletin of Petroleum Geologists

BR Berkshire Review

BRB Biblical Research Bulletin

BRev Bible Review

BSac Bibliotheca Sacra

Bsh Beer-sheva

BTCB Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible

BZ Biblische Zeitschrift

CBR Currents in Biblical Research

CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly

CCHA Canadian Catholic Historical Association Report

CEV Contemporary English Version

CH Church History

CHB Cambridge History of the Bible

CHE Chronicle of Higher Education

Chm Churchman

ClQ Classical Quarterly

Cog Cogito

CRJ Christian Research Journal

CT Christianity Today

CTJ Calvin Theological Journal

THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE WARRIOR GOD

xvi

CTQ Concordia Theological Quarterly

CTR Criswell Theological Review

CTSJ Covenant Theological Seminary Journal

CurBR Currents in Biblical Research

CurTM Currents in Theology and Mission

DDD Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible, ed. Karel van der Toorn, BobBecking, and Pieter W. van der Horst, 2nd rev. ed. (Grand Rapids:Eerdmans, 1999)

DI Documenta and Instrumentia

DRev Downside Review

DSE Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics, ed. J Green (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,2012)

DTIB Dictionary of the Theological Interpretation of the Bible, ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005)

EBC Expositor’s Bible Commentary

EO Echos J’Orient

ERT Evangelical Review of Theology

ESV English Standard Version

EV Espirit et Vie

EvQ Evangelical Quarterly

EvT Evangelische Theologie

ExAud Ex Auditu

ExpTim Expository Times

FI Free Inquiry

FPh Faith and Philosophy

FR The Fourth R

FT Faith and Thought

FTh First Things

GM Giornale di Metafisica

GNB Good News Bible

GTJ Grace Theological Journal

GW God’s Word Translation

ABBREVIATIONS

xvii

HA History in Africa

HAR Hebrew Annual Review

HBT Horizons in Biblical Theology

HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible

HeyJ Heythrop Journal

HibJ Hibbert Journal

HNV Hebrew Names Version

HPR Homiletic & Pastoral Review

HR Historical Reflections

HSM Harvard Semitic Monographs

HT History and Theory

HTR Harvard Theological Review

HTS HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies

HUCA Hebrew Union College Annual

IB Interpreter’s Bible, ed. George A. Buttrick et al., 12 vols. (New York, 1951–57)

IBC Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Preaching and Teaching

ICC International Critical Commentary

IDB The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, ed. George A. Buttrick, 4 vols. (NewYork: Abingdon, 1962)

IDBSup Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Supplemental Volume, ed. Keith Crim(Nashville: Abingdon, 1962)

IECOT International Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament

IEJ Israel Exploration Journal

IJPR International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion

IJSP International Journal of Social Psychology

IJST International Journal of Systematic Theology

Int Interpretation

IOS Israel Oriental Studies

IRUSC Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church

ITQ Irish Theological Quarterly

IVPC IVP New Testament Commentary

THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE WARRIOR GOD

xviii

JAAR Journal of the American Academy of Religion

JAC Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum

JAH Journal of African History

JAP Journal of Abnormal Psychology

JASP Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology

JASPR Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research

JATS Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

JBL Journal of Biblical Literature

JBV Journal of Beliefs and Values

JECS Journal of Early Christian Studies

JEH Journal of Ecclesiastical History

JES Journal of Ecumenical Studies

JESt Journal of Ecclesiastical Studies

JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

JHebS Journal of Hebrew Scriptures

JHI Journal of the History of Ideas

JHPh Journal of the History of Philosophy

JJS Journal of Jewish Studies

JME Journal of Medical Ethics

JN Journal of Neuroscience

JNES Journal of Near Eastern Studies

JNSL Journal of Northwest Semitic Language

JPh Journal of Philosophy

JPT Journal of Psychology and Theology

JQR Jewish Quarterly Review

JR Journal of Religion

JRCP Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace

JRE Journal of Religious Ethics

JRS Journal of Roman Studies

JSJ Journal for the Study of Judaism

JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament

ABBREVIATIONS

xix

JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

JSS Journal of Semitic Studies

JSSR Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

JTC Journal for Theology and the Church

JTI Journal for Theological Interpretation

JTS Journal of Theological Studies

JTSA Journal of Theology for Southern Africa

JTVI Journal of the Transactions of the Victoria Institute

KD Kerygma und Dogma

KJV King James Version

LEC Library of Early Christianity

LNTS Library of New Testament Studies

LW Luther’s Works, ed. Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut T. Lehmann, 55 vols. (St.Louis and Philadelphia: Concordia and Fortress Press, 1958–86)

LXX Septuagint

MAJT Mid-American Journal of Theology

MB Modern Believer

Mc McCall’s

McCQ McCormick Quarterly

MH Museum Helveticum

MQR Mennonite Quarterly Review

MT Masoretic Text

MS Mediaeval Studies

MSJ The Master’s Seminary Journal

MSm Modern Schoolmen

NAC New American Commentary

NASB New American Standard Bible

NC New Conversations

NCV New Century Version

NET New English Translation

THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE WARRIOR GOD

xx

NIB New Interpreter’s Bible, ed. Leander E. Keck, 12 vols. (Nashville: Abingdon,1994–2004)

