Walter Brueggemann is an American Old Testament scholar and theologian, who is widely considered to be one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of the last several decades. He has authored over 100 books and numerous articles, and has collaborated with other scholars on multiple projects.
Walter Brueggemann was born in Tilden, Nebraska, in 1933
He attended Elmhurst College and Eden Theological Seminary, and earned his Ph.D. from Saint Louis University
He taught at Eden Seminary, Columbia Theological Seminary, and most notably, at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, where he held the William Marcellus McPheeters Chair in Old Testament
He retired from teaching in 2003, but continues to lecture and publish books and articles
James Kugel is an American scholar of biblical studies and Judaica. His research focuses primarily on biblical interpretation and the history of Jewish biblical exegesis.
Richard Elliott Friedman is an American biblical scholar and is currently the Ann and Jay Davis Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Georgia. He is well known for his work on the Documentary Hypothesis, which seeks to explain the origins of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
John Collins is an American scholar and Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale Divinity School. His research focuses on apocalyptic literature, wisdom literature, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
This book explores the role and function of the prophetic voice in the biblical text and in modern society. Brueggemann argues that the prophetic imagination offers an alternative to dominant narratives that perpetuate the status quo, and advocates for a prophetic voice in the church and in politics.
In this book, Brueggemann engages with the Old Testament text as a testimony to God's activity in the world, as an ongoing dispute between different voices within the text, and as advocacy for a different kind of world. He explores themes such as creation and chaos, covenant and community, and forgiveness and reconciliation.
This book advocates for the practice of Sabbath-keeping as a form of resistance to the dominant culture of consumerism and productivity. Brueggemann argues that Sabbath-keeping offers a different kind of time, and a different way of viewing the world, and can serve as an act of prophetic imagination in our contemporary society.
Brueggemann's main contribution is his focus on the social and political implications of the biblical text, and his advocacy for a prophetic voice in our contemporary society. He has also contributed to the study of the psalms, and to the development of a theological understanding of the Old Testament.
Brueggemann views the Bible as a testimony to God's activity in the world, and as an ongoing dispute between different voices within the text. He does not view the Bible as a set of rules to be followed, but rather as a resource for theological reflection and prophetic imagination.
Brueggemann's work can be seen as challenging the status quo, whether that be in the biblical text or in contemporary society. However, he does not fit neatly into the categories of 'liberal' or 'conservative' theology. Instead, he seeks to engage with the text and with society in a way that is faithful to the prophetic voice of the Bible.
Brueggemann argues that the church has a prophetic role to play in contemporary society, calling attention to the injustices and inequalities that are perpetuated by the dominant culture. He advocates for a 'counter-narrative' that is faithful to the biblical text, and that offers an alternative to the status quo.
Brueggemann has been a vocal critic of Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people, and has advocated for a just peace in the region. He views the conflict as a result of the failure to recognize the 'other', and argues that a prophetic imagination is needed in order to overcome the binary thinking that perpetuates the conflict.