Vol. 12 · No. 3 Fall 2008 The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Editor-in-Chief: R. Albert Mohler, Jr. Exodus Executive Editor: Russell D. Moore Editorial: Stephen J. Wellum Editor: Stephen J. Wellum 2 Reading and Applying the Book of Exodus Today Book Review Editor: Chad Owen Brand Stephen G. Dempster Exodus and Biblical Theology: On Moving into the Associate Editor: Christopher W. Cowan 4 Neighborhood with a New Name Assistant Editor: Brian Vickers Graham A. Cole Advisory Board: Timothy K. Beougher 24 Exodus 34, the Middoth and the Doctrine of God: John B. Polhill The Importance of Biblical Theology to Evangelical Chuck Lawless Systematic Theology Peter J. Gentry Peter J. Gentry Esther H. Crookshank The Covenant at Sinai Mark A. Seifrid 38 Randy Stinson D. Jeffrey Mooney Israel in Slavery and Slavery in Israel Design: Jared Hallal 64 T. J. Betts Typographer: John Rogers 82 Dating the Exodus Editorial Office & Subscription Services: Russell D. Moore SBTS Box 832 Sermon: You Cannot Serve Both God and Mummy: 2825 Lexington Rd. 96 Pharaoh Hunger and the Draw of a Golden-Calf Spirituality Louisville, KY 40280 (Exodus 32:1-35) (800) 626-5525, x4413 Editorial E-Mail: [email protected] 78 Book Reviews Yearly subscription costs for four issues: $20, individual inside the U. S.; $30, ATLA Religion Database on CD-ROM, published by the American Theological individual outside the U. S.; $35, institutional inside the U. S.; $45, institutional Library Association, 250 S. Wacker Dr., 16th Flr., Chicago, IL 60606, E-mail: outside the U. S. Opinions expressed in The Southern Baptist Journal of Theol- [email protected], WWW: http://atla.com/. ogy are solely the responsibility of the authors and are not necessarily those of THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY is published quarterly by the editors, members of the Advisory Board, or The Forum. We encourage the The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2825 Lexington Road, Louisville, submission of letters, suggestions and articles by our readers. Any article submis- KY 40280. Fall 2008. Vol. 12, No. 3. Copyright ©2008 The Southern Baptist sions should conform to the Journal of Biblical Literature stylistic guidelines. Theological Seminary. ISSN 1520-7307. Second Class postage paid at This periodical is indexed in Religion Index One: Periodicals, the Index to Book Louisville, KY. Postmaster: Send address changes to: SBTS Box 832, Reviews in Religions, Religion Indexes: Ten Year Subset on CD-ROM, and the 2825 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40280. Editorial: Reading and Applying the Book of Exodus Today Stephen J. Wellum Stephen J. Wellum is Professor As the old adage goes, the three rules of why biblical theology, rightly understood, of Christian Theology at The South- real estate are summed up in three words: seeks to examine the unfolding nature of ern Baptist Theological Seminary. location, location, location. By analogy, God’s plan as it thinks through the rela- Dr. Wellum received his Ph.D. degree we can say that the three rules of bibli- tionship between before and after in God’s in theology from Trinity Evangelical cal hermeneutics are also summed up plan, along the Bible’s own storyline. In Divinity School and has also taught in three words: context, context, context. this light, as we read Scripture, it is help- theology at the Associated Canadian To read and apply the Bible correctly, it ful to think of interpreting biblical books Theological Schools and Northwest is crucial that we always ask ourselves: according to three horizons: textual, Baptist Theological College and Semi- What is the context of this text? epochal, and canonical. nary in Canada. He has contributed to But more needs to be said. In asking, The textual horizon involves reading several publications and a collection “What is the context of this text?” it is also texts in light of their immediate context, of essays on theology and worldview important to remind ourselves that cor- which is normally associated with gram- issues. rect biblical interpretation cannot simply matical-historical exegesis. The epochal begin and end with a text’s immediate horizon goes one step further and seeks context, as important as that is. Given to think through where the text is placed the fact that Scripture, like God’s plan in the unfolding plan of God. Lastly, the of redemption, has not come to us all canonical horizon reads the book in light at once, but, instead, has progressively of the fullness of revelation that has now come over time, we must learn to read come in Christ. At the canonical level, we every biblical text in light of the entire must pay careful attention to how the