Monographs by Heath A . Thomas
Poetry & Theology in the Book of Lamentations: The Aesthetics of an Open Text. Hebrew Bible Monographs. Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2013.
The book of Lamentations is a challenge to its readers. Its ambiguous theology, strident protesta... more The book of Lamentations is a challenge to its readers. Its ambiguous theology, strident protestations against its deity, and haunting imagery confound interpreters. This monograph engages the enigma of Lamentations by assessing its theology. It does so, however, neither by tracing a single theological perspective through the book nor by reconstructing the history of the composition of the book. Rather, Heath Thomas assesses the poetry of Lamentations by offering a close analysis of each poem in the book. He reconsiders the acrostic as the foundational structure for the poetry, reads the book as an intentionally composed whole, and assesses the pervasive use of repetition, metaphor, and allusion.
For the first time in the field, the analysis here is grounded on the insights of the Italian semiotician Umberto Eco. Drawing upon Eco’s distinction between ‘open’ and ‘closed’ textualities, Thomas argues that Lamentations represents a distinctively ‘open’ text, one that presents its reader with a myriad of surprising avenues to interpret the poetry. This distinctive approach avoids a polarization in the portrait of God in Lamentations, arguing that its poetry neither justifies God outright nor does it exonerate God’s people in the exilic age. Rather, it enables these theological visions to interrelate with each another, inviting the reader to make sense of the interaction.
The ambiguous theological vision of Lamentations, then, is not a problem that the reader is intended to overcome but an integral feature in the construction of meaning. This original monograph offers a new perspective on how the poetry informs our appreciation of theological thought in the exilic age.
Heath Thomas and Craig G. Bartholomew (eds.) A Manifesto for Theological Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016.
Recent decades have witnessed a renaissance of theological interpretation. Craig Bartholomew and ... more Recent decades have witnessed a renaissance of theological interpretation. Craig Bartholomew and Heath Thomas bring together a team of specialists to articulate a multifaceted vision for returning rigorous biblical interpretation to the context of the church.
Developed by the internationally recognized Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar, this book is designed to bring clarity and unity to the enterprise of theological interpretation. It positively integrates multiple approaches to interpreting the Bible, combining academic rigor with pastoral sensitivity for professors, students, and church leaders.
Contents
Preface
Craig G. Bartholomew and Heath A. Thomas
A Manifesto for Theological Interpretation
1. The History and Reemergence of Theological Interpretation
Angus Paddison
2. Doctrine of Scripture and Theological Interpretation
Michael W. Goheen and Michael D. Williams
3. The Ecclesia as Primary Context for the Reception of the Bible
Robby Holt and Aubrey Spears
4. Theological Interpretation and Historical Criticism
Murray Rae
5. The Role of Hermeneutics and Philosophy in Theological Interpretation
William P. Olhausen
6. The Canon and Theological Interpretation
Stephen G. Dempster
7. Biblical Theology and Theological Interpretation
David J. H. Beldman and Jonathan Swales
8. Mission and Theological Interpretation
Michael W. Goheen and Christopher J. H. Wright
9. The Telos (Goal) of Theological Interpretation
Heath A. Thomas
10. A Framework for Theological Interpretation
Denis Farkasfalvy
11. Theological Commentary
Mark Gignilliat and Jonathan T. Pennington
12. Theological Interpretation for All of Life
Craig G. Bartholomew and Matthew Y. Emerson
Indexes
Heath Thomas and Robin Parry (eds.) Great is Thy Faithfulness? Toward Reading Lamentations as Sacred Scripture. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2011.
Lamentations is a book that has never had a place of honor at the table of Christian spirituality... more Lamentations is a book that has never had a place of honor at the table of Christian spirituality. This is an unfortunate state of affairs because its challenging poetry has much to offer. This volume explores the how the biblical book of Lamentations may be engaged afresh so that it can function as Holy Scripture for the ekklesia.
Four main chapters consider issues in hermeneutics, exegesis, the use of Lamentations in worship, and pastoral reflections. These chapters have been supplemented by seventeen reception history studies written by an international team of Jewish and Christian scholars. These studies introduce a wide range of interpretations and uses of the book of Lamentations from throughout the history of Judaism and Christianity. They include examinations of the use of Lamentations in Isaiah 40-55, the Targum, Rashi, and contemporary Jewish thought, the Patristic period, Calvin, Jewish and Christian worship, music, Rembrandt, and psychological and feminist interpretation. Appendices include new English translations of LXX Lamentations and Targum Lamentations.