NICNT New International Commentary on the New Testament

NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament

NIDB New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, ed. Katharine Doob Sakenfeld, 5 vols.(Nashville: Abingdon, 2006–2009)

NIGTC New International Greek Testament Commentary

NIV New International Version

NIVAC The NIV Application Commentary

NKJV New King James Version

NLT New Living Translation

NMS Nottingham Medieval Studies

NovT Novum Testamentum

NovTSup Supplements to Novum Testamentum

NPNF2 Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2

NRSV New Revised Standard Version

NRT Nouvelle Revue Théologique

NSBT New Studies in Biblical Theology

NT New Testament

NTS New Testament Studies

NZ Neue Zeitschrift für Systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie

OJ.com TheOtherJournal.com

OLZ Orientalistische Literaturzeitung

OP Operational Psychology

Or Orientalia

OrChrAn Orientalia Christiana Analecta

OT Old Testament

OTL Old Testament Library

OTS Old Testamentishe Studien

PB Psychology Bulletin

PC Pentecostal Commentary

ABBREVIATIONS

xxi

PCNT Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament

PEQ Palestine Exploration Quarterly

PG Patrologia Graeca, ed. Jacques-Paul Migne, 162 vols. (Paris, 1857–1886)

Ph Philosophy

PhC Philosophia Christi

Phr Phronesis

PhS Philosophical Studies

PIBA Proceedings of the Irish Biblical Association

PL Patrologia Latina, ed. Jacques-Paul Migne, 217 vols. (Paris, 1844–1864)

PNTC Pillar New Testament Commentary

PP Past and Present

PPR Philosophy and Phenomenological Research

ProEccl Pro Ecclesia

PRSt Perspectives in Religious Studies

PS Philippine Studies

PSB Princeton Seminary Bulletin

PSt Process Studies

PT Psychology Today

QJ Quodlibet Journal

QJEGH Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology

RAC Revista di archeologia cristiana

RAM Revue d’Ascétique et de Mystique

RAP Rescherches des Archives de Philosophie

RB Revue biblique

RBL Review of Biblical Literature

Rel Religion

RelS Religious Studies

RelSRev Religious Studies Review

ResQ Restoration Quarterly

RevExp Review and Expositor

THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE WARRIOR GOD

xxii

RGG Religion in Geshichte und Gegenwart, ed. Hans Dieter Betz, 4th ed. (Tübingen:Mohr Siebeck, 1998–2007)

RHPR Revue d’histoire et de philosophie religieuses

RHR Revue de l’histoire des religions

RP Revue de Philosophie

RSB Religious Studies Bulletin

RSR Recherches de science religieuse

RSV Revised Standard Version

SAV Schweizerisches Archiv für Volkskunde

SBL Society of Biblical Literature

SBLSP Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers

SC Sources chrétiennes (Paris: Cerf, 1943–)

SecCent Second Century

SJOT Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament

SJT Scottish Journal of Theology

SL Studia Liturgica

So Sourozh

SO Symbolae Osloenses

SPhilo Studia Philonica

SR Studies in Religion

SS Sacra Scripta

SSM Social Science and Medicine

ST Studia Theologica

STh Studies in Theology

StPatr Studia Patristica

STQ St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly

STR Sewanee Theological Review

TBC Torch Bible Commentary

TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel and GerhardFriedrich, trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, 10 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,1964–1976)

ABBREVIATIONS

xxiii

TDOT Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, ed. G. Johannes Botterweck andHelmer Ringgren, trans. John T. Willis et al., 8 vols. (Grand Rapids:Eerdmans, 1974–2006)

Th Theology

Them Themelios

ThR Theological Review

ThTo Theology Today

TIS Theological Interpretation of Scripture

TJ Trinity Journal

TNTC Tyndale New Testament Commentaries

TOTC Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries

TP Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association

TS Theological Studies

TTE The Theological Educator

TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L.Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, 2 vols. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980)

TynBul Tyndale Bulletin

TZ Theologische Zeitschrift

UF Ugarit-Forschungen

VChr Vigiliae Christianae

VE Vox Evangelica

VT Vetus Testamentum

WA Luther’s Werke, kritische Gesamtausgabe, ed. J. F. K Knaake et al., 127 vols.(Weimar: H. Bohlau, 1883–2009)

WBC Word Biblical Commentary

WEB World English Bible

WMANT Wissenschaftliche Monographien zum Alten und Neuen Testament

WThJ Wesleyan Theological Journal

WTJ Westminster Theological Journal

WUNT Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament

WW Word and World

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE WARRIOR GOD

xxiv

ZAW Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft

ZDMG Zeitschrift der deutschen morgenländischen Gesellshaft

ZE Zeitschrift für Ethnologie

ZTK Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche

ABBREVIATIONS

xxv