sto- canon of Scripture. In other words, if we ryline of Scripture develops and how the are going to interpret Scripture correctly particular book we are reading fits into and not simply read biblical books in an the larger canonical presentation. Why is isolated fashion, we must learn to read the this important to stress? For this simple “parts” in terms of the “whole” and vice reason: unless we learn to read Scripture versa, otherwise we will fail to interpret this way we will not only read Scripture Scripture accurately. as merely a series of unconnected seg- In contemporary idiom, the discipline ments without an overall plan, purpose, which best helps us read Scripture in its and goal, which will simply lead us to overall context is “biblical theology.” At misunderstand the Bible and undercut its heart, biblical theology is the discipline the glory of our Lord Jesus, we will also which seeks to understand the whole fail to understand the divine intention of Bible by carefully interpreting biblical the text. texts in light of the entire canon, taking With all of this in mind, this edition of into consideration the progressive nature SBJT is devoted to understanding better of God’s redemptive plan and revelation the book of Exodus. Our primary goal is of himself through human authors. That is to help our readers interpret this impor- 2 tant book both in its immediate context they were better or more numerous than as well as its place in the overall plan of the nations (Deut 7:7). Neither was it for God. It goes without saying that the book their righteousness that they were given of Exodus is an important book in the the land of Canaan. The basis for God’s Bible’s overall storyline. In many ways it calling of Israel was not to be found in is a hinge book that not only introduces them but in God’s sovereign choice and us to the nation of Israel, but it does so by covenant loyalty to Abraham (Exod 19:4; placing them within the stream of God’s Deut 7:8). Israel, then, which serves as a glorious work of creation, the disastrous kind of new Adam, will be the means by effects of the Fall, and God’s gracious pur- which God will bring about a resolution poses of redemption for this world cen- of the sin and death caused by the first tered in the promises given to Abraham of Adam. Israel, as a nation, is the agent and a great name, seed, and land (Gen 12:1-3). means God will use to achieve the wider Abraham, as presented in Genesis, is cru- purposes of the Abrahamic covenant that cial since he is the one who is the means will ultimately lead us to Christ. by which God will reverse the effects of Now it is in the book of Exodus that sin and judgment begun in Genesis 3, and this storyline of Genesis is unpacked restore us and creation to its rightful role and developed. To understand this book and purpose. As a result of the disobedi- aright is to understand more of God’s ence of Adam—our covenantal head—sin unfolding drama of redemption, and and death have entered God’s good world. ultimately to learn better where we fit But thankfully, God has chosen not to into that plan, now that Christ has come. leave us to ourselves. He has graciously It is in this book, with the establishment promised that his purposes for creation of Israel in the exodus and the inaugura- and the human race will continue through tion of the old covenant, that many of his provision of a Redeemer, the seed of the typological structures and building the woman, to bring us back to him and blocks of God’s redemptive plan are laid ultimately to restore the old creation. This out before us—e.g., priesthood, sacrifice, promise, first given to Noah, is passed tabernacle, etc.—which, as redemptive on through Abraham, by God’s own gra- history unfolds, ultimately point beyond cious calling and election of him. Through themselves to the coming of our Lord. Abraham, and his seed, blessing will In a variety of ways, all of our articles come to the nations. In this way, Abraham are attempting to help us understand emerges within Genesis as the answer to Exodus afresh. Some articles are seek- the plight of all humankind. But it is not ing to place the book within its larger only in Abraham that God’s promises historical context, while others are lay- are realized, it is also in his progeny, ing out the overall theology of the book, Isaac, Jacob, and the nation of Israel. but all of the articles combined have the In fact, God’s calling and establishing goal of enabling Christians today better his covenant with Israel—that which is to read and apply Exodus for the good of unpacked for us in the book of Exodus— the church, and for the glory of our Lord is in fulfillment of the promises made Jesus Christ.