Heath Thomas, Paul Copan, and Jeremy Evans (eds.) Holy War in the Bible: Christian Morality and an Old Testament Problem. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2013.
The challenge of a seemingly genocidal God who commands ruthless warfare has bewildered Bible rea... more The challenge of a seemingly genocidal God who commands ruthless warfare has bewildered Bible readers for generations. The theme of divine war is not limited to the Old Testament historical books, however. It is also prevalent in the prophets and wisdom literature as well. Still it doesn’t stop. The New Testament book of Revelation, too, is full of such imagery. Our questions multiply.
Why does God apparently tell Joshua to wipe out whole cities, tribes or nations?
Is this yet another example of dogmatic religious conviction breeding violence?
Did these texts help inspire or justify the Crusades?
What impact do they have on Christian morality and just war theories today?
How does divine warfare fit with Christ’s call to "turn the other cheek"?
Why does Paul employ warfare imagery in his letters?
Do these texts warrant questioning the overall trustworthiness of the Bible?
These controversial yet theologically vital issues call for thorough interpretation, especially given a long history of misinterpretation and misappropriaton of these texts. This book does more, however. A range of expert contributors engage in a multidisciplinary approach that considers the issue from a variety of perspectives: biblical, ethical, philosophical and theological.
While the writers recognize that such a difficult and delicate topic cannot be resolved in a simplistic manner, the different threads of this book weave together a satisfying tapestry. Ultimately we find in the overarching biblical narrative a picture of divine redemption that shows the place of divine war in the salvific movement of God.
Peer Reviewed Articles by Heath A . Thomas
The Meaning of zōlēlâ (Lam 1:11) One More Time
Vetus Testamentum, 2011
... Ibn Ezra and the Targum of Lamentations translate the term as “glutton/gluttonous”. ... 7. Mo... more ... Ibn Ezra and the Targum of Lamentations translate the term as “glutton/gluttonous”. ... 7. Modern interpreters follow this line as well: Westermann (“wie verachtet ich bin”), Provan (“for I am despised”), Renkema (“how worthless I have become”). ...
“A Survey of Research on Lamentations (2002—2012).” Currents in Biblical Research 12/1(2013): 8-38.
“The Meaning of zolela One More Time.” Vetus Testamentum 61.3(2011): 489-98.
“Relating Prayer and Pain: Psychological Analysis and Lamentations Research.” Tyndale Bulletin 61.2(2010): 183-208.
Chapters by Heath A . Thomas
“The Telos (Goal) of Theological Interpretation.” In Craig G. Bartholomew and Heath A. Thomas (eds.) A Manifesto for Theological Interpretation. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2016).
“I Will Hope in Him: Theology and Hope in Lamentations.” Pages 203-21. In A God of Faithfulness: Essays in Honour of J. Gordon McConville on His 60th Birthday. Edited by G. J. Wenham, J. Grant, and A. Lo. Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. 538. London: T & T Clark, 2011.
“Hearing the Minor Prophets: The Book of the Twelve and God’s Address.” Pages 356-82. In Hearing the Old Testament: Listening for God’s Address. Edited by Craig Bartholomew and David Beldman. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012.
“Suffering Has its Voice: Divine Violence, Pain and Prayer.” Pages 91 – 111. In Blair Wilgus and M. Daniel Carroll R. (eds.) Wrestling with the Violence of God: Soundings in the Old Testament. BBRSup. (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2015).
“Life & Death in Deuteronomy.” In Interpreting Deuteronomy: Issues and Approaches. Pages 177-193. Edited by Philip Johnston and David Firth. Nottingham, UK: Apollos / Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012.
“The Liturgical Function of the Book of Lamentations.” Pages 137-47. In Thinking Towards New Horizons. Collected Communications to the XIXth Congress of the IOSOT, Ljubljana 2007. Edited by M. Augustin and H. M. Niemann. BEATAJ. 55. Frankfurt am Main: Lang Verlag, 2008.
Papers by Heath A . Thomas
Tyndale bulletin, Nov 1, 2010
Psychological approaches to biblical texts have gained currency, particularly in lament literatur... more Psychological approaches to biblical texts have gained currency, particularly in lament literature. One notes, however, an increasing interest in the intersections between Lamentations and psychological analysis as well. Upon a survey of literature, one quickly realises no singular methodology prevails: scholars have applied to Lamentations the insights of Kübler-Ross' grief process as well as the insights of John Archer, Yorick Spiegel, Sigmund Freud and the perspectives of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Whilst useful in identifying and assessing pain in the poetry, these approaches undervalue the crucial indicators of prayer in Lamentations. These indicators press research to the fecund field of the psychology of prayer. This essay exposes diverse applications of psychological approaches to the book, presents an analysis of both the benefits and limitations of this research and then relates prayer and pain in its poetry by exploring the connections between Lamentations and the psychology of prayer.
