Overview

With an emphasis on the nature and importance of divine presence, ""The Abiding Presence"" provides a unique perspective on the overarching theology of Exodus drawing particular attention to God’s revelation at the burning bush, Sinai, and the tabernacle. Exploring the rich theological themes that emerge from the final form of the narrative the commentary also reflects on how these themes were employed by New Testament authors in understanding the life and ministry of Christ. Bridging the gap between accessibility and scholarly rigour, this commentary offers an excellent tool for ordinands, students, teachers in higher education and preachers to engage with the theology of the book in its Old Testament context as well as how its message is revealed in the New Testament and continues to speak today.

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9780334055044

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Reviews

This is a fine reading of the biblical text. Scarlata takes seriously both the complexities and the insights of modern biblical scholarship. He situates them, however, within an accessible literary and theological reading of the biblical text in its received form as an enduring witness to the ways, and presence, of God. -- Walter Moberly

This is a fine reading of the biblical text. Scarlata takes seriously both the complexities and the insights of modern biblical scholarship. He situates them, however, within an accessible literary and theological reading of the biblical text in its received form as an enduring witness to the ways, and presence, of God. -- Walter Moberly Theological interpretation can be rather loosely related to the biblical text. This isn't that kind of theological interpretation. It's a careful running exposition of the text itself. It shows how Exodus is about God being present with Israel and delivering them and then being present with them on an ongoing basis. While theological interpretation can also be rather loosely related to questions about history, this commentary additionally manages to consider the historical issues and the questions about the book's origin. And it sets the Book of Exodus in the context of the Scriptures as a whole. It is an impressive achievement. -- John Goldingay Mark Scarlata has written a winsome accessible exposition of the Book of Exodus. While well informed about difficult critical questions, his concern is with theological commentary. Two particular matters merit attention. First, Scarlata has organized his interpretation around the theme of the abiding presence of God amid Israel. This permits him to take seriously the second part of the Book of Exodus, that is, the dense texts on tabernacle construction. Second, he tilts each part of his exposition toward the New Testament, but he does so with full regard for the claim of the Old Testament text. This commentary will be of immense value for preachers, teachers, and serious church readers. -- Walter Brueggeman This excellent book will introduce the reader to the major literary and theological concerns of the book of Exodus. What I like most about this work is the way it puts historical-critical research in service of expounding the text as the word of God. As such, this commentary is theological in the best sense of that word. -- Gary Anderson The writer, a vicar and a lecturer at a London theological college, has written this commentary `to understand not how Exodus came to be but what Exodus means.' Having reviewed other commentaries so suffused in theological terminology that they unintentionally conceal the message of the book concerned, Scarlata instead actively reveals Exodus's message in the contexts of the reality of God's abiding presence with His chosen people and of His revelation to Moses at the burning bush, on Sinai and within the tabernacle. Much too is devoted to `the revealed God who remains hidden', echoing the very definition of faith (Heb.11:1) and emphasising the centrality of Exodus to the entire Old Testament (and to the New). Aside from the final, each chapter finishes with a concise summary from a New Testament perspective on the material covered. These summaries provide not only accessible application, but also a sermon source and study guide. If more commentaries were written like this, more Christians would read them. -- Andrew Carr * The Reader, Winter edition *

This is a fine reading of the biblical text. Scarlata takes seriously both the complexities and the insights of modern biblical scholarship. He situates them, however, within an accessible literary and theological reading of the biblical text in its received form as an enduring witness to the ways, and presence, of God. -- Walter Moberly Theological interpretation can be rather loosely related to the biblical text. This isn't that kind of theological interpretation. It's a careful running exposition of the text itself. It shows how Exodus is about God being present with Israel and delivering them and then being present with them on an ongoing basis. While theological interpretation can also be rather loosely related to questions about history, this commentary additionally manages to consider the historical issues and the questions about the book's origin. And it sets the Book of Exodus in the context of the Scriptures as a whole. It is an impressive achievement. -- John Goldingay

Author Information

Revd Dr Mark Scarlata is Tutor and Lecturer in Old Testament Studies at St Mellitus College, London.

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