By John Goldingay
Solway (Paternoster Publishing)
242 pages
ISBN 1 900507 02 1
After Eating the Apricot is the somewhat enigmatic title of a somewhat enigmatic book.
14 Old Testament stories are retold by John Goldingay, with the intention of 'reaching our imaginations and enabling us to see how (the stories) . . . speak to us' (p.232). Each chapter (apart from the first) takes one or more Old Testament character, e.g. Adam and Eve (Eve is described as eating an apricot, hence the title) and 'tells their story' by means of conversational paraphrase and reflection. The books aims to be a study of how God relates to believers and they to him. In the introduction the author comments on the role of the Bible in that process.
There are plenty of thought-provoking insights and John Goldingay brings a welcome freshness to these familiar stories. For example, his description of God calling Abraham to sacrifice 'your son, your only son, the one you love, Isaac' (p.78) is powerful and effective. The book is also a testimony to how the author was encouraged and sustained by the Bible in times of personal difficulty; hard questions are not avoided but tackled with honesty.
I was concerned, however, by some of the author's 'ironic humour', which I felt was dangerously close to being blasphemous. For example, 'Jesus's silly remark about . . .' (p.13), and 'God is less naive now' (after the Flood) (p.33).
His method of interpreting the Old Testament stories (helpfully explained in the introduction and postscript) assumes a basic similarity between the spiritual life of an Israelite believer and the life we live in Christ. It was this aspect of the book which caused me most concern. By emphasising the continuity between the old and new covenants (as opposed to the discontinuity) the book, in my opinion, seriously minimises the central role of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit in a relationship with God today.
John Goldingay clearly lives and breathes Old Testament studies and most of the material was originally delivered to theological students. Speaking as an 'average reader', I found myself constantly questioning whether I agreed with his principles of interpretation, and, therefore, with his conclusions. Some will find it a stimulating and provocative read, but I fear I shall not be quick to recommend it - especially to a younger Christian.