The Rabbis Talk Back Through the Prophets: Intertextuality, Lamentations, and Divine Mourning
Holy war in the Bible: Christian morality and an Old Testament problem
‘I Will Hope in Him’ : Theology and Hope in Lamentations
T&T Clark eBooks, Sep 12, 2014
Under the Intertextual Umbrella: An Introduction
T&T Clark eBooks, 2022
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Monographs by Heath A . Thomas
For the first time in the field, the analysis here is grounded on the insights of the Italian semiotician Umberto Eco. Drawing upon Eco’s distinction between ‘open’ and ‘closed’ textualities, Thomas argues that Lamentations represents a distinctively ‘open’ text, one that presents its reader with a myriad of surprising avenues to interpret the poetry. This distinctive approach avoids a polarization in the portrait of God in Lamentations, arguing that its poetry neither justifies God outright nor does it exonerate God’s people in the exilic age. Rather, it enables these theological visions to interrelate with each another, inviting the reader to make sense of the interaction.
The ambiguous theological vision of Lamentations, then, is not a problem that the reader is intended to overcome but an integral feature in the construction of meaning. This original monograph offers a new perspective on how the poetry informs our appreciation of theological thought in the exilic age.
Developed by the internationally recognized Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar, this book is designed to bring clarity and unity to the enterprise of theological interpretation. It positively integrates multiple approaches to interpreting the Bible, combining academic rigor with pastoral sensitivity for professors, students, and church leaders.
Contents
Preface
Craig G. Bartholomew and Heath A. Thomas
A Manifesto for Theological Interpretation
1. The History and Reemergence of Theological Interpretation
Angus Paddison
2. Doctrine of Scripture and Theological Interpretation
Michael W. Goheen and Michael D. Williams
3. The Ecclesia as Primary Context for the Reception of the Bible
Robby Holt and Aubrey Spears
4. Theological Interpretation and Historical Criticism
Murray Rae
5. The Role of Hermeneutics and Philosophy in Theological Interpretation
William P. Olhausen
6. The Canon and Theological Interpretation
Stephen G. Dempster
7. Biblical Theology and Theological Interpretation
David J. H. Beldman and Jonathan Swales
8. Mission and Theological Interpretation
Michael W. Goheen and Christopher J. H. Wright
9. The Telos (Goal) of Theological Interpretation
Heath A. Thomas
10. A Framework for Theological Interpretation
Denis Farkasfalvy
11. Theological Commentary
Mark Gignilliat and Jonathan T. Pennington
12. Theological Interpretation for All of Life
Craig G. Bartholomew and Matthew Y. Emerson
Indexes
Four main chapters consider issues in hermeneutics, exegesis, the use of Lamentations in worship, and pastoral reflections. These chapters have been supplemented by seventeen reception history studies written by an international team of Jewish and Christian scholars. These studies introduce a wide range of interpretations and uses of the book of Lamentations from throughout the history of Judaism and Christianity. They include examinations of the use of Lamentations in Isaiah 40-55, the Targum, Rashi, and contemporary Jewish thought, the Patristic period, Calvin, Jewish and Christian worship, music, Rembrandt, and psychological and feminist interpretation. Appendices include new English translations of LXX Lamentations and Targum Lamentations.
Why does God apparently tell Joshua to wipe out whole cities, tribes or nations?
Is this yet another example of dogmatic religious conviction breeding violence?
Did these texts help inspire or justify the Crusades?
What impact do they have on Christian morality and just war theories today?
How does divine warfare fit with Christ’s call to "turn the other cheek"?
Why does Paul employ warfare imagery in his letters?
Do these texts warrant questioning the overall trustworthiness of the Bible?
These controversial yet theologically vital issues call for thorough interpretation, especially given a long history of misinterpretation and misappropriaton of these texts. This book does more, however. A range of expert contributors engage in a multidisciplinary approach that considers the issue from a variety of perspectives: biblical, ethical, philosophical and theological.
While the writers recognize that such a difficult and delicate topic cannot be resolved in a simplistic manner, the different threads of this book weave together a satisfying tapestry. Ultimately we find in the overarching biblical narrative a picture of divine redemption that shows the place of divine war in the salvific movement of God.
Peer Reviewed Articles by Heath A . Thomas
Chapters by Heath A . Thomas
Papers by Heath A . Thomas