Nothing Significant for Us There! Where? Chronicles!
“It is difficult to imagine any theological question asked in this generation on which the book of Chronicles is likely to shed any light.” So wrote John McKenzie, A Theology of the Old Testament (Garden City: Doubleday, 1974), p. 27. [Thanks to Keith Stanglin for pointing me to this quote.]
I only wish I had known that before I wrote a 500+ page theological commentary on 1 & 2 Chronicles.
Uh…..I think McKenzie was off just a wee little bit. 🙂 But given that my commentary is a 2.5 million seller (that is, it is in the top 2.5 million best sellers!), he may be on to something. 🙂
January 7th, 2012 at 10:51 am
I hope the contract gives you the movie rights!
January 7th, 2012 at 10:52 am
Fortunately that author was writing a generation before you to those baby boomers. As a gen xer, I’ve read and benefited from your commentary!
January 7th, 2012 at 11:34 am
I guess he gave up before he finished the book? Even just these two verses alone, found in David’s instruction to Solomon, there are all kinds of theological nuggets with very practical day-to-day insight:
“‘And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.'” (1 Chron. 28:9-10, NIV’84)
January 7th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
I for one own a copy of your commentary and I am happy I bought it. 🙂
January 8th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
It is hard to imagine any person ever making such a statement about any book of the Bible. That just sounds awful presumptuous.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:37 am
You and everyone who has read your commentary get the last laugh, John Mark!
The McKenzie quote would be funnier if it wasn’t so sad. 🙁
January 9th, 2012 at 8:55 am
Thanks everyone. 🙂 I do have the movie rights, btw!
January 9th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
I also have read your commentary and found it very helpful. Thanks for writing on that part of the OT. I especially like the way you simply recognized tension points in Scripture w/o trying to solve the problems (such as the Chronicler’s use of numbers). Tension exists. Get used to it.