CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Old Testament appearances of Christ in human form
By James A. Boland. Christian Focus. 184 pages. £10.99
ISBN 978 1 845 506 278
Moody Press, Chicago, first published this book in 1978 and Christian Focus published a revised and expanded edition in 1999 — this book is a reprint of the updated version. Old Testament scholar, Walter C. Kaiser Jr., wrote a preface to the first edition. Additions include an extended, though still selected, bibliography that runs to three pages, and transliteration of Hebrew and Greek words. Boland is professor of biblical studies and theology at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA.
The author prefers the term Christophany rather than theophany because it was God the Son rather than God the Father who appeared in human form before his incarnation at Bethlehem. Boland defines Christophany ‘as those unsought, intermittent and temporary, visible and audible manifestations of God the Son in human form, by which God communicated something to certain conscious human beings on earth prior to the birth of Jesus Christ’. This book is a theological study of the relevant biblical passages rather than a defence against erroneous views, though there are extensive references to other writers.
In a short introduction, Boland deals with the need, scope and purpose of his book, and then in five chapters explores the subject of Christophanies. In three appendices, the author traces the history of the interpretation of the Christophanies, explains why the mysterious Melchizedek was not an appearance of Christ, and briefly tells us about five men who met God face to face: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Balaam and Joshua.
One reviewer comments that the section on Melchizedek ‘is alone worth the price’. He is right. Scriptures cited and subjects dealt with are indexed separately. This is an important book on Christophanies, of special interest to pastors/preachers and others who have an interest in theology.
Stan K. Evers,
was pastor of Potton Baptist Church, Bedfordshire, for 25 years
