Richter, Sandra L. The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2008.
When I tell people I teach Old Testament, eyebrows raise and comments fly. To some the Old Testament is angry, violent, and dangerous. To others it is mysterious, confusing, and overwhelming. If you’ve struggled to make sense of the Old Testament, try Sandra Richter’s Epic of Eden – still in print after thirteen years. Richter is not only a first-rate scholar, she’s a good communicator. If the books of the Bible seem as disorganized to you as your garage or your bedroom closet, Richter will come in and tidy things up. You’ll end up with a working knowledge of covenant theology and confidence in the Old Testament’s historical accuracy. Most of all you’ll see how these ancient Hebrew books proclaim the gospel.
Let me offer four reasons to read this book. First, it will help you appreciate ancient cultures, and how the Word of God critiques every culture. The cultural customs of the biblical characters are not necessarily prescriptive for us: just because Abraham sends his servant back to his relatives to find a wife for Isaac doesn’t mean that is how we should do it. Ancient economies do not fit precisely with our modern economic theories – when God commands Israel to forgive debts every seven years, it’s neither communism as we know it nor capitalism as we know it. Whether contrasting the Bible with ancient myths, or helping you recognize literary structure, Richter guides you on the cross-cultural journey of reading the Old Testament, helping you ask better questions of the text.
Secondly, Epic of Eden will unpack what it means for humans to be image-bearers of God. It’s about creating, producing, and ruling. It is the explanation behind the second commandment, and the Old Testament’s long-running campaign against idolatry. The imago Dei is key to understanding how every page of the Bible ultimately pertains to Christ who is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Heb 1:3).
Thirdly, Richter explains how all the covenants demonstrate God’s redeeming love, how they address both our corporate guilt and our individual guilt. She quotes amazing passages from Hittite and Assyrian covenantal treaties, and then unpacks the gospel implications of God’s covenant cutting ceremony with Abraham. She connects the land grant of the Garden of Eden to the land grant of the Promised Land, and connects the Jubilee law to our being co-heirs with Christ and members of God the Father’s household. If the reader is wondering about the date of the Exodus, Richter will respectfully present evidence supporting various views. You’ll walk away thankful for the goodness of the Law of God, how God is not a tyrant but a wise and loving Father.
Finally, this book offers you a helpful introduction to the eschatology of the Old Testament, outlining its trajectory towards the Messianic reign of Jesus. You’ll receive a greater understanding of what exactly was lost in the Fall when our first parents sinned, and how that loss is more than restored in the finished work of Christ. You’ll be able to connect the dots between Eden, the tabernacle, the temple, Christ, and the church: “In the new covenant, God’s people are no longer limited to the offspring of Abraham, God’s presence is no longer confined to the temple, and God’s place is no longer limited to that hilly patch of real estate along the eastern Mediterranean Sea.” Not every Reformed reader will embrace Richter’s analysis of how the law applies to Christians today. Nor will every reader be persuaded of her framework interpretation of the days of Genesis. But I know of no better overview of the Old Testament this short (263 pages), this readable (it’s a page-turner), so full of historical details, and so centred on Christ